PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 127 



pound, and we can make a very good profit on figs at that figure here in 

 California. 



A MEMBER. What does the packer pay the producer? 

 MR. ROEDING. From 2i to 3 cents. Those figs that will not do 

 for packing are used in making cofi'ee and also in making brandy. 



A vote of thanks was extended to Mr. Roeding for the information 

 given on the fig industry in Smyrna. 



THE OEANaE IN SOUTHEEF OALIFOENIA. 



By J. W. JEFFREY, of Azusa. 



In the short time I might properly have in which to present this 

 great subject to the Fruit-Growers' Convention, I can not hope to set 

 forth a satisfactory treatise upon the orange in Southern California. 

 Nor would a synopsis of what has been written upon this important 

 feature of the horticultural achievements of the State be of value, as 

 almost every one has access to the bulletins and pamphlets that have 

 been printed concerning this industry. However, had I the ability to 

 present the subject in the form of a log book of the experiences of the 

 last few years, many items would appear not even hinted at in the 

 publications at hand. Until some one shall have written a complete 

 text-book upon the orange in California, I am pleased to see this sub- 

 ject continued upon the programmes of the State Conventions, though I 

 admit that in attempting to honor my part of this one I do not know 

 what you expect or why your committee has selected me to present it. 



Few people of the north realize the rapidity with which orange 

 culture has advanced in the region south of the Tehachapi, or its effect 

 upon the industrial progress of that section. In spite of our boasted 

 climate and all agricultural and kindred interests, the orange industry 

 is responsible in the greatest measure for the stability of our institu- 

 tions, for the large increase in population, and for the rapidity of 

 progress that is apparent in every line of development. With the 

 exception of the lemon, no other horticultural product is increasing, and 

 it is difficult to realize the extent to which the orange has superseded 

 all other fruits. In 1889 I was delegated by a local committee to make 

 up an exhibit for a citrus fair to represent my home locality, known as 

 "The Azusa Valley." After two days of hard work I had secured six 

 boxes of Navel oranges thought to be of exhibition quality. This repre- 

 sented all the fancy stock in the valley, and it was proudly exhibited 

 as the first fruit offerings of an ambitious but only promising section. 

 In 1901, just a dozen years later, the territory canvassed with such 

 meager results shipped 2,200 carloads of oranges and 500 carloads of 



