ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 107 



In corroboration of these statements relative to the keeping 

 qualities of our oranges and of other points, the following is 

 quoted from the writings of Mr. J. De Earth Shorb, an extensive 

 pomologist of San Gabriel, Los Angeles county : 



"The area upon which this culture can be successfully fol- 

 lowed is necessarily limited; the population and consumption 

 in this State and adjoining States and Territories are rapidly 

 increasing each year ; new markets are opened to us through the 

 energy of the Southern and Central Pacific Railway Directory 

 in extending their lines ; and therefore I think the consumption 

 will keep pace with the production and sustain the present 

 market price. Another and most important reason to sustain 

 this opinion rests in the fact that on this coast the oranges re- 

 main on the trees, without decay, for a period of at least from 

 four to six months after they are matured, thus giving us that 

 period to ship in, while other orange-producing countries are 

 compelled to ship their fruit as soon as it is matured and some- 

 times before; hence the demoralized condition of the orange 

 market, at certain seasons, in our Eastern cities. While other 

 countries are compelled to gather their entire crop in a very 

 limited time, we may supply the market .only as fast as the con- 

 sumption will warrant. Our oranges are remarkable for their 

 good keeping qualities when packed for market. I am indebted 

 to Mr. Win. Pridham, of Los Angeles, agent for Wells, Fargo & 

 Co., for the following statement establishing this fact: 'Eight 

 boxes of oranges were gathered and shipped from my orchard 

 about the last of March, 1875, to Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agents in 

 London, Messrs. Iris and Albin. They were shipped to San 

 Francisco by steamer, thence overland to New York, thence by 

 steamer to Liverpool, where they arrived in perfect order and 

 condition, not one being decayed, and gave so general satis- 

 faction that another shipment has been made lately to the same 

 destination, and, I hope, with similar results.'" 



The following is from a letter to the author by F. M. Shaw, 

 of Los Angeles : 



In the season of 1873-4 he took two boxes of oranges to New 

 York via Panama, being thirty days in making the trip from 

 LOS Angeles. Specimens of the oranges and of other fruits he 



