166 



TWENTY- EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



will be. It is certain, however, that there must be a large increase in 

 the demand for a summer orange, or there will be serious disappoint- 

 ment among Valencia growers. 



I may be charged with selfishness in expressing such pessimistic views 

 with reference to the future of the Valencia. As I have as little to fear 

 of an overproduction as any other grower, I believe I can speak on this 

 subject with a reasonable degree of honesty. Conditions, however, may 

 radically change, and I trust they will. While I am convinced that a 

 greater demand than now exists may be created for this orange, as 

 indeed we have seen it rapidly increase during the last two years, yet I 

 doubt that the demand will keep pace with the enormous increase in 

 production which we must look for The Valencia is not a heavy annual 

 bearer. After the tree is fully matured it is inclined to produce a good 

 crop only biennially. When these crops are supplemented by heavy 

 deciduous crops, low prices must be expected. It must also be under- 

 stood that it costs more to market a summer orange than it does other 

 varieties. Extra expense is incurred not only by grower and shipper, 

 but likewise by the Eastern handier. 



While I regard the Valencia grown under favorable conditions, as the 

 best orange, all things considered, known here or elsewhere the world 

 over, it has its objections as a standard orange for the general grower^ 

 or as the best orange suited to the most favorable marketing period, and 

 these are conditions which must prevail if we expect to make the culture 

 of the orange uniformly profitable. In many districts where it may be 

 grown, so far as the abundance of crops is concerned, the Valencia can 

 not be held, without deteriorating, until there is a demand for it at 

 remunerative prices. It loses color, flavor, and fineness of texture, and 

 thus in all the essentials of a superior orange becomes a failure. It 

 comes to its best after the markets have been supplied for six months 

 or more with other varieties, and when both California and Eastern 

 deciduous fruits and berries are in greatest abundance. People there- 

 fore naturally turn from the orange and thus materially reduce the 

 demand for a summer orange. 



Many of the smaller cities, those ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 

 inhabitants, and which are large consumers of oranges during the 

 winter and spring months, can not take care of a car of oranges after 

 the Fourth of July at such prices as will make it profitable. 



In order that we might get a correct idea about prices received for the 

 Valencia, and also to remove false impressions created by the high 

 prices obtained during the close of the last two seasons, I have estimated 

 the average price- received from shipments I made during the months of 

 July and August for the past six years. I take these months, because 

 practically the entire crop is usually shipped by the first of September, 

 and also because with most growers it is necessary to ship by that time* 



