ORANGE CULTURE IN

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

"From
Seed to
Consumer"

ISSUED BY THE

LOS ANGELES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1912

FROM
niTKITS PROTECTIVE LEAGUE

OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

• :

Superiority of the California Orange

Unstinted Praise "The California fruit is gradually taking the

from market, and will eventually take it all." This

Opponents. startling and sweeping statement was made by

Francis E. Hamilton, appearing in the interest

of citrus fruit importers at the Tariff Hearings, November 18, 1908,
before the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representa-
tives.

Mr. J. C. Chase of Jacksonville, Florida, speaking at the same
hearings of the advantages enjoyed by California, and of the greater
need of Florida for protection for her citrus fruit, said, "California
can ship oranges every day in the year"

Certainty Mr. E. P. Porcher of Jacksonville and Coco, Florida,

of who appeared upon behalf of the Jacksonville Chamber

Crop. of Commerce, referred to the superior richness of the

California soil, the better climatic conditions, the security

from drought and freedom from cold, all insuring a certainty of crop.

(See page 45, Tariff Hearings before the Ways and Means Committee

of the House of Representatives, Nov. 18, 1908.)

What is Left Any one who will take the trouble to read these

for the hearings on the citrus fruit industry before the

Boosters to Say? Ways and Means Committee will be amazed at

the many unsought tributes paid the California

fruit by opponents in business. Boosters for California could not say
more.

Credit to Whom There is no intention to enter here into a dis-

Credit cussion of the merits of the tariff, or its bearing

is Due. upon the citrus fruit industry, but before leaving

the hearings, one quotation from Mr. Champ

Clark, a member of the Committee on Ways and Means : "God Al-
mighty has done a great deal for your state, and the more protection
you have thr more you want." To this Mr. Woodward of San Fran-
cisco made rejoinder, "God Almighty, as you say, has done a great
deal for California. At the same time the citizens have done a great
deal."

Climate and Soil It has taken brains and hard work, as well as

Plus climate and soil, to produce the California orange

Brains and Brawn, of commerce. In a way it may almost be classed

as a manufactured product. The certainty of

crop testified to by Mr. Porcher of Florida, has been made possible
by an elaborate system of irrigation, and by the use of natural and
artificial fertilizers. No rain descending from above has ever been
graduated so to facilitate the growth of a fruit as has the application

of >vat?2- by irrigating ditches. Through the returning of its elements
to tlie >soil by fertilisation, in addition to the splendid irrigation sys-
tems, a continuous succession of heavy crops may be assured.

Southern California, the modern Garden of Eden, minus the ser-
pent and blossoming as the rose, was once thought arid and useless
desert, — was, in fact, part of what was known as the Great American
Desert. The transformation has not been wrought through a miracle,
but by the thought and hard work of California citizens. They have
experimented with localities, brought water upon dry land, studied
the soil that they might enrich it, worked and watched and waited
and prayed, — possibly some of them have cursed; and now that their
sheaves, i. e., their full orange crops, are in, their success is attributed
to God Almighty. It is due to Him, but in a different way from that
intended by Mr. Clark, for God created not only the California country
and climate, but the California citizen.

A Sweet Morsel "The California fruit is gradually taking the

for market, and will eventually take it all." This

Californians. statement is worthy of study. It may well be

rolled under the California tongue as a sweet

morsel. It means that just as soon as California produces enough
fruit to supply all demands, none other will have a show. It is an
application of the law of the survival of the fittest, a new reading
of "To him that hath shall be given."

Spiritual Seed A brief glance at the history of the orange in Cali-
and fornia will not come amiss here. In 1769 the

Material. Franciscan fathers started north from Lower Cali-

fornia, and entering what is now the State of Cali-
fornia, established twenty-one missions under the direction of Father
Junipero Serra. Their avowed object was the harvest of savage souls
that might be brought to Christianity ; but in the sowing of this spirit-
ual seed they did not forget their physical comfort, nor forego the
sowing of the material seed that would in time bring fruit -to satisfy
the craving of their palates. Eighteen of the twenty-one missions
boasted gardens and orchards, and to these fruit-loving pioneer fathers
of the Catholic Church may be attributed the discovery of the peculiar
fitness of the California soil and climate for the beautiful golden ball
which brings wealth to its producers and health to its consumers.

