190 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



furnish fresh oranges in large quantities all through 

 the calendar year and can make the United States 

 practically independent of importations. Another 

 advantage peculiar to the State is that the orange 

 grown in a dry summer is more dense in texture and 

 has much better keeping and shipping quality than 

 one raised in a humid summer. The fruit is also 

 more sprightly and refreshing, and though there is 

 some controversy over the alleged superior sweetness 

 of the Gulf fruit., the popularity of the California 

 orange and prices which it commands are evidence 

 of its wide popularity. 



The pomelo or grapefruit is also grown in Cali- 

 fornia, hut has not met the extent of demand that 

 was anticipated. 



In California the term small-fruits signifies only 

 berries and currants, as the cherry is always classed 

 with other great orchard fruits and the grape stands 

 alone as the foundation of a great fruit industry, as 

 has been indicated. Aside from supplies for home 

 use and local markets, there is a large field for small- 

 fruit growing for shipment. Berries are largely used 

 by the canners. Small-fruits are also shipped to mar- 

 kets from one to two thousand miles distant in the 

 interior states and territories to the north and east. 

 The earlier ripening of these fruits gives shippers an 

 opportunity to place the product in this vast region, 

 where there are home-grown supplies later in the 

 year. The growing of small-fruits is scattered over 

 the State and the special regions are widely distant 

 from each other. 



