The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-01-29
Apple Raising
in Southern
California

Southern California is looked upon
az the home of citrus fruit, and it
used to be declared that apples could
not be grown commercially in this
district. But California is a land of
many climates and many conditions,
and in spite Of predictions, the apple
crop of the southern end OF the state
Is becoming an important factor in
the market. The conditions of grow.
ing. however, are unique. Apples can
only be brought to perfection of juici.
ness and flavor when grown at an
elevation of 5000 feet Or above, and
such elevation with the right kind of
soil and with water sufficient for ir
rigation is not too common.
Yet, according to the 1914 Bulletin
OF the state horticultural Commission
there are about 5000 acres in south
ern California Of bearing apple trees
and $4,000 acres not yet in bearing.
The Los Angeles County Horticultur-
al Inspectors last report gives the
number Of bearing apple trees in this
county as $4,000, nonbearing 41,00O.
San Bernardino county is reported as
having 10000 acres Of apple trees not
vet in bearing, with 1000 acres most
Nv in the Yucaipa, Oak Glen and Beau
mont districts-in bearing. Riverside
county is credited with about 500
acres OF bearing apple trees, and g.
400 acres planted out. San Diego
county has HOO acres in bearing.
One OF the best apple growing Sec
tons is found around Julian in San
Diego county. Here are extensive
mesas 1000 feet and more above sea
level. The snowfall is sometimes
very heavy here in winter, and the
frost is frequent enough to give the
right color and snap to apples, as was
discovered by some of the earlier
settlers. Now apple raising has be-
come general and no finer apples are
produced anywhere.
The most extensive bearing orch
ards in Southern California are locat-
ed in the Oak Glen and Upper Yucca
ina valleys. in the San Bernardino
Maintains. Here the elevation va
ries from three to four thousand feet.
Oak Glen is a sheltered valley al
most underneath Mount San Bernar-
dino a peak 10000 feet in height.
The crop of this section this year is
estimated at 100 cars-about onehaii
the usual production, on account OF
an early frost. Yucaipa Valley now
has about 1900 acres planted to ap-
ple trees, 500 of which are in bear
ing. II is estimated that the yieid
this year will be about 100 carloads
$50 boxes to the car.
The picking and packing of the
fruit is carried on with all the SCI
entifc care lavished upon the orange
crop. Each apple is picked by mana
and carefully laid in a leaf hneu
bucket. From the bucket the frult
is lifted singly into boxes, which are
hauled to the packing house mere
II is again lifted by hand onto canvas
tables, where it is sorted and grad
ed. If necessary it is washed De-
fore receiving a polishing from inc
canton flannel gloves of the handlers
Then it is dropped into the canvas
chutes of its grade and passed ATOMS
to the packer, who wraps each apple
in stamped paper and lays 1t in tiers
in the boxes. When a box Is h'ied IL
is passed on to receive the lid, ana
is finally stacked up On the side, SO
as to avoid bruising.
Four grades are commonly USED j.
The fruit perfect in color, form ana
condition is marked ExtrN Fancy
that of good form but of light color
is Fancy; where slight blemish Is
found which does not affect keepH.s
quality, the fruit is labeled Choice
All the rest is known as STANDARD
nj a., - pnarrhantc for n