From Small LouisVignes and Manuel Requena planted small groves
Beginnings. at Los Angeles for home use in the year 1834. In
1841 William Wolfskill set out two acres to oranges
as a business venture, and it is thought this was the first orchard in
the state planted with a view to commercial profit. There are rec-
ords of meagre and scattered plantings from this time on. The
records state that in 1862 there were only 25,000 trees in the entire
state. The completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1873
greatly facilitated the profitable marketing of the fruit outside of
California and spurred her citizens to fresh plantings.

The stories of the introduction of the Washington navel orange
into California by Mrs. Luther C. Tibbetts, of the Valencia by Mr.

Chapman of San Gabriel, of the Mandarin by Dr. S. R. Magee, and
of other varieties by various pioneers and promoters, may all be found
in the voluminous Government Reports, and have been so often retold
that they are omitted from this bulletin.

Oranges Orange culture in California is already the most

a productive branch of horticultural industry in any

Golden Crop, state in the country. The annual shipments amount

to 30,000 carloads, or between 10,000,000 and 12,000,-

000 boxes, with an estimated value of $20,000,000, less packing

charges. In addition to this $20,000,000 to the growers and packers,

the crop pays over $13,000,000 for transportation and refrigeration.

Associations have been formed to protect and advance the in-
terests of the growers of Southern California by co-operation, to
exchange information on fruit culture obtained through experiment
and experience, and to extend the advice of pioneer fruit growers
to those planning to engage in horticultural pursuits in Southern
California.

Uncle Sam The growers have not been unaided in making ex-
Chips periments. Considerable sums have been spent in
In. scientific investigations by the Department of Agri-
culture, through its Bureau of Plant Industry, for
the furtherance of the tremendous interests invested in orange culture ;
and these investigations have been made particularly with reference
to economy in gathering, packing and shipping; that is, the handling
of the fruit with a view to a minimum percentage of decay while in
transit and upon the market.

Sources Information gleaned from the above mentioned asso-

of ciations, from reports of governmental experiments,

Information. and from other available sources and publications, has

gone toward making up this little bulletin on orange

culture sent forth by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Any

one wishing to investigate further the subject of orange culture will

do well to consult the following documents :

"The Citrus in California," by B. M. LeLong, revised by the State
Board of Horticulture, 1902; Fourth Edition of "California Fruits
and How to Grow Them," by Edward J. Wickson, A. M., published
by Kruckeberg Press, Los Angeles, 1909; "The Decay of Oranges
while in Transit from California," by G. Harold Powell, Pomologist
in Charge of Fruit Transportation and Storage Investigations, issued
by the United States Department of Agriculture as Bulletin 123 of
the Bureau of Plant Industry; the "Year Books" of the Department
of Agriculture; University of California Bulletin 138; Bulletins 122
and 152 and Circular 11, all to be had free upon application to the
Agricultural Experiment Station at Berkeley, California ; Tariff Hear-
*ngs before the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives, Sixtieth Congress, Wednesday, November 18, 1908 ; Brief
of Facts concerning Citrus Tariff Presented to the Ways and Means
Committee by a Committee representing the Citrus Protective League
of California.

COST OF LAND AND BRINGING IT INTO BEARING.

Land Suitable There should be a reasonable certainty that the

for land is not visited by winds and frost; and, just

Orange Culture. as a southern exposure is preferable for a house,

so it is for an orange grove, but it is far from

essential. Lands backed on the north by high hills and mountains are
especially desirable. Many orange growing communities have been
established on such lands; but as these localities have come very
largely into demand for residential purposes, the bare land commands
a very pretty price. For a radius of thirty miles or more about Los
Angeles the country is covered with a network of electric railways,
and its consequent accessibility has appreciably raised its value. How-
ever, suitable land for orange culture can still be secured in rural
communities in Southern California for from $200 to $500 per acre,
depending upon locality and soil. Soil favorable for orange growing
varies from a light disintegrated granite to a heavy, dark loam. The
subsoil is as important as the surface. Hardpan should be avoided,
or strata of sand and gravel.

Water for A buyer should take great care to see that there is
Irrigation an attached to the land a water supply sufficient for
Essential. irrigation when the grove he intends planting shall
have come into full bearing. That such a supply
exists and that its use shall be secured to him for years to come
should be a matter of searching inquiry before purchase of land for
orange growing. He should have from one miner's inch of water
to ten acres to one inch to four acres, according to the nature of the
soil. Inquiry in the neighborhood where he thinks of buying will
advise him how much water is required for the soil in that particular
locality.

