22 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



later in the season than is commonly the practice, so that it might 

 reach its full maturity. Experiments have been conducted by some 

 of the California shippers which indicate that a large percentage of 

 the crop, at least in southern California, might easily be held until 

 after the first of July and a portion of the crop can be held either on 

 the trees or in storage for shipment as late as the middle of September. 

 It is probably even possible to hold a limited quantity of the fruit for 

 the Thanksgiving market. This practice of late shipment would place 

 grapefruit on the eastern market at the time when the Florida fruit 

 is entirely off the market, and at a time also when other fruits are 

 comparatively rare. Readers, generally, will be familiar with the 

 really exceptional success which has accompanied the marketing of 

 Valencia oranges during the past several seasons. Grapefruit held in 

 the way suggested would come on the market at the same time of year 

 that the Valencia crop does and should share in the high desire for 

 fruit of similar character. Although certain California localities are 

 claiming great things for their early grapefruit, I must say that my 

 personal taste strongly prefers the more mature product. 



Florida growers are feeling that the solution of their marketing prob- 

 lem when the large nonbearing acreage comes into full production will 

 lie in considerable measure in the manufacture of grapefruit juice. It 

 seems from tests that have been made by government investigators and 

 others, that it is a comparatively simple thing to make a natural 

 flavored grapefruit juice which will keep indefinitely when bottled. 

 Up to the present time it has not seemed possible to do this with 

 either lemons or oranges. Thus grapefruit seems to have an open 

 field among the citrus fruits. With the increase of the prohibition 

 territory in the United States, the demand for soft drinks should 

 logically become greater and therefore an appetizing and healthful 

 beverage such as grapefruit juice should find a large market. Already, 

 several companies have been formed in Florida for the purpose of 

 putting out this juice, and sales seem to have been fairly satisfactory 

 during the past season. If a real trade can be worked up for such 

 a product, there would seem to be a possibility of the distribution of 

 a reasonable amount of it. Then if California fruit can be held until 

 the time of year when the field developed by Florida advertising is 

 left without other grapefruit, good prices might be expected for a 

 reasonable amount. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that grapefruit belongs to the 

 citrus fruit family and that the limitations of planting are the same 

 as those which affect other citrus fruits. The months which have just 

 passed have illustrated again certain of the natural forces which tend 

 to limit citrus districts. The combination of severe fall winds and 

 temperatures below the freezing point have injured and almost ruined 

 certain of the plantings in the newer citrus sections. In fact, some 

 of the old sections have by no means entirely escaped. It is extremely 

 doubtful whether sections which are accustomed to receiving, every 

 second or third year, severe wind storms and damaging frosts, should 

 ever be planted to citrus fruit of any sort. The expense of developing 

 a citrus orchard is very heavy. The retarding effect of such winds 

 as have visited certain of our sections this year, can hardly be esti- 

 mated. In the final adjustment of orchard economics in California, 

 only those districts which are particularly favored with mild climatic 

 conditions can expect to successfully compete in the citrus industry. 



