The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-17
Fruit Farming by Women.

Orpha G. Dinsmoor in Western Woman's Journal.
The fruit farm is near Fresno City, Cali
fornia. The ladies owning it and working
it are four in number, all teachers. Two OF
them are resident owners, the other two are
still teaching in San Francisco. OF the two
residing there upon the farm and assisting
in the actual labor of the place, one was
principal of ladies' seminary, the other ct
one time holding a professