The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-18

have been introduced and grown with so
much success, this fruit, unless something
unforeseen happens, will be grown in larger
quantities, and consumers can be supplied
with the homegrown article, which grows
here to perfection, and compares favorably
with any grown in the world.
The estimate of the Louisiana orange
and mandarin crop this year is 5000 boxes.
Considering that less than two years ago
all orange trees were frozen TO the ground
and every orchard in the State ruined. and
considering that growers are now market
ing fruit from these same orchards, some
of the possibilities of our orange lands can
be realized since the problem of how to
save the trees in the event Of a freeze has
been solved.
Our coast offers more inducement for
farmers or idle capital than any other
part of the United States. After COM
pairing the fruit grown on our coast To any
grown in this country, and considering the
prices realized, and also that our fruit
ripenS and natures earlier than fruit in
other sections, L think il is only a question
of time when the advantages of our coast
Will be impressed upon investors and idle
capital. We will yet see some groves and
orchards on our coast that will equal any
in this country.
One of the facts which should be demon
strated is that Louisiana is earlier than
any other fruit-growing section, and has
always finished marketing her oranges be
fore any other section begins, and, there
fore, does not have the price-cutting com
petition which growers from other sections
must contend with. Another advantage is
that box material is of home production,
and is as cheap as In any other part of the
country. Another fact worth mentioning
is fruit which is cut here to-day is mar
keted and sold here to-lmorrow, and this
avoids any bad order reports which
growers from other sections of the country
are always receiving.
Florida has opened up her orange season
by shipping fifteen to twenty days earlier
than last year, but 1t is believed that they
have made a mistake, as the fruit has not
matured, and on account of its greenness
the trade does not care for Florida oranges.
and, therefore, sales are slow and prices
are low. And the consumer having tasted
this fruit, and found it green, will not
want any more until he is convinced that il
is ripe and fit to eat. These Florida oranges
sell for $1.90 a box.
FLORIDA will market this season 100000
boxes, and expects TO finish by lar 30.
California is entering on her 1901-02 sea-
son, and while California growers estimate
their crop at 10000 carloads, the estimate
made by the railroad companies, who are
usually very near correct, puts the crop
at 5000 carloads. California has already
shipped several cars of the new crop, and
will continue shipments daily from now
on. 1t is not expected, however, that a
great many cars will be moved before the
holidays, on account of their coming into
competition with Florida. They will prob
ably want to avoid this, and will hold up
the bulk of their fruit until Florida is
cleaned up.
From all estimates furnished on the diff
ferent crops AID from the present outlook,
it appears that there will be enough fruit
from the different sections to supply all
demands"