Fruit Farming for Profit in California. 103 



tlie fertility of our soils, and the expanded possibilities 

 of oTir climate, tlie hopeful direction of permanent 

 greatness. For the sake of perspicuity, let it be re- 

 j)eated that the permanency of a basis industry is 

 dependent upon conditions favourable to successfully 

 meeting a competition offered by other countries. 

 Viewing California from this standpoint, it becomes 

 more apparent every day that horticulture is to become 

 the great industry of this country, to which other in- 

 dustries will become subordinate and incidental. All 

 j)eople find it advantageous to buy . from abroad the 

 articles which will be furnished more cheaply than pro- 

 duced at home. Between individuals and common- 

 wealths, the law of economic _ production enforces the 

 policy of directing the individual and general productive 

 activity into the mcst profitable channels. If the pro- 

 ducts of our orchards and vineyards can be offered in 

 Eastern markets, at rates which will justify their pur- 

 chase by consumers, as against the production of like 

 articles at home, our industry in this regard is perma- 

 nent. The question of probability, as to whether 

 California can become the orchard of the whole country, 

 is answered by experience. 



The writer finds a prevalent opinion to exist, which 

 is a matter of surprise, to the effect that California 

 sells fruit to the East, because of earlier conditions. 

 It is the commonly received opinion, that our fruits 

 ripen at a different time, and that our sales to the East 

 are made when the home product is unavailable. This 

 is not true. The fruits of the East, when taken in 

 their entire variety, ripen in the months of July, August, 

 September, and October. Take the green-fruit ship- 



