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TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



common sense, it is very generally adopted and set out, later to be found 

 wholly undesirable and not adapted to existing conditions or localities, 

 or perchance results in an overproduction. There are varieties of 

 citrus fruits which may be grown to a limited extent with profit, but 

 would result in disaster if very generaly cultivated. Take, for instance, 

 the Tangerines, the Satsumas, the Kumquats, the Malta or Ruby Blood, 

 or grape-fruit. There is a demand, at good prices, for a limited quantity 

 of these varieties. Owing, however, to their peculiar characteristics, 

 when this demand is supplied, they will not go into general consump- 

 tion, except at prices that would be wholly unprofitable. 



In the brief discussion of the merits of the various varieties of the 

 orange grown commercially in California, I shall not attempt to give a 

 description of either the trees or the fruit. The mere mention of the 

 names, I take it, will be quite sufficient, their characteristics being well 

 known. 



In seeking a desirable orange tree, the grower must take into consid- 

 eration many points. The ideal tree must be hardy, so that it will 

 stand a low degree of temperature with little or no injury, and will also 

 thrive with light irrigation and even with indifferent cultivation. It 

 should be a vigorous grower, a heavy and regular bearer, thornless, and 

 its fruitage season must come when the orange is needed by the Eastern 

 consumer and must extend over a long period of time so that advan- 

 tage may be taken of favorable market conditions. Such a tree must 

 grow an orange neither too large nor too small, of attractive color, 

 shapely, and of fine texture. It must be heavy of juice, of good flavor, 

 the grain fine, meat show rich color, and should have no seeds or but 

 few. Furthermore, it must have fine keeping and shipping qualities, 

 for, however superior an orange may be, it is a failure unless it can be 

 put upon the market in sound condition. 



The Washington Navel has justly won its title to be called the "King 

 of Oranges." It is the ideal California orange, being especially adapted 

 to conditions as they exist here. The splendid quality of the Washing- 

 ton Navel has won for Southern California favorable recognition 

 throughout this country and England as an orange district. The tree 

 is an early as well as a regular and heavy bearer, and the fruit is of 

 attractive color, desirable size, a good keeper, and is susceptible of 

 exceedingly high development along these lines. 



We may have other excellent varieties introduced into California, but 

 I believe that the Washington Navel will continue to hold the first place 

 as California's standard growing and shipping orange. While it is an 

 imported variety, yet commercially it is distinctly a product of Southern 

 California, and has no competitor in Florida, Louisiana, or in any for- 

 eign country. It is marketable at the season when an orange is most 

 needed and meets with a general demand throughout the country, and 



