THIRTY-FOrRTH FRUIT-GROWERS CONVENTION. 



57 



l ot without lessoiivS that may be profitably studied by our eoiuparativeh' 

 little eitnis industry. 



It was in connection with this greater winter apple business 'that the 

 Department of A.nricnlture rendered one of its most important services 

 to American agricnltnre. I may be pardoned for referring to this, 

 because it was through the leadership of our ]\Ir. Powell, in the scientific 

 investigationvS of a few years ago. that the methods of handling winter 

 apples, especially in cold storage, were revolutionized, and thus the most 

 important fruit industry of the country placed on a firmer and more 

 profitable basis than ever before. ^Ir. Powell is known and esteemed 

 to-day in all the winter apple-growing sections of our country, as he 

 will be in California orange-growing districts in years to come. 



To some extent the brief history of our California citrus industry 

 has been similar to this. The seedlings in early days were considered 

 pretty good fruit. They would endure much hard usage. In Old 

 ^Fexico I saw oranges brought twenty and thirty miles in sacks on 

 pack mules, and piled up at railroay stations to be shipped like potatoes, 

 yet they reached distant markets in fair condition. I\Iany of our own 

 seedlings Avill stand treatment that would ruin our improved varieties. 

 There are two ways in which we may ward otf damage to our more 

 delicate modern citrus product. We may breed out these delicate 

 characteristics, securing varieties that would endure rough handling. 

 AVhile this would ))e at the expense of desirable qualities, had we no 

 other recourse, it probably would be the wise thing to do. 



l^rofessor Hanson, that grand man of South Dakota, who is accom- 

 plishing such wonders for horticulture in that great empire of the 

 Northwest, is trying to secure a hardy apple that will endure the cold 

 winters of that north country l)y crossing delicate varieties with the 

 unedible fruits of that region. Judging from what he has already 

 accomplished, there is little doubt about his succeeding. But no one 

 expects him to produce anything to take the place of the California 

 Bellefleur, or any other variety raised under favorable conditions, 

 sought for by fruit lovers. 



Some Southern California growers have ])een a litth' uorvous over 

 the possible outcome of Dr. Webber's new variety of hardx orange that 

 may be produced throughout the temperate regions. No doubt he has 

 produced a wonderful new fruit, but it will never take the place of our 

 California navel. Though this beautiful fruit of ours, raised perhaps 

 under as ideal conditions as exist, is delicate and unfitted to stand 

 hardship, we have now been shown how these desired qualities may be 

 retained, and yet have the fruit placed in the distant markets in perfect 

 condition. 



Instead of trying to breed into our juicy, tender fruit qualities to 

 enable it to endure hardship at the expense of those which give our 

 oranges their highest value, our propagators may now turn their atten- 

 tion to adding other delicate characteristics of flavor and beauty with 

 assurance that they need not prove a hindrance to their profitable 

 marketing. This may not only be known as the Powell era in the 

 history of the California orange industry, because of the new money 

 values his investigations have given our product, but because now we 

 may turn our attention to adding new attractiveness to our already 

 popular fruit. 



