ORCHARD AND OTHER FRUITS 



329 



large amount of protein. Canning green corn, peas, beans, and 

 tomatoes has become an important industry. 



Orchard and Other Fruits. — In the United States about 

 200,000,000 bushels of apples are grown every year. Pears, plums, 

 apricots, peaches, and nectarines also are raised in large orchards, 

 especially in California and in Georgia. Nuts form one of our 

 important articles of food, largely because of the great amount of 

 protein contained in them. 

 Walnut ranches are now 

 very profitable, especially 

 in California. 



The grape crop of the 

 world is commercially valu- 

 able, because of the raisins 

 produced. The culture of 

 lemons, oranges, and grape- 

 fruit has increased in recent 

 years in this country as 

 well as in other parts of 

 the world. Figs, olives, and 

 dates also are grown now 

 in the Southwest ; they are 

 staple foods in the Mediter- 

 ranean countries and are 

 sources of wealth to the 

 people there, as are coco- 

 nuts, bananas, and many 

 other fruits in tropical coun- 

 tries. 



Beverages and Condiments. — The coffee and cacao beans, the 

 leaves of the tea plant, products of tropical regions, form the basis 

 of very important beverages of civilized man. Black and red 

 pepper, mustard, allspice, nutmegs, cloves, and vanilla are all 

 products from various fruits and seeds of tropical plants. 



Raw Materials. — • Green plants have many other uses, besides 

 supplying food. Many of our city industries would not be in 

 existence were it not for certain plant products which furnish the 

 raw materials. Many cities of the East and South, for example, 



Picking apples, an important crop in some 

 parts of the United States. 



