SOME SUBTROPICAL ORCHARD FRUITS. 195 



growing in west Cuba. Isolated trees and very small 

 groves were found everywhere and without systematic cult- 

 ure or care, and without irrigation or soil fertilizing, the 

 trees were thrifty, healthy, and loaded with fruit of high 

 quality. In the near future it is probable that early 

 ripening oranges of high quality will be grown on the rich 

 soils of Cuba that can be furnished at prices within the 

 reach of the laboring classes. The early maturing of the 

 oranges of south Florida and Cuba will not interfere to 

 any great extent with the profits of orange-growing on the 

 west coast, as the navel variety, and most others grown, 

 should not be shipped before midwinter to secure best 

 prices, as the cool nights much retard the ripening period. 



In California, orange-growing has made rapid advances 

 within the past twenty years. The great commercial 

 orchards on the mesa lands of south California have no 

 equal in extent or methodic culture and care on this con- 

 tinent, and few if any equals on the Mediterranean. 

 Indeed, orange-growing on the foot-hills and mesa ridges, 

 with air-drainage (97) to lower levels, has extended north 

 in California to Placer County and to a less extent to the 

 north part of the Sacramento valley. The enormous 

 extent of the business in recent years can be gathered from 

 the statement of Leonard Coates, who says that in 1897-98 

 and 1898-99, the orange crop of the west coast reached 

 an annual shipment of four million boxes, filling 14,000 

 cars. 



It is not probable that this vast interest will decline for 

 the reason stated above, that the cool nights favor late 

 ripening. The use of this luscious and healthful fruit is 

 on the increase. Cuba, Porto Rico, and south Florida 

 will control the early market, but California will control 

 the market from midwinter to July and will adapt ship- 

 ments to this period. 



