Imperial Valley press., 1912-09-26
.ITRUS FRUITS

~ Every variety of fruit tree has its
distinctive characteristics, and those
characteristics have been made the
nature of the tree by centuries of un-
changing envir ronment
There are four features of the nature
of the citrus fruit tree which every
person in this valley should under
stand. These are its sensibility to al
kali, its great breathing power, its
demand for aerated soil and its sus-
oeptibility to frost
1t is true that the best oranges are
produced where the trees are on the
danger line from frost, and where cold
weather is the only obstacle, the
grower is justified in making a fight
for his trees. The climate of this
valley is such that were this the only
obstacle, and were the market condi-
tions favorable, the Press would urge
the extensive planting of this fruit,
though there would be years, in all
probability, when great damage would
be done by frost.
But no less important with citrus
fruit growing is the necessity FOR a
porous soil into which the air will
work freely. and nowhere in the bed
OF this valley is there an ideal soil
condition for this fruit II is possible
that there are localities near the great
drainage channels. where the drainage
Is excellent and the soil Is very light
that the orange and kindred fruits
may thrive. and there may be places
about the rim OF the valley where ideal
soil conditions exist But generally
speaking. the soil here is not such as
20 recommend II for this variety n
fruits. and this statement is backed
alike by theory and by experience.
There q no use for US to attempt
20 conceal the fact that the average
land Of the valley carries too much
alkali for the citrus fruits. but it is
far better for US TO look for those
products which demand this soil con-
dition. and there are such fruits with
just as great financial promise as the
orange and lemon.
In another respect the orange is not
adapted to this country. If a person
will take the trouble to compare the
orange foliage with that of the ordi
nary desert plant he will find the
greatest difference imaginable.
The desert plant has scant foliage
and the leaves are not only small, but
they are highly vanished by nature to
prevent evaporation. On the other
hand, the orange has great leaves, un
vanished underneath, and its pores
are thrown open to drink in the air,
which in dry heat is fatal 10 the
bloom
Another point which the Press has
already made in speaking of the or
ange related TO this valley is the
fact that in all the centuries the
orange has been known as a product
of the north coast of the Mediterran-
can. it never gained foothold on the
south coast, where the conditions are
similar to those of this valley.
Taken comm ercially, there are parts
of California, probably two or three
times the present planted area, in
which citrus fruits thrive. Should this
valley enter upon orange and lemon
growing in an extensive way, it would
find the markets well supplied, and
through all the career of the industry
it would be fighting with other locali-
ties for a footing.
The point toward which the Press
would like to see the industries of this
valley directed are those for which
the valley is normally adapted and
wherein il would have an undisputed
field. Dates and other fruits furnish
that opportunity, and this valley does
not need those fruits which would en-
tail a fight for existence.
Nothing that the Press says is meant
to advise against the planting of any
fruit in a limited way for home use,
but taking the broad view Of the ma
tion's markets, this journal sees moth
ing in the statistical condition of the
citrus fruit industry or of the condi-
tions that must be encountered here
to justify extensive planting of these
fruits.