THE ORANGE OUTLOOK 361 



the other hand, the higher day temperature in southern California is 

 valuable in that district because the later fruit is still maturing. The 

 winter aspects of the trees in northern and southern California are 

 therefore quite different ; in the north, the dark green of dormancy ; in 

 the south, the gold of the fruit and the oft-protruding light green of the 

 winter wood growth. In both regions all growth conditions seem 

 good ; each after its own kind, and the two, in a sense, complimentary. 

 During the last few years there has been rapid extension of orange 

 planting, particularly in the suitable lands on the eastern rim of the 

 San Joaquin and on both sides of the Sacramento valley. The orange 

 product of the northern district is normally about one-eighth of the 

 State product, though in 1913 it rose to about one fourth of it because 

 it was marketed before the frost period. It will increase rapidly, for 

 of about two million trees now growing, only have half attained bear- 

 ing age and planting is still being freely undertaken. Three-quarters 

 of all the trees north of the Tehachapi mountains are in the citrus 

 districts of eastern Tulare County. 



THE GENERAL OUTLOOK FOR THE ORANGE 



At the present time orange growing has a very promising outlook. 

 The prospect for much larger consumption, at the east and abroad, is 

 very encouraging. The orange is passing from its old status as a lux- 

 ury to its proper recognition as a staple winter fruit for dwellers in 

 cold climates. For such use the agreeable acid and sprightly flavor of 

 the California fruit especially commends it. The consumption of the 

 fruit per capita, away from California, is still small and will be greatly 

 increased when people know better its desirability and the reasonable 

 prices at which it can be secured. This wider distribution is to be con- 

 fidently expected and the rapid increase in population through the great 

 west and north is each year giving California growers nearer markets 

 of growing consumptive capacity. It will be of great advantage to the 

 whole country, as well as to California, to have production steadily 

 increased. 



Some considerations in this line are given to the closing pages of 

 Chapter VI. To fully appreciate the advantage of California in supply- 

 ing the whole northern half of the North American continent, especially 

 with early fruits and semi-tropical fruits, one should calculate the 

 exceedingly small area of suitable fruit land in California as compared 

 with the area of the half-continent indicated, which is our logical con- 

 suming territory and in which development and population are now 

 increasing so rapidly. Take a map of the continent, place your thumb 

 over the area of California and gaze at the uncovered area, north of 

 the fortieth parallel, if you please, and estimate the duty of California 

 in coming decades. Millions will multiply on the continent, but the 

 safe area for tender fruits will never increase an acre. From this point 

 of view, it really seems impossible for California to create an over- 

 supply of fruits which are distinctively her province to grow. There 

 are likely to be temporary surpluses and problems in distribution, but 

 a general oversupply seems unreasonable. 