Windbreaks. Lands visited by winds may in other respects be
desirable for orange culture. In such case, it is cus-
tomary to plant windbreaks on the windward side of each five or
ten acres. These windbreaks usually consist of alternate eucalyptus
and pepper trees, planted ten or twelve feet apart. The pepper is a
dense, low-growing tree, while the eucalyptus is tall and slender. The
combination makes a high, solid wall, capable of offering great re-
sistance to the wind. Both are rapid-growing trees. The. Mon-
terey cypress also is used for windbreaks. These trees should be
planted from six to eight feet apart. Ample space should be allowed
on each side of windbreaks. If placed too near the fruit trees they
rob the latter of sustenance.

Cost After the purchase price of the land comes the out-

of lay for developing a grove. By ten years a grove

Development. should be in full bearing; but from the fourth year
there will be some returns, and by the sixth year the
returns should offset, or more than offset, the yearly outlay. The
cost of irrigation and cultivation will vary according to local con-
ditions, such as soil, climate, water supply and lay of land, from
$15 to $25 per annum for irrigation, and from $15 to $20 per annum
for cultivation. Where the labor is performed by the owner or mem-

bers of his family the expenditure is materially reduced. Assuror
ing, however, that the owner hires the labor, and placing the cost oi'
the land arbitrarily at $250 per acre as a basis for the estimates, foe<-
low is computed the maximum and minimum cost per acre of an -
orange grove at the end of six years. These figures do not include •
interest on investment and taxes. The tax rates vary so in different
counties and different school districts that it is impossible to give any
definite figures.

Maximum. Minimum.

Land, per acre $250 'Land, per acre $250

Prep., plants and planting 150 Prep., plants and planting...... 125

Six years irrigation 150 Six years irrigation .„. , 90

Six years cultivation 120 Six years cultivation 90 ;

$670 $55,5|

From the sixth year on there is generally a cost for fertilizers.'
Say that fertilization from the sixth to the tenth year amounts tci
from $150 to $175, the grove will have cost at the end of ten yearsV
when it should be in full bearing, from $825 to $1025 per acre, as
shown by the following table: . :, — :

Maximum. Minimum.

Land, per acre $250 Land, per acre....r „ $250

Prep., plants and planting 150 Prep., plants and planting 125

Ten years irrigation 250 Ten years irrigation - 150,

Ten years cultivation 200 Ten years cultivation H , 150;

Four years fertilization 175 Four years fertilization 150-

$1025 , ; $825;

As before said, there is considerable reduction in the expense
where the owner or members of his family perform the labor.

The It must be remembered in looking at the second set of

Returns. figures that for four years or more the crop will have
been paying a more or less handsome return on the in-
vestment. The net returns to the average grower from a grove in
full maturity should be from $100 to $500 per acre per annum, ac-
cording to variety of fruit, locality, market conditions and care given.
Good managers often get much larger returns. One firm of inde-
pendent packers inform the Chamber of Commerce that they paid
this winter $14,000 on the trees for the crop of a fifteen acre grove,
and $5000 on the trees for the crop of a five acre grove. Their profit
on the latter was $2,200, less expenses. This sounds good, but does
not equal those golden bonanza days in the orange industry when"
$2000 could be taken from a single acre within the course of one year.

PREPARATION FOR PLANTING, STOCK AND PLANTING.

Getting the Before the planting, preferably in the spring, the

Ground land should be thoroughly worked. All weeds and

Ready. tubble should be plowed under: they will add to the

fertility of the soil. But first the land should . be

surveyed and graded, so that water can be carried to each tree.

Where the land has not been first properly graded, the owner finds
later to his sorrow that it is impossible to water properly all trees
in the grove. After the grading the land should be plowed at least
twelve inches deep. The land should then be settled by rains or
irrigation, and plowed again, deeper, if possible, than the first plow-
ing. The soil should be thoroughly pulverized by harrowing.

The Nurseryman is It is neither wise nor expedient for a new

Worthy of grower to try to propagate his own stock, as

His Gain. any saving he may effect will be vastly offset

by time wasted and interest on investment.

