The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-08-14
HOW A GREAT ORCHARD WAS
MADE.

enterprise has been established In our
neighborhood, called the Mutual Or
chard company. It is a peculiarly
California enterprise in its extent and
plan Of operations. The Company
was organized in Oakland mainly
through the exertion of Edward Nc
Lean, Esq. G. T. Hopkins, Esq,
President of the California Insurance
Company, is the President of the
corporation, and Edward Mclean,
Secretary. This Company last year
purchased from the Lake Vineyard
Land & Water Association two hun
bred and ten acres of choice fruit
land adjoining the beautiful settle
ment of Pasadena, in the San Ga
briel Valley. The land is fine gray
ely loan, admirably adapted to the
growth of semi-tropical fruits, and
situated mile east of the Pasadena
postofice, and about the same dis
tance north of the famous orchards
and vineyards of the late Hon. B. D.
Wilson.
The tract is situated about nine
miles northeast of the city of Los
Angeles, and three miles from the S.
L. K. r., on the Sierra Madre plateau,
near the base of the mountains, which
protect it from the north winds that
prevail beyond the mountain range.
Its location is about one thousand
feet above the level of the sea, in a
beautiful and picturesque situation,
commanding fine view of the noun
tains, the rich valley of San Gabriel,
and the broad savannas that sweep
away to the sea. No more health
full situation can be found in North
America.
The organization is a stock COM
pany with forty-two shares Of stock
Of the par value of $500 each. This
scheme will allot five acres of land to
each share of stock. The Company
has made a contract with Messrs.
OunsmoOr d Co. to plant the entire
tract with orange and lemon trees
and take care of the for four
years, for one half the property at
the end of that time. The Messrs.
Dunsmoor have completed the plant
ing, and the grand orchard of nearly
fifteen thousand trees is an accom-
plished fact. The land is laid out IN
rectangles, with every lot fronting on
broad, straight avenues, along which
are laid iron water pipes from res
ervoir of mountain spring water con-
tanning 100000 gallons. These
iron pipes will furnish water for irri-
cation and domestic use. The grove
now planted consists Of 1870 trees,
Of the following varieties:
Mediterranean Sweet --.--.-.---..-- 5 5SS
Navel ------..'---- ~ ~
Malta Blood 2S9
St. Michael. .--:...---...--.---- 90 90
Choice Native Budded.. ...-.----.-2,3 $50
Sweet Rind Lemon -----------I ,U5U
Los Angeles seeding Orange. .-.-.--.9,3o5
The foreign varieties of orange and
lemon trees are planted in eight rows
across the front Of every lot, and
The seedlings in the rear, so that every
shareholder will get the same variety
Of fruit. The trees are planted in
auincunx style, the rows being laid
With mathematical accuracy, making
The effect especially pleasing to the
spectator. At the expiration Of the
Jour years, the budded trees should
be bearing literally, and the seed
lings will be of bearing age. The
assessments, to cover the cost of the
land, taxes and interest, will amount
20 about $500 per share, for which
each share of stock will receive an
orange grove of q acres, of $50 trees,
at cost of $500, or about $50 per
acre. But if the trees make a health
full and vigorous growth, the proper
" ouoht then to be worth $500 per
acre. This gives each shareholder a
fine little homestead at small cost,
and leaves the Messrs, Dunsmoor a