TWENTY -EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS 5 CONVENTION. 



167 



the fruit deteriorating if left on the trees longer. Judging from " Fruit 

 World" reports I believe that during these years the prices I have received 

 have, on the average, been the maximum. As these were the returns 

 with a limited supply upon the market and when every other condition 

 was the most favorable, the growers can speculate as to what they will 

 reach when the supply is greatly augmented, as it must certainly 

 soon be. 



The average price received for fruit shipped during the time above 

 mentioned was $1.64 per box on the tree. Some of this fruit was sold 

 in New York as late as September 20th. This is a most excellent show- 

 ing, and could it be maintained ought to satisfy the most grasping. Yet 

 it seems not to be as much as many growers have the impression the 

 fruit brought. Occasionally a car would sell at high prices, and it was 

 such reports that made the false impressions. The average, however, 

 gives the correct basis from which to judge of its merit as a marketing 

 orange. 



In discussing the merits of the Valencia Late it should be understood 

 that I embrace the orange known as Hart's Tardiff, for if there be a 

 difference between the two it is but slight. I also notice the tendency 

 of growers and shippers of Hart's Tardiff to abandon that name, 

 evidently preferring that of the Valencia Late, it, for the present at 

 least, being the more popular. Nurserymen who have heretofore adver- 

 tised the Hart's Tardiff have also fallen into line, and now from the 

 same stock are able to supply the trade with the Valencia Late. 



One of the best oranges in many respects, and one of the most profit- 

 able that is grown in Southern California, is the St. Michael. There 

 are at least three distinct varieties called the St. Michael. One, how- 

 ever, the Red St. Michael, will not rank with the others; it is not ex- 

 tensively grown, nor is it worthy of consideration by growers. The two 

 kinds that are well known are the small, round variety known as the 

 paper rind, and the large, flat variety. Both have thin rinds and may 

 be properly called paper rind, the appellation commonly given the 

 St. Michael in general. The former I would shun, the tree being more 

 of a dwarf, the fruit small and more inclined to drop than the other 

 variety, which even with it is a serious weakness. All oranges should be 

 marketed when in their prime, but it seems that this variety suffers 

 more by neglect in this respect than any other. The tree of the larger 

 specimen is large, hardy, and a regular and heavy bearer. The fruit 

 runs to small sizes, and going on the market when oranges are usually 

 higher than they are earlier in the season, enables the retailer to sell at 

 a nominal price per dozen, and also it largely supplies the summer hotel 

 trade. This variety has merit and maybe commended to those seeking 

 a first-class orange, especially for heavy or medium-heavy soil. I men- 

 tion this kind of soil, not because the St. Michael can not be grown in 



