CHAPTER II 



ORIGIN, EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE CITRUS INDUSTRY 

 IN CALIFORNIA 



Before we can consider cooperative marketing as exem- 

 plified in the citrus industry in California, it is necessary 

 to enter into a somewhat elaborate description of the in- 

 dustry itself. The ideas of many people in regard to orange 

 and lemon culture in California are not only vague but to 

 ho small extent erroneous. 



Statements in regard to the extent of the industry, the 

 cultural processes and the methods of packing and shipping 

 must not be accepted as making a pretense to comprehen- 

 siveness. Differences of opinion might conceivably arise 

 from every separate statement concerning growing, pack- 

 ing and shipping, and yet the simi of the statements here 

 given might leave on the whole an accurate idea of the in- 

 dustry as actually conducted. Hence all statements are 

 intended to be merely typical and not exhaustive, for it 

 must be remembered that in each branch of the industry 

 there are almost as many different methods as there are 

 individual growers, packers and shippers. Moreover, con- 

 ditions are so variable in the different producing areas that 

 a statement which might be true for one locality could be, 

 and often is, entirely inapplicable in another. Further to 

 simplify the situation it must be remembered that all of 

 the points to be presented apply indiscriminately to both 

 oranges and lemons, unless otherwise specified, and that 

 the phrase "citrus industry" as used in California signifies 

 primarily oranges and lemons, for very few pomelos (grape- 

 fruit), limes or citrons are produced. 



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