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TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



and the introduction of new varieties or their production by crossing 

 and selection, thus producing both a tree and fruit adapted to the cli- 

 matic and soil conditions of our northern counties, may well engage 

 our special attention. Such lines of research are too important to be 

 neglected. While the yearly output of our orange groves has reached 

 enormous proportions, and the promise in the near future is for a still 

 greater yield, the discovery of a stock or variety which would be blight- 

 resistant would be worth millions, and a stock that could withstand the 

 influence causing an ordinary orange to have "die-backs" would be of 

 great value. The influence of climatic and soil conditions on the orange 

 and other citrus fruits is a subject demanding study. This can only ])e 

 done by trained men, provided with proper equipments. The extreme 

 variability of soils in adjoining fields is a fact well known in California. 



The general relation of climate to the orange tree should also be 

 studied. Most important of all is the study of the influence of fertil- 

 izing on the health and fruitfulness of the tree. The time of applica- 

 tion, the amount, and the kind of different soils, stock, and varieties, and 

 the effects of various fertilizers on amount, size, and quality of the produc- 

 tion — all such questions certainly need answering. With fruit trees 

 like the orange, proper investigation of all such matters as soil, climate, 

 fertilizer, stock, and varieties would require a great deal of patience, 

 more, in fact, than the average soil-tiller can give, even admitting he 

 was capable. With cereals and other annual plants, a single season 

 gives results of positive value, but not so with the orange. Therefore, 

 investigation of the kind mentioned should be begun and continued by 

 the Government. This work, conducted in a proper manner, would 

 bring about an increase in the production of all subtropical fruits, which 

 would be a full compensation for the expense, and if nothing more be 

 accomplished, there would be an awakening of interest in this line of 

 fruit culture commensurate with its importance. 



Orange-growing in the counties of the Sacramento Valley is no longer 

 an experiment, but it must be admitted that many improvements could 

 be made which would doubtless bring about better results in this 

 industry, so attractive to the home-seeker immigrating from the East. 



One thing is certain — that fine fruits can only be had from rich soils, 

 and it goes without saying that very large areas of the northern counties 

 do possess the richest soils of the whole State. This fact in itself must 

 sooner or later have an effect upon the orange industry, the richness of 

 the soils precluding the necessity of using fertilizers for many years to 

 come. 



So, to sum the matter up, where fruits can be grown the cheapest and 

 equally as good as elsewhere, there the industry will undoubtedly be 

 pursued, and these conditions prevail in the northern counties — plenty 

 of rich lands at minimum prices per acre, abundance of cheap water for 



