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The Home of the Orange and Lemon

Citrus fruits are grown here as in no other portion of Southern California.  The land and climate seem best adapted of any in the state.  The soil is a rich sandy loam, which gives the fruit that splendid hue which is characteristic of the fruit grown in this district, and also imparts the fiber and exquisite flavor for which they are famous. Another good point in connection with this locality is that no disease has ever troubled the trees, such as affects citrus fruits nearer the coast.  Singularly enough, our citrus fruit hangs on the trees better than in most localities.  This is a feature appreciated by every grower of citrus fruits as he can thereby hold his fruit until the market conditions are the most favorable before he picks.

There is probably no other branch of fruit raising which produces such immense returns as citrus culture, some of the orange orchards yielding as high as $800 an acre from trees twelve years old, and as it is a longlived tree its production increases with age. Orange culture is a delightful occupation, as it calls for little disagreeable work, while the continual beauty of the orchard is an unceasing pleasure.  Added to these, the handsome cash returns make it increasingly attractive.

(Click image for larger view)
HAULING ORANGES TO THE PACKING HOUSES  

That the industry is one of importance may be learned from the following letter from the secretary and manager of the Ontario-Cucamonga Fruit Exchange.  It briefly sets forth the amount of fruit shipped for several years, with the amount received for it:

Chamber of Commerce
            Ontario, California.
Dear Sirs:
            I hand you herewith a statement showing the number of cars shipped by this Exchange for the past twelve years, and also the amount of money received for same.  These figures include also shipments and money received on account of Cucamonga and Etiwanda Associations.

The value of these crops as sold by us excluding Cucamonga and Etiwanda is approximately:

As there is probably round about twenty per cent of the fruit in Ontario Colony not marketed by us, it would be fair to add twenty per cent to these figures in order to show the value of the crops.  The shipments given, however, are the total shipments, both Exchange and outsiders.

Yours truly,                               
    A.T. Hamilton.

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