He should endeavor to secure trees that are true to name, of vigor-
ous constitution, and so grown as to produce maximum crops when
they arrive at the bearing age. The veteran advice of practiced grow-
ers may well be sought when buying citrus stock. It does not pay
to economize in buying young trees. Only clean, healthy, well-grown
trees should be accepted. Scrubby, ill-grown, neglected trees are
dear even as a gift, and will never repay the care and outlay required
in their culture.

The following pertinent advice with regard to the buying and
planting of nursery stock is contained in an essay read before the
Kscondido Farmers' Institute by B. F. Dixon :

"We know that it is possible to pack trees so that they may be
shipped long distances, and, when planted, nearly all live, but from
observations of the experiences of various planters we have concluded
that the only safe plan is to buy your trees from the nearest nursery
and superintend the digging of them yourself. After your trees are
planted in orchard form they should be watered and thoroughly cul-
tivated every thirty days during the dry season. In the rainy season
cultivate enough to keep down the weeds."

Time for Planting The orange being an evergreen, may be trans-

and ^planted at any time, but from April to June

Arrangement. "" is the best season, when the ground is warm

and the tree is at its period of greatest strength

and root power. The orange is supersensitive to exposure of its
roots, and fcr this reason the handling of young trees is different from
that of ordinary orchard trees. Exposure of the roots or careless
planting will doom the tree to slow, sickly growth, or kill it outright.

That the trees may be placed in straight rows and the orchard
present a tidy appearance, as well as to give each tree its fair show,
the ground should be laid off carefully by the square, quincunx, or
hexagonal methods. (See "The Citrus in California.")

Methods There are two principal methods by which your

of tree may be transplanted from its nursery to its

Transplanting. permanent home, your orchard. First, there is the

balling system. A narrow trench is made along

a row of nursery trees at a distance of about six inches. The tap

root is cut about eighteen inches deep; then, with a sharp spade, the

earth is cut out, leaving in it the tree. The leaves of trees taken up

by this process will hardly wilt.

8

Second, there is the puddling system. Where the soil is so loose
that balling is impossible, a hole is dug around the nursery tree and
filled with water. This soon loosens the roots and the tree is lifted
out without difficulty. Many prefer this system, as it is less expen-
sive, and gives the trees larger and more roots.

Topping the Tree Many planters hold that trees taken from the

and nursery should be topped, and the branches so

Extending its cut that in starting they will form a fine-shaped

Roots. head. This, they say, prevents the evaporation

that takes place so rapidly when the leaves are

allowed to remain on the young trees. When the roots have taken
a firm hold in the new soil and resumed their natural functions, they
can take care of the new leaves that put forth.

A common and harmful practice in planting trees with- loose
roots is to place the tree in the hole, fill the hole with soil and water,
and then tramp on it to pack the earth. As the roots are covered
with thick mud they will stick together, and though the tree may
grow even with this hard usage, it will not do nearly so well as when
the roots are extended with care. The process is simple. The hole
should be half filled with earth, which being loose admits the tap
root of the tree by slight pressure of the hand ; then the lateral roots
are spread and the soil is lightly pressed. Heavy tramping is not
necessary, as the water settles the dirt and keeps the roots in place.
As soon as the water in the basin has disappeared, the basin is covered
with loose soil; this. will prevent evaporation and keep the tree from
leaning over.

Newly transplanted stock in case of either a cold or hot spell,
may Ipe protected by wrapping with old newspapers.

PRUNING, PROPPING AND BUDDING.

Low Pruning A contest was waged for many years between the
is advocates of high and low pruning. Victory finally

Best. perched on the banners of the low pruners ; experi-

ence having demonstrated that in the California
climate with its long dry period, and in the dry soils in which citrus
fruits attain their best condition, low pruning protects the tree from the
sun and better retains the moisture in the earth around the root of
the tree. The fruit of a low-pruned tree is more easily and cheaply
gathered than that of a high-pruned tree.

Clipping Different varieties of oranges, or the same in different
and localities, are picked in differing seasons, and the proper

Pruning. time for pruning is after the removal of the crop. At
all seasons of the year, however, superfluous sprouts on
the trunk and stray branches that threaten to throw the tree out of
balance should be removed without delay. That the knife should be
very sharp is essential and all cuts should be made as smooth as pos-
sible. Cuts made with a saw should be pared down smooth with a
sharp knife, then waxed over and painted with gum shellac in proper

solution to spread easily. The primer is a tree surgeon who must tend
the wounds he has made.

