OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 471 



ties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino the area for the safe eulture 

 of the orange has been narrowed down by the kite cold weather and 

 the fear of its recurrence. 



Many of tliose actually engaged in this orange culture have enter- 

 tained fears that wo would eventually see the business overdone; 

 that we could not safely look beyond Nevada, California, and Oregon 

 to furnish our markets for the numbers that we would shortly pro- 

 duce. Although this thought has often occurred to me, I have never 

 shared any of the fears held by others. 



I early considered the keeping qualities of the oranges grown here, 

 and, having practically tested this question to my entire satisfaction, 

 I rested easy. In the last of March, 1875, I shipped eight boxes of 

 oranges from my orchard to the agents of Wells, Fargo & Co., in Lon- 

 don. They were shipped to San Francisco by steamer, thence by rail 

 to New York, and by steamer to Liverpool, and by rail to London, 

 where they arrived in perfect condition, not one having decayed in 

 transit. 



In order to open up new markets last year, I sent an agent to Salt 

 Lake City towards the close of April, to whom I consigned seven car 

 loads of oranges. Although quite late in the season, a reclamation of 

 only eight boxes was made against me as arriving in damaged con- 

 dition, and this was due to the defective condition of the roof of the 

 car. So much for the keeping qualities. Salt Lake last year con- 

 sumed fifteen car loads, when formerly only a few boxes of oranges 

 sent by friends ever reached that market. I believe this year, follow- 

 ing my theory, our Mormon friends would consume thrice as many 

 as last year, each year afterwards largely increasing the consumption. 

 From Salt Lake the trade of southern Utah, Idaho, and Montana 

 could be worked up, until a large portion of our crop would find 

 there a ready market. Then going eastward, Denver, Colorado, took 

 a large number of boxes last year, and will take many more this year, 

 if our crop can supply the demand. 



In one year more I believe the Southern Pacific Railroad will have 

 made an eastern connection, and the A. T. & S. F. will also have 

 reached our valleys. This last company are not building their road 

 for glory, and we can confidently anticipate lively competition for 

 the eastern-bound freights. These roads will open up so many new 

 markets, establish communication with so many orange eaters, that 

 we will be ashamed that after all our talk of what we were doing we 

 will scarcely be able to furnish one box for a thousand people. This 

 is no idle talk. I honestly believe what I say. 



The cry of over-production I have heard ever since my boyhood 

 days. It is a remarkable fact, however, that this cry is generally 

 indulged in by those who never had nor never will have a pound of 

 anything to sell or ship. They are like unto the improvident farmer 

 who, being disturbed by his energetic neighbors who were rising early 

 to take care of their stock, turned over with .the characteristic thought 

 and expression: "Thank God, I have no pigs to feed!" It is aston- 

 ishing how much sympathy this class of people have for their work- 

 ing neighbors. The energy of others seems to have a melancholic 

 effect on them, and they are always ready with the original and gen- 

 erous sentence, " I told you so." 



The prohts of orange culture have been so oftentimes stated, and 

 such statements have called forth so many adverse criticisms from 

 newspaper men, who are too frequently seized with a great desire to 



