PERIODS OF SHIPMENT. 



Every Day "California can ship oranges every day in the year." 



in Mr. J. C. Chase of Jacksonville, Florida. "In fact, 



the Year. California can keep the market supplied with oranges 



fresh from the tree and in prime condition the year 



around." Edward J. Wickson, in "California Fruits, and How to 



Grow Them." 



There is no time in the year when there are not some shipments 

 of oranges from California, and the period of ripening of the different 

 varieties should be made a matter of close study by the person in- 

 tending to set out a new orange grove, for there are certain times in 

 the year when the California orange has no competition whatever, 

 and consequently brings a fancy price. 



Shipments Heaviest At present, the lightest shipping months are 

 after September and October. Some of the crop is 



Christmas. picked early and shipped east for the Thanks- 



giving trade, and the large Christmas demand 



is also supplied. In January the heaviest shipments begin, consisting 

 mainly of the navel orange. Shipments of navels continue until June. 

 The late Valencia and Joppa oranges are shipped in July and August. 

 Some growers of Valencias hold their crops on the trees even longer, 

 marketing them as late as November. 



VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 



The most profitable varieties of oranges grown in California are 

 the following, and their relative importance is about according to the 

 order in which they are named : 



Variety most Washington Navels. The fruit is of a flam- 



Commonly Planted. ing golden color ; is solid, heavy and seedless ; 

 smooth of skin and fine of texture ; pulp melt- 

 ing, very juicy and highly flavored. It begins to ripen in November. 

 The tree is semi-dwarf, a rapid grower, and a prolific and early bearer. 

 Its foliage is deep green, heavy and compact, with leaf large and 

 prominently winged. It is sturdy stock, with limbs well balanced, 

 smooth and deep green branches, and is thornless. The blossom eon- 

 tains a secondary blossom within itself. The tree was imported from 

 Bahia, Brazil. 



Profit in Late Valencia. This orange has proven one of the 



Valencias. most, if not the most profitable. It ripens in May 

 and June, when the other varieties are out of the 

 market, and can be held on the trees as late as November and still 

 be in fine shipping condition. The fruit is elliptical, large arid very 

 heavy, contains very few or no seeds, is remarkably juicy and fine in 

 flavor, and in contrast with its pale yellow or greenish skin is the 

 deepest orange within. It is an excellent shipper. The tree, which 

 is large and prolific, was imported from England. '' . 



A Heavy Mediterranean Sweet. Fruit of medium size to large, 



Bearer. pulp and skin of exceedingly fine texture, has few seeds, 



is deep orange color, and ripens late. The tree, which 



is thornless, of a dwarf habit a^nd a heavy bearer, was brought from 



the Mediterranean region. 



16 