The young growth should be clipped with the definite idea of
developing a close and systematic head. Suitable clipping during the
early and rapid stages of growth of sprouts and stray branches should
obviate almost entirely the need of pruning.

Propping Propping of overladen trees is an essential feature of

Overladen orchard work. Adjustable props made of wood have

Trees. taken the place of the old style willow poles. The props

are so arranged that the ends rest under the tree and do

not interfere with the cultivator, as they did when placed surrounding

the tree on the outside.

Improvement Stock may be improved by budding. As before
by said, care should be taken in buying nursery stock

Budding. that the trees be true to name ; but if upon coming

into bearing they are not, or do not bear well, they
should be cut back and budded over. Many different varieties of
oranges may be grafted on one tree. An orange tree may be budded
to lemons, or a lemon tree to oranges, according as one crop is more
profitable than the other. This is something of a gamble, as it can-
not be determined by one year's sales which way the market will go
the next.

This bulletin is restricted in length and for directions for budding
the reader is referred to "The Culture of the Citrus in California,"
which contains full information with illustrations. '

IRRIGATION, CULTIVATION AND FERTILIZATION.

Orange Raising The raising of the orange in California should only
Partially be attempted in districts where irrigation is pos-

Artificial. sible. The tree is a native of tropical forests,
where it grows in warm soil and obtains abundant
moisture ; and its successful culture in California, which lacks sum-
mer rains and moisture-laden atmosphere, is necessarily in a degree
artificial, and may be regarded as a notable triumph of modern horti-
culture.

How to Cultivate Cultivation and irrigation are closely related to

and each other. In order to achieve the best results,

Irrigate. water should be applied in sufficient but not

excessive amounts; and deep irrigation as well

as cultivation will keep the feeding roots as low as possible. The
depth of cultivation should vary from year to year ; twelve inches,
eight inches, ten inches, fourteen inches, eight inches, twelve inches,
ate. Such variation in cultivation puts an end to much of the out-
ery against "hardpan," which frequently is not hardpan at all, but
only the well-known "plow-sole," which comes from plowing to the
same depth each time, with the added aggravation of shallow irriga-
tion. Experience shows that the best results with irrigation are ob-
tained where water is slowly run in deep furrows, and the greater
part of the surface is kept dry and deeply cultivated. With this

10

method a team can be driven along the dry strips of land between
the furrows, and with a harrow or other appliance the dry soil can
be dragged into the wet furrows to lessen the evaporation, imme-
diately after the irrigation water is turned off. With any other sys-
tem, it is necessary to wait twelve hours, or much longer, before a
team can be driven over the ground.

The cost of installing a sub-irrigation system places it beyond
the reach of the ordinary small grower ; but it is the ideal way to apply
water, and greatly lessens waste. Howeven, the method outlined
above, approaches sub-irrigation more nearly than any other.

Much more benefit can be derived from the same amount of
water when it is run three days instead of two, the third day leaving
more water in the ground than either of the others.

When and Where California soil is known to be naturally rich ;

Fertilization and when orange trees are planted on virgin

is Necessary. ground, they will usually do well for the first

few years without any application of fertilizer.

In sections where the soil is shallow it is expedient to apply a fertilizer

every year from the time the orchard is planted.

Experience of orange growers proves that the quantity of fruit
may be increased, and the quality improved by fertilization. The
extent and character of fertilizing is obviously dependent upon local
conditions. The new man will observe and follow the practice of
the most successful growers in his immediate locality. California
soil is rich in all the subsidiary elements necessary for orange cul-
ture, and the intelligent grower will see that his trees do not suffer
for want of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, the elements which
the crop draws annually from the ground, and which must be re-
placed.

Different Kinds The generally accepted way to enrich the soil

of is to place the best manure, and the most of it

Fertilizers. that is practicable, upon the orchard with its

first fertilization, and piece it out afterwards

with such commercial fertilizers as local experience has proven profit-
able. In many orchards a green fertilizer is planted, cow peas or
vetches being considered the best two for a cover crop to be turned
under in the spring.

DISEASES.

Victory Won The orange in California is subject to but few dis-

over eases. Once the industry was threatened by the white

Disease. cottony cushion scale, and once by the black scale ;

but both were conquered by science and patience.

