THE ORCHARD CROP 263 



semitropical sections. The orange was introduced into the 

 United States from southern Europe. The so-called " native " 

 oranges of Florida are no doubt trees which ran wild from 

 oranges introduced by the early Spanish explorers. 



The plum ranks fourth in importance. Our older varieties, 

 such as prunes, damson and egg plums, were introduced from 

 Europe. In recent years another species, the Japanese plum, 

 has been introduced from the Orient. Within the last fifty years 



FIG. 127. An olive orchard in California 



we have domesticated some of our native wild plums, securing 

 such varieties as Wild Goose, De Soto, and Way land. 



Pears and cherries, both native to Europe, follow in order of im- 

 portance. Other fruits, as the date and the olive (Fig. 127), have 

 been introduced and, though not widely grown, are important. 



339. Orchard regions of the United States. The principal 

 orchard regions of the United States are the gravelly soils of 

 New England and New York ; the Blue Ridge foothills and 

 southward ; the sandy soils of New Jersey ; the regions about the 

 Great Lakes ; some of the valleys of the West and Northwest, 



