The Placer herald., 1873-06-14
LETTER FROM SAN BAHNARDINO.
SAN BARNARDINo, May 81, 1873

SAN BARNARprNo, May 81, 1873,
EpIToRs HERALD
Although quite distance from home, enjoy
the pleasure each week of reading the HERALD.
Among the many good suggestions, find III
your Issue of the Oath inst. one particularly in
teresting to me, and hope to many Others i'll
regard to orange culture in dear old Placer. All
honor to the pioneers, Messrs. Peck, Andrews,
Norton, Gordon, Barkhaus, Chamberlain, and
others, for their forethought and experiments in
that hanch Of industry and pleasure, thereby
demonstrating that all who may follow their ex-
ample will be rewarded in time, in producing
that luscious and wholesome fruit, in addition
to enjoying the shade of symmetrical evergreen
trees. Early in February / visited Messrs Will
son a. Roses orange groves twelve nn.s ."st oi
Los Angeles. 1t was the most beautiful sight in
Horticulture l ever beheld. should Judge
there were about 2,c00 trees in each, from ten to
twelve years old, each tree bearing from 00O
to 1000 oranges some then ripe, and all to
ripen within the next four months. Many of the
trees were ten and twelve inches in diameter,
the Fl st branches shooting out nearly horizontal
eight to twelve feet from the main trunk, from
four to six fet above ground; thence upward
for fifteen to twenty feet the limbs and foliage
drawn in like a grain stack, forming most
beautiful conical shaped tree with green and
dense foliage variegated throughout with the
golden. hued fruit. the same apparently, nu-
merous peaches on thrifty tree in like
clusters, Just imagine yourselves on an emf
nence with me overlooking that beautiful pic
ture, then an invitation to go through the
grove, pluck and eat all you wish. 1t was really
paradise on earth.
! asked Mr. Rose if he found oranges to be
profitable. He replied, that, when bearing, it
came the neareast finding money of anything ht
ever did" | find have b en- enlarging beyond
first thought therefore strike out all of no in
terest and will directly to my, main purpose
to second your effort to,irduce the good people
of Placer to make no further delay in orange
culture. Commence this year If there are no
trees to be obtained from nursery, plant seeds
at once early as possible, prior to the mid
die of July, the last period in planting season
in this section where oiange, lemon, lime ba-
nanas and other tropical fruits flourish.
. confess my ignorance AS to the mode Of or
ange culture before coming here, and many 9th
ers are still as ignorant | was, and would
cslninence now, If they knew how.
/ will impart some of the information have
gained upon inquiring from experienced persons
here
1st fertile, sandy soil or loan is best, but
don't wholly ignore an inferior quality. Try all.
I'd. Prepare the soil deep and thorough.
in BEDS plant good plump seeds Gas as
II 4. AZ 4
low them to dry two inches apart. in rows one
inc h Deep the rows to be six inches apart: after
planting, place sufficient light brush on sup
ports, one foot above the bed. to break th'
burning rays. Of the sun. Irligate daily, or Of
ten enough TO keep the soil in continual good
growing moisture This will suffice for
''starter' as no time ought to be lost this year,
and in the future l will follow up tie subject
until they become old enough to survive the
most severe weather experienced as high up as
Dutch Flat or Forest Hill. When young, they
are very sensitive and tender, but after fopg or
five years they become quite hardy and rapid
growers, and each year. atterthe first, less cas-
is needed. and not very troublesome Other than
to prepare them with covering for the winter.
A. Should any one desire further and more par
ticular information, if they will communicate
Win ne Dy letteI Will BltuIy IesPoHu.. u 4
should not possess the knowledge desired, will
inquire of experienced parties, and tie only re-
compense shall fxacts is. for each party to per-
severe and raise at leas. tree to fruit bearin
for themselves, and thereby in time render a
great benefit to the county.
This is a beautiful and healtbful valley and in
future may have something to say about its
advantages and disadvantages At present ]
am sojourning at Arrowhead Hot Springs, with
benefit to my health. and hope to be at home in
August. to render my mite in the coming CAM
paigp, in behalf OF the peoples interests.
Respectfully yours,
B F. MooRE.