CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



tance ; the semi-tropical orange rules in the markets of the world. 

 That the semi-tropical orange should have this distinctive character 

 is most fortunate, for it ministers directly to the will for industry 

 which is superior in semi-tropical countries. By the seven degrees 

 of frost which the orange tree will endure without injury, it has 

 gained the seventy degrees of north latitude through which its fruit 

 freely seeks a market. Because, though the tropical orange would 

 reach most distant markets in small quantities, it could never attain 

 the commercial supremacy which the fruit now enjoys. 



The sweet orange is a native of eastern Asia and was carried 

 thence to India and to Asia Minor. It possibly reached Portugal 

 from India through the early Portuguese navigators. Thus the 

 distribution of the fruit was westward. The history of modern com- 

 mercial orange growing consists of a series of progressive move- 

 ments always trending westward and gaining in volume the newer 

 centers of production outstripping the older and ultimately largely 

 displacing tkeir product from the greatest markets of the upper 

 divisions of the temperate zone. When the Moors introduced orange 

 growing into Algeria and Spain they displaced the traffic from 

 Asia Minor and gave the Mediterranean region for several hundred 

 years undisputed possession of the markets of the north of Europe 

 and possession also of the American demand when that arose. 

 When the Spaniards and Portuguese carried the orange to the West 

 Indies and to Florida they laid the foundation for an industry which 

 American enterprise developed in Florida until that district not 

 only contended with the Mediterranean region for American 

 markets, but was planning to invade northern Europe by direct 

 ship-loads when the demonstration came that the climate of north- 

 ern Florida and of the Gulf coast westward was too treacherous for 

 commercial ventures in orange growing at least with the, then 

 popular varieties and methods of propagation. But as the Florida 

 supply failed through the severe freezing of 1895, California came 

 forward and, though Florida has re-established her citrus industry, 

 California is now not only supplying the larger part of the oranges 

 consumed in the United States, but is selling the highest priced 

 oranges in the London market against a world of competitors. 



In support of this contention let it be noted that the most 

 important statistical statement of the world's citrus fruits in the 

 English language was published April 15, 1914.* It shows that 

 the annual citrus fruit crop of the world is equal to from ninety 

 to one hundred million boxes of California size, which would fill 

 two hundred and thirty to two hundred and fifty thousand car- 

 loads of California capacity. Of these the United States and Spain 

 produce thirty per cent each; Italy twenty-five per cent; Japan 

 and Palestine each less than five per cent ; the balance, scattering. 

 The acreage both in California and Florida is increasing. The 

 normal product of the United States is approximately 78,000 car- 

 loads, and California, in view of recent plantings, 50,000 carloads. 



"Bulletin 11, California Citrus Protective League, Los Angeles, "The World's Pro- 

 SecJetary Coramerc Citrus Fruits and Their By-products," by F. O. Wallschlaeger, 



