1 68 ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



climate and locality make the appearance and quality of the 

 orange. There is no doubt that this is true, for each country 

 has some marked difference from other countries in the appear- 

 ance and quality of its fruit. The Florida is different from the 

 Cuba; that, again, differs from the Mexican, and so on. The 

 Los Angeles orange more nearly resembles the Mediterranean 

 orange than it does any other; and, from what I understand, 

 there is in soil and climate a great similarity between Los An- 

 geles county and the country producing the Mediterranean 

 orange. 



"To improve the Los Angeles seedling oranges, produced in 

 our best localities, seems to me like gilding refined gold. My 

 interest lies in the direction in which knowledge upon this sub- 

 ject is of importance to me. Having had superior opportunities 

 to make comparisons, my opinion is entitled to some consider- 

 ation. I have also tested the judgment of others, having sent 

 oranges to New York, Chicago and Boston, and to England, to 

 persons who can give an intelligent opinion even to Marshall 

 Wilder and there is but one opinion of our orange, when fully 

 ripe : The best orange we have ever eaten. 



"There are some circumstances under which it is desirable 

 to bud the orange. There are some varieties that bear abun- 

 dantly when young. By budding from these varieties, the be- 

 ginner in orange culture can have fruit early. Budded trees are 

 adapted to small places in town, as they are not likely to grow 

 to be large trees. One of these varieties, which Mr. Garey 

 names the Mediterranean Sweet, is a very good orange. If 

 grown under more favorable circumstances, and in a favorable 

 locality, it might be equal to the best Los Angeles seedling. It 

 has, too, the advantage of being almost seedless and thornless ; 

 but to plant it largely for an orchard and for long usefulness, as 

 compared with the Los Angeles, would be an experiment in 

 which I have no faith. 



[The Mediterranean Sweet oranges exhibited by me, and to 

 which Mr. Rose refers, were raised in the City of Los Angeles. 

 The oranges of this city cannot compare, in point of excellence, 

 with those of the San Gabriel fruit-belt and of other favored 

 ocalities. AUTHOR.] 



