New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-18
CALIFORNIA ORCHARDS.

SANTA BARBARA, Feb. co. promised you
Trustworthy account Of the culture OF semi
tropical fruits In this lower country, and
give you here facts which, they surprise
yvu, you uIay yet, confident rely upon as nnder
stated rather than exaggerated The orange Almond
olive, English walnut, lemon, lime. and cron are the
fruits TO which attention has been for two three years.
specially directed in the Counties OF Santa Barbara Los
Angeles San Bernardino and San Diego Most OF these
fruits were cultivated the old missions for many years
but they appear TO have attracted the attention OF
their spanish neghbors Of the Americans, who
were their devotion gold and silver mining slow 70
the advantages OF this State for agriculture and
horticulture. Santa Barbara County has long, narrow
strip Of coast, fronting south, you win the
map, which ia believed to be peculiarly fitted for the cul
ture OF the almond, which in Los Angeles
is found 10 be sometimes hurt by q late
frost, the peach is with US or course, frosts
here slight but the almond tree when in full bloom
Is tender This region is thought TO be less tted for
reason, for the orange, which grows finely In Los
Angeles and San Bernardno The almond Is also in
sheltered spots in the Napa Valley norh Of San Francis
but believe It Is there uncertain CROP There
several varieties Of the almond and Mr. Heath, living
here and Judge Fernald of this town. and doubt
others, have originated seedlings OF their own Of which
many planters think highly. But the variety most
planted here is called the Languedoc and comes from
several trees imported from France years ago.
good points are told that 1t blossoms late the
II
Inc bearer. 1t does best in sandy lOam will grow
without rrgation-though believe Is best with water
unless low ground-and the custom ia 10 plant 1O5
trees 10 the acre. They begin to bear at three years
from the bud and at five years may be expected TO
yield pounds TO the tree say 1000 pounds per
which, at 20 cents per pound would give $40 per
They bear for a number of years; at years may,
told be counted for 30 pounds TO the tree which
would give 500 TO the No disease troubles the tree
here but the squirrel and gopher destroy it when Is
young and the former sometimes ros the tree. These
however easily driven out by poison, and persever
ance; and one mans labor sufIices 10 keep in
order 20 or even 30 Of trees. When
they are ripe, the almonds fall to the ground;
the husk falls off Of itself, is easily picked
off, and as the harvest time here is always dry, the
shells usually bright and Clean Some persons. how
improve their appearance by the use Of sulphur
vapor bath, harmless device. The native seedlings
mostly harshel; these OF course bear lower price in
the market but they said 10 have advantage in
being exempt from the attacks of little Bird the innet
which occasionally appears in large numbers and does
mischief
OLIVE CULTURE.
The olive, Of which the oldest and OF the finest
groves in the State at the San Diego Mission prOpa
gated by cuttings. 1t grows slowly at first begins to
bear years under favorable circumstances, but
does not yield full crop until the tenth, even the
twelfth year. IL should then return average for the
orchard Of % gallons OF olives per Sixty trees
planted 70 the acre. here by the most experienced
The olives sold here at this time, for 60 cents per
gallon in the orchard anG the few olive groves in
full bearing about here, at that rate, are worth, gross,
500 per per annum. No doubt, groves come
to bear the price will 60 down but there is here i'm
mense margin, you will perceive. The finest olives
have ever tasted ate &C the San Diego Mission and
the olives OF this State, when carefully picked far
superior 10 those get from France or Spain. They
Of moderate size, but very plump juicy and fuha
vored Picked olives fetch here rs cents per gallon.
told by propretors Of olive orchards that it is more
profitable the fruit into oil than TO pickle them
From five gallons Of ripe olives go TO gallon
Of oil, and this is worth 50. The machinery for
pressing the oil is very simple and usually stands under
shed the orchard the pulp is crushed from the pits
and stuffed into strong rope nets, which are then
pressed, the oil running dowD1nto tub OF clean water
on the surface Of which II collects. am told that the
and the crushed seeds, pressure yield guam
tty Of oil Of lower quality which is boiled TO clarity
it. The first oil needs not even bleaching here. The
olive tree with its curious grayishgreen foliage does
not NJ first seem beautiful you; but it on the
sight, and think there is finer object than grove or
these healthfu finely grown trees There are several
young orchards about here and santa Barbara is likely
TO become the center OF this culture. The olive il not
particular as 20 soil and does not here need irrga
ton The gopher the Of the young tree but
this Is its only enemy. That you may not think have
exaggerated the olive trees producveness, VIII add
that tree in this town. 30 years old, bore Sis
worth Of olives for three years in succession another,
at II years, bore two barrels OF olives At san
Diego tree reputed be 70 years old bore this year
over 100 gallons but IN that old orchard, which has
been shamefuY abused some trees did not bear at all
this year and this tree may have had rest for
years past. do not know the cost OF working an olive
orchard cultivation should not cost more than that
OF the almond but the picking is probably expensive
as it would employ number Of hands Children, how
uaadi in hfs
all at once, and it must be picked by hand.
REMARKABLE PROFITS.
The English walnut in the extensive orchards OF Mr.
Rose Los Angeles in Mr. Childss, IN that place,
and in "A few other cases in San Bernardino and here
shows itself stately, magnificent tree with clean
graysh bark, and widespreading branches It Is Ike
our own black walnut tree OF slow growth and does
not begin until it eight years OF age
Az twelve years. with thorough culture and irrigation
IL bears from so rs pounds OF nuts at fifteen years.
from 100 $50 pounds 30 trees may stand on an acre.
and it Is customary here TO plant almond trees between
the rows OF wanuts, which pay the cost OF cultivation
and handsome profit, and cut down when the wal
nuts begin 10 cover ground The nuts sold this year
,or 1oi cents Der pound, in Los Angeles. little
arithmetic will tell that, at 100 pounds TO the tree
which orchard is years old would be- everybody
tells me- an underestimate, the yield would be E5 per
acre The only expense tho cost OF cultyatlng ana
r,ratfng one man could easily care for 80 acres The
nuts fall when ripe and are picked up ana sacked as
hickory nuts with 1t ia asserted that the tree is
absolutely free from disease enemies in the State t
needs no pruning and t may be safely transplanted
when three years old. that the planter would get
crop In seven years AT twenty years. trees have borne
go hounds of nuts Two English walnut trees, near
santa Barbara 30 years old. yielded ESQ worth Of
nuts each Der annum for several years past In Los
Angeles there are several fine Spanish chestnutH, noble
which, at Is years Of bore 100 pounds OF nuts
each There are young orchards OF these Also
-. ,,hgoh haara In four Ia also