108 



ORANGE CULTrPvE. 



^ives, and always will give, the first rank to Florida oranges in 

 the United States. 



If the orange growers of Europe find it to their advantage 

 to ship their inferior fruit to America, the expenses of freight, 

 commissions, and a tariff (secured by General Sanford, of this 

 State, for the protection of home growers) — if, we say, the Euro- 

 pean growers still reap a good profit, in spite of their drawbacks, 

 what should not the home grower reap, with better fruit, lighter 

 freights, and no tariff? 



Those who only see the tempting-looking Mediterranean 

 fruit, as set forth for the inspection of the retail consumer, have 

 a very feeble conception of the real extent of the business, or the 

 frequent losses to the shippers. To those who do know, the won- 

 der is that the foreign groAvers still persevere in sending their 

 fruit so far to meet with such frequent losses. 



Quite often the loss from decay on cargoes from the Medi- 

 terranean and the West Indies amounts to fifty, seventy-five, or 

 ninety per cent. In many cases not enough is realized from the 

 cargo to pay the freight. 



When, however, the cargo arrives in good order, its sale 

 often gives the ownei*s a good profit, and so they keep on after 

 each reverse, hoj^ing for better luck next time. 



Nor would these profits accrue to the foreign orange as often 

 as they do were it not for a trick of the trade adopted by some 

 • dishonest dealers. 



Knowing the eagerness with which Florida oranges are 

 sought, they select the best-looking foreign oranges, usually those 

 from Yalentia, in Spain, mark them Florida, and sell them as 

 . such to unsuspecting or ignorant customers. 



In New York alone, during the Christmas holidays, over 

 fifty millions of oranges are sold, and nearly all of them are 

 labeled, " Florida oranges." One of the largest dealers in New 

 York, who largely supplies the Washington and Fulton markets, 

 tells us frankly that all of the best imported fruit is labeled 

 Florida" to meet the popular demand. 



The day is coming, however, when the superior orange of 

 Florida will drive the inferior imported fruits ©ut of the markets, 



