The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-08-06
SEEK A NEW ORANGE.
Experiments Going On In the Agri-
cultural Department.
Success of Present Efforts Would
Revosutfoufxe and Expand the
0ranGe-Growfn@ Industry
In the North.

Mdu - StthfuB ~ fuipIOtt udtuiC
work upon the orange. and it is likely
that he will be able 10 do it. II sue
cess crowns experiments now in prog
ress the orange will become hardy
fruit. able to grow and bear even as
far north as Canada. with skin that
will peel off as easily as a tangerine's.
and perhaps devoid of the seeds that
now threaten the peril of appe ndicitis.
Such recreation OF this luscious
fruit-for that is what il would amount
to-would deserve TO rank with the
greatest marvels of the end of the cen
tury 1t would revoIutionize and ex-
paud the orange-growing industry. and
remove all danger from the frosts and
freezes that now either blight or en-
tirely destroy the trees ond their fruit
in the states where they are grown.
The freeze in the southern states in
1894 and 1895 destroyed every orange
tree. causing loss upon the crop ex-
pected OF nearly s5.000.000. and dam
age TO the industry in general that has
been computed at the extraordinary
figure of $75.000.000. 1t will be five
years yet before orange-growing is on
4 paying basis and ten to fifteen years
before the orange crop is as large as it
was at the time of the disastrous
weather.
Since that time the agricultural de-
partment has been experimenting in
the cross-fertilization of oranges in the
hope of producing one or more varie-
ties that will resist the attacks of frost
and that will possess the other qnali-
ties not found in the fruit of to-day.
The practical part of the work is be-
ing conducted under the supervision OF
H. j. Weber and w. t. Swingle. spe-
-ial agents of the division of vegetable
physiology and pathology
UL TO the present the experimental
processes have been productive of the
results expected, but the most inter
ssting and delicate stages are yet TO
come. In the greenhouse there are at
least 1000 hybrid growths from the
seeds that have been crossed, and this
spring many of these will be taken
to the southern states and grated on
the orange trees growing there Then
at least three years must elapse be-
fore the grafted trees will begin TO bear
the fruit that is 10 be hardy. sweet.
loose-skinned. and perhaps seedless.
In 1892 Messrs. Webber and Swingle
were in the south studying the diseases
that affect oranges, and the need of @
harder orange than the usual varieties
was brought to their attention. This
was emphasized by the disastrous
frosts of 1894 and 1895. The growers
had sought to overcome their foe by
selecting for planting and developing
seeds from only the hardest of the
trees growing in their fields. but even
these succumbed to the severe attacks
of the invading cold.
In the meantime experiments con-
Quoted by Mr.. Weber in this city
turned out unfavorably, through no
fault of hin own. 1t was not until 1897
that he succeeded in hybridizing he
orange in way to insure the favorable
result of planting or grating. He had
found. prior to the hybridizing. that the
japanese trifoliate orange, although
its fruit IS small and of little value ex-
cept for preserves. is delicious. and so
hardy thatit can be grown without pro-
lection as far north as Philadelphia. A
number of these trees had been planted
in the department grounds, and. in
spite of cold. had borne fruit, small
and bitter. 1t occurred to him TO cross
the japanese variety with the different
kinds that flourish in the south to get
the hardy quality. The practical work
of hybridizing them commenced.
If the seedlings that are grated on
the southern trees develop fruit that
cannot be killed in blossom or maturity
by the winters in that section. the sci
entists will feel that they have been
sufficiently repaid for all their efforts.
Orange growing then would not be at
tended by the great risks that now en-
compass it. In addition. if hardy or
ange can be produced that will live in
the north. and yet have the sweetness
and juiciness of the southern fruit.
then the work of nature will have been
wholly improved by the hand and in
telligencs of man.-Washington Star.
An Appeal 40 Inventors.