The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15
INTRODUCED BY A WOMAN
Origin of Seedless Orange Culture
in the United States.
Twelve Trees Shipped From Brazil
In 1S:O-Eirst C-Op of the Navel
Variety In North America-ASer-
nge shipment From california
Now 100000 boxes Annually.

The introduction into the United States
of the seedless orange the culture OF which
has assumed such large proportions on the
Pacific Coast. was primarily due to an
American woman. Travelling In the pro-
vince of Bahia. Brazil. in 1858. she Incl
| d.ntally mentioned in letter to friend
in the United States. Horace CaVron, the
then Commissioner of Agriculture, that the
| oranges of Bahia were of superior quality
to those raised in the United States. No
chance expression of taste was probably
] ever fraught with more magnificent Ie-
suits.
William Saunders. then, as cow. in
charge of the gardens and grounds of the
Department of Agriculture, had already
devoted some attention to the Improvement
of orange culture in the United States and
had introduced a few new varieties from
foreign countries. This letter being brought
to his attention suggested the possibility Of
a new find in the field Of orange culture. A
request was sent for specimens for propa-
eating purposes. A box of cuttings from
trees was returned, which. unfortunately
proved worthless. A specific order was
then forwarded for plants. and in 1870, a
small shipment OF twelve you're: trees, all
of the same variety and well packed in wet
moss and clay arrived in Washington in
fairly good condition! -
This was the original stock from which
have sprung ell the far-famed orange
groves, producing what is commercially
known as the Riverside navel Tor seed
less) orange" of southern California All
the twelve planrs were painted in the De
partment grounds and thrived. AT the
proper time buds from these twelve trees
were grated upon small orange ants
then under cultivation at the Department.
and the process of propagation repeated at
proper intervals. AS the supply increased.
hundreds of young plants were distributed
through Florida and Cal fornia at hFst.
under the name of the Bahia orange al
terward, as the Washington navel For
some undiscovered reasoni conditions in
Florida proved unfavorable to the pro-
ductiyeuess of the trees. hut the develop
ment and success of their culture In Cali
fornia constitutes u subject OF unusual in
terest.
The distribution of this new variety Of
orange by the Department attracted no at
tentiou in California until the winter of
1888, and the great interest then aroused
was centred upon two trees. which that
season came into bearing on the place oil
Horatio Tibbeus. at Riverside. The hrst
crop consisted of only sixteen oranges but
II was of peculiar importance az being the
first crop OF seedess oranges ever produced
in North America. The new variety al
tracted widespread attention among the
fruit growers and ranchmen OF southern
California. and Mr. Tibbetts' orange trees
Immediately became famous.
In the following year the trees Welded
several dozens OF oranges. and people who
had been growing the old varieties travelled
hundreds OF miles TO SEE them in fruitage,
Few believed that the trees were other
than freak of nature: and the doubt was
almost universal whether seedless fruit
could be propagated to a point OF profitable
production.
After the California trees came into bear !
inE the demands upon the department OF