Every form of insect pest can be successfully eradicated if due care

be exercised. The Horticultural Commissioners in each county stand

ready to give veteran advice and assistance to new growers in case

their trees show signs of disease.

11

Fumigation and Of the insect pests of the orange, the most to be

Spraying for feared are those which attack the fruit — either

Scale Pests. its surface or pulp. A common precaution

against any possible insect disease in nursery

stock is its thorough disinfection with carbon bisulphide, which no
insect life can withstand.

The red scale and the purple scale, both brought into California
from Florida, and the black scale and the brown scale, have been
successfully treated by fumigation with hydrocyanic gas. The treat-
ment is elaborate and requires special apparatus, which is described in
Bulletins 122 and 152 and Circular 11, all to be had free upon appli-
cation to the Agricultural Experiment Station at Berkeley.

These pests are also treated by spraying with a solution of dis-
tillate.

Gum There are various forms of so-called gum diseases. One

Disease. attacks both old and young trees at the crown and the
root, while another appears on the large limbs in the
form of a scab, and another on the trunks and main branches. The
most deadly of these is the root form, which is apt to break out in
almost any locality. This is an exudation of the sap which breaks
through the bark of the trunk close to the ground, and congeals in
the form of a gum.

How One successful remedy for this disease is to peel off

Treated. the bark where the gum oozes and cover the diseased
part with a solution of two parts of resin and one part
of beeswax, thinned with linseed oil. Another remedy is to crease
the bark from the limb to the root with a knife, then paint the entire
trunk of the tree with neat's foot oil.

The new -grower may not have any of the unpleasant experiences
indicated above, but "forewarned is forearmed."

FROST.

Shutting out California has not been so subject to frost as some
King less favored portions of the country, but she has not

Frost. enjoyed immunity. Repeated severe frosts in a local-

ity demonstrate it to be unfitted to the citrus industry ;

but some of the best orange-growing sections occasionally get a nip.

However, human ingenuity has met the frost king and held him at

bay. In sections liable to slight frosts, preventive measures are taken,

such as -the planting of windbreaks, which keep out frost as well as

wind; and the natural protection afforded the fruit by promoting

heavy leafing.

In cases of emergency frost is fought and conquered by the use

of covers, dry heat, and smudges. The first named method is only

practicable in small orchards. For details of frost fighting see "The

Citrus in California," pages 155 to 161.

Seldom, even in the worst seasons, will frost extend over more

than one or two nights; and a late frost, when the orange is near

maturity, harms it but slightly.

The new grower is reminded that in looking out against frost he

can seek advice from the Horticultural Commissioners of his county.

12

GATHERING, PACKING AND SHIPPING.

How In gathering oranges the ripe fruit should first be taken,

to Pick lightening up the trees. The orange should never be
Oranges. pulled, but clipped, preferably with blunt-pointed clip-
pers. The stem must be cut short, and great care should
be exercised that the clipper does not cut the skin.

Cooling Where there is no pre-cooling plant easy of access the
of fruit should not be packed fresh from the tree, but

Fruit. should cool by lying at least overnight. Many packing

plants are equipped with fans for cooling and drying.
Under the pre-cooling method fruit is cooled to and kept at a tempera-
ture of 36 degrees. Thus far, few packing houses are equipped with
pre-cooling plants, and there is talk of the railroads erecting pre-
cooling plants to care for the fruit from the smaller exchanges. Pre-
cooled fruit requires but one icing between Los Angeles and the
extreme east, as against two or three where there has been no pre-
cooling. The percentage of decay is reduced to a minimum, and the
fruit has a higher market value, as when it is known to be solid and
sweet throughout the box it is bound to command better prices.

Machinery and The following description of a packing house

Methods Employed is taken from "The Decay of Oranges while

in in Transit from California," by G. Harold

Packing Houses. Powell: "The average packing house is
equipped with box-making machines, which

nail together the boxes for carrying the fruit to market ; specially con-
structed hand-trucks for moving several picking or shipping boxes at
a time; hoppers for receiving the fruit; washing tanks and scrubbing
machines to remove the sooty-mold fungus, and drying racks in those
sections where the fruit has to be washed ; elevators to carry the fruit
to the grading and sizing machines, drying racks and other places ;
carrying belts or chutes ; automatic weighing and recording scales for
weighing the different grades of fruit of each grower ; series of padded
bins, sometimes with self-adjusting bottoms, for receiving the differ-
ent sizes of fruit ; belts to carry the packed boxes ; presses for covering
the boxes, and sometimes a system of fans to assist in drying the
fruit; and a machine to wrap the fruit automatically. All of the
stationary machinery is run by power, making the interior of a
large packing house in operation resemble the interior of a complex
factory.

