4 BULLETIN 1237, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The commercial development of orange production in California 
therefore began about 1880. From January 1 to July 1, 1883, it is 
estimated that 151,450 boxes of oranges were shipped from the 
State (9) and approximately 50.000 boxes from July 1 to December 31. 
By the season of 1892-93, the first year oranges were shipped by 
cooperative associations, shipments had increased to 5,936 cars of 
oranges and lemons. (4) 
Accounts of the early history of citrus growing in California are 
silent for the most part with regard to lemons, which now make up 
approximately 20 per cent of all citrus shipments. The lemon is of 
equal antiquity with the orange, and was undoubtedly introduced by 
the Mission Fathers at the same time as the orange. Its commercial 
development was much slower, however. The report of the surveyor- 
general of California for the fiscal year, 1881-82, gives the number 
of bearing lemon trees in the State as 62,130. According to the same 
report, there were 484,227 bearing orange trees in the State at that 
time. "Of this total, 48,350 bearing lemon trees and 450,125 bear- 
ing orange trees were in Los Angeles County. " (9) 
High prices for oranges for many years directed the attention of 
the growers away from lemons. The additional care required to pre- 
pare the lemon for market also lowered it in favor. Improved methods 
of handling and curing lemons were developed, however: and as 
orange production and shipments increased so that extremely high 
profits were no longer the rule, attention was given to lemon culture. 
Certain sections of the State were found to be especially adapted to 
the production of the lemon, and planting during the nineties received 
considerable impetus in San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and 
Tulare Counties. In 1900-1 the returns of the county assessors 
show that there were 3,132,785 bearing orange trees and 805,084 
bearing lemon trees in the State. (4) These figures probably under 
state the total. Reports for the year ending August 31, 1921, give 
the total citrus shipments from California for the period as 56.S95 
carloads, of which 45,236 carloads were oranges and grapefruit and 
11,659 carloads were lemons. (6) (See fig. 2.) 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. 
The cooperative marketing of citrus fruit was undertaken in re- 
sponse to well-defined needs. The early period was one of experi- 
mentation, a cautious testing of methods and practices with, in some 
instances, inevitable mistakes and discontent. The men who organ- 
ized the local associations and Later federated these into the district 
and (-(Mitral organizations had no marketing plan to guide them. 
Neither were they directed by men outside the industry. They did 
the things immeaiatery at hand, and as they gained in confidence 
and experience the scope of the organization was gradually enlarged. 
The California Fruit Growers Exchange 2 is one of the foremost 
examples of successful cooperative marketing. Many recently organ- 
ized cooperative associations of fruit and vegetable growers are 
* This bulletin is based upon information which was ("lice! (Ml through tho cooperation and assistance of 
of associations and district exchanges, and officials of the sales, purchasing, 
and by-products organizations, which make up 1 he exchange sysi em. 
nt Is due to the general manager and' department heads of the California Fruit 
for detailed Information and records furnished during the course of the investigation 
and for their prompt response. '" many requests for supplemental data. 
