222 American IJorlirtillaral Sockti/. 



the Hnrtiicial result may be a failure, from his inability to secure a market, 

 or, if secured, the cost of i)lacing them absorbs the entire value of the ship- 

 ment, and sometimss requires an extra assessment to pay freight charges 

 and commissions. As with the deciduous fruits, so with the citrus fruits, 

 there are many localities producing the most delicious oranges, but entirely 

 too tender for transportation to distant markets. In Fayal and Treceira it 

 has ceased to be exported, not being able to comi)ete with oranges sent from 

 other coinitries in the mau'kets of Engl.ind. the only markets rcnlly within 

 reach of so delicate a fruit. 



Ilninid ntmospheres and localities along the sea-shores produce this 

 character of fruit, while the more elevated and arid sections produce a fruit 

 equally rich in flavor, but of a tougher texture of skin, able to bear rougher 

 usage and longer transportiition. Another point to be considered in regard 

 to markets, especially of the United States, is its appearance in the mar- 

 kets in competition with deciduous fruits, and the seasons best adapted to 

 its use. 



From July to December the great variety of deciduous fruits crowd the 

 markets, and hence at this time the demand for citrus fruits is usually quite 

 limited. .\<:ain, from December to March, throughout the northern states, 

 a prevailing temperature considerably below z?ro materially interferes with 

 the transportation and also discourages the use of oranges to a great extent. 

 It is, thprefore, only from March to July, when the increasing temperature, 

 especially in malarial districts, makes this fruit so desirable, that the great 

 demand usually exceeds the supply, and the profit enures to those localities 

 that can promptly meet it. 



Much has been said as to prices and profits of citrus fruit-growing, 

 gathered from many localities. SuHice it to say that in Italy and the eastern 

 shores of the Mediterranean the profit is quoted at $80 to $150 per acre. 

 Taking into consideration the known longevity of the tree and its wonderful 

 capacity for producing fruit under favorable conditions— some 20,0t)0 to 

 38,000 si)eci mens from a single tree— it must be admitted that it is an ex- 

 ceedingly profitable branch of fruit-growing. A seedling orchard of eighty 

 trees per acre, in full bearing, producing an average of 3,-')(M) specimens— 

 about twenty boxes— could be sold for twenty-five cents per box upon the 

 trees, and realize to the owner some ;?400per acre; and the cost of caring for 

 such an orchard in cultivating, irrigating, pruning, including the price of 

 water, would not exceed $35 per acre. 



In conclusion, it must be said that, while this fruit is grown in the ex- 

 ceedingly favorable localities named, yet, as a great commodity of com- 

 merce, the principal supply is furnished by points in the Meiliterranean below 

 the 38th degree of latitude. O » this continent, on the Atlant c coast, its suc- 

 cessful culture is below the .".0th parallel ; while on the Pacific coast, so far, 

 it is below the .'3.lLh parallel; but, as I have stilted in Oie beginning of this 

 article, the Anglo-Saxon has put his "hand to the jilow," and no one is wise 

 enough to limit his powers in this direction except by an arctic zone. 