"There is a wide variation in the type and arrangement of the
different kinds of machinery."

Fruit Graded According The grading of fruit has no reference to

to Quality, its size, but depends upon the general tex-

not Size. ture of skin, on appearance as influenced

by scars, and on the general form and

style of the fruit. Bright colored, smooth, firm oranges, with thin
fine skin, will always command the best price.

The grades of oranges are usually known as "Fancy," "Choice,"
and "Standard." Weight, juiciness, thin, deep-orange-colored skin

13

fine in texture, and freedom from blemishes are the requisites for the
first grade. A "Choice" orange is supposed to. have good color and
fairly good texture. It may have a few slight blemishes; but it is
supposed to be free from frost damage and reasonably heavy and
juicy. A "Standard" orange may be quite badly scarred or discolored,
coarse in, texture and irregular in form, but should be merchantable
shipping stock. There is a fourth grade, "Culls," sold to peddlers,
or shipped to nearby markets.

Standard Packs and A standard box of California oranges is 12 by

Boxes for 12 by 26 inches outside measurement, divided

Oranges. , in the middle by a partition, with an inside

fruit space of llj^ by II y2 by 24 inches. A

box of oranges packed for the market is estimated to average 72
pounds. The number of oranges in a box may vary from 80 to 324,
and for the different sizes of oranges there are standard methods of
arranging the layers. Packs of 80, 96, and 112 oranges go in four
layers; 126, 150, 176, 200 in five layers; 250 and 324 in six layers.

The picking box, which is without partition, holds but fifty pounds,
and must not be confused with the packing box.

Prime Importance The researches of Mr. Powell and his assistants

of Careful have demonstrated the importance of careful

Handling. handling of the crop in picking and packing, as

he found most of the decay in transit came from

mechanical injuries. Perhaps the clipper has cut the skin, one orange
has punctured another, the fruit has been dropped hard and bruised,
or punctured by the finger-nail of the picker or by twigs and gravel
in the bottom of the picking boxes; or the trouble may have been
caused in the packing house by a broken wire in a wash tank, a pro-
truding screw among the bristles of a brushing machine, a nail or bolt
extending into a chute or runway, or some similar defect as easily
remedied.

Associations Market The grower generally delivers his crop at the

Major Portion of nearest packing house, and from that time

Crop. on it is handled by the local association,

which is generally run on the co-operative

plan. These co-operative associations handle from 70 to 75% of the
citrus fruit crop. There are also firms and individuals who pack,
distribute and sell fruit on commission for the growers. Much of
this fruit is sold f. o. b. cars in California, while some is consigned to
distant merchants. Some firms also buy the fruit on the trees from
the grower', either by the pound or by paying a lump sum for the
entire crop.

. The California Fruit Growers' Exchange is the largest of the
Co-operative organizations, marketing something more than 56% of
the entire citrus crop. It represents about 4,000 growers who are
organized into more than 80 local incorporated associations.

For details of the working of exchanges, the handling of fruit in
the packing houses, methods of refrigeration, etc., the reader is re-
ferred to Mr. Powell's book, the number of which is given above. ,'; ...

14

PERIODS OF SHIPMENT.

Every Day "California can ship oranges every day in the year."

in Mr. J. C. Chase of Jacksonville, Florida. "In fact,

the Year. California can keep the market supplied with oranges

fresh from the tree and in prime condition the year

around." Edward J. Wickson, in "California Fruits, and How to

Grow Them."

There is no time in the year when there are not some shipments
of oranges from California, and the period of ripening of the different
varieties should be made a matter of close study by the person in-
tending to set out a new orange grove, for there are certain times in
the year when the California orange has no competition whatever,
and consequently brings a fancy price.

Shipments Heaviest At present, the lightest shipping months are
after September and October. Some of the crop is

Christmas. picked early and shipped east for the Thanks-

giving trade, and the large Christmas demand

is also supplied. In January the heaviest shipments begin, consisting
mainly of the navel orange. Shipments of navels continue until June.
The late Valencia and Joppa oranges are shipped in July and August.
Some growers of Valencias hold their crops on the trees even longer,
marketing them as late as November.

VARIETIES OF FRUIT.

The most profitable varieties of oranges grown in California are
the following, and their relative importance is about according to the
order in which they are named :

Variety most Washington Navels. The fruit is of a flam-

Commonly Planted. ing golden color ; is solid, heavy and seedless ;
smooth of skin and fine of texture ; pulp melt-
ing, very juicy and highly flavored. It begins to ripen in November.
The tree is semi-dwarf, a rapid grower, and a prolific and early bearer.
Its foliage is deep green, heavy and compact, with leaf large and
prominently winged. It is sturdy stock, with limbs well balanced,
smooth and deep green branches, and is thornless. The blossom eon-
tains a secondary blossom within itself. The tree was imported from
Bahia, Brazil.

Profit in Late Valencia. This orange has proven one of the

Valencias. most, if not the most profitable. It ripens in May
and June, when the other varieties are out of the
market, and can be held on the trees as late as November and still
be in fine shipping condition. The fruit is elliptical, large arid very
heavy, contains very few or no seeds, is remarkably juicy and fine in
flavor, and in contrast with its pale yellow or greenish skin is the
deepest orange within. It is an excellent shipper. The tree, which
is large and prolific, was imported from England. '•' .

A Heavy Mediterranean Sweet. Fruit of medium size to large,

Bearer. pulp and skin of exceedingly fine texture, has few seeds,

is deep orange color, and ripens late. The tree, which

is thornless, of a dwarf habit a^nd a heavy bearer, was brought from

the Mediterranean region.

16

A Dash of Malta Blood. Fruit medium size, oval shape, textur

Red. and flavor very fine, pulp marked vinus with red ; cor

tains Very few seeds. The fruit often, shows toucht

of red on the skin also. The tree is dwarf and thornless, and wa

imported from the Mediterranean region.

An Island Paper Rind St. Michael. Fruit small, round, firm an

Variety. juicy, with a pale, thin skin. It grows very uniforr

in size, ripens late and keeps well on the tree ; is a rapi

grower and prolific bearer. The tree is large and was imported fror

the Azores. ; •.

Aromatic and Tangerine or Kid Glove. Fruit deep red, smal
Delicious. very sweet and aromatic, and when ripe the rin

is very easily detached. The tree is dwarf, un
form in shape, and of a weeping habit.

For Gardens. Satsuma. Fruit small, flattened, of exceedingly fin
texture, sweet and seedless, rind very easily dc
tached. The tree is dwarf and very hardy. It is best suited for gai
dens.

Edible Whole. Kumquot, or Japanese Orange. Fruit is edib!
whole (rind and all), is very small and elongate
in shape, with rind thick, yellow, smooth!, sweet and scented. Th
fruit has very little pulp and contains many seeds. The tree is
dwarf, little more than a bush, and like the Satsuma, is best suite
for gardens or home plots.

A WORD OF WARNING.

In closing, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce warns pui
chasers of orange lands to buy no property without seeing it persor
ally, no matter what representations are made regarding it, nor b
whom.

A real estate man may be perfectly honest in thinking land goo
for oranges, but he may have taken somebody's else word for it, an
not have looked into the matter carefully himself. The intendin
purchaser is the party most interested, and he should himself loo
thoroughly into the situation: — lay of the land; soil, climatic cond
tions (whether reasonably free from frost), and water supply.

In addition to the honest dealer who is liable to error, there ar<
unhappily in Southern California, as well as elsewhere, unscrupulot
men who will do anything to turn a dollar.

The Chamber of Commerce is beseiged with questions regardin
the reliability of real estate agents. It is not within its province t
pass on such questions, as this would necessitate a separate depar
ment, leading the organization into the field of the mercantile agencie

There are plenty of trustworthy real estate men in California, an
the. seeker after land, if he be at all a judge of human nature, shoul
be able to determine whether or not a dealer is reliable when he come
into contact with him.

The Chamber of Commerce says to all intending purchasers: de;
in person with the agent or owner, look at the land, study the valu
of its location, and know what you are getting before you buy.

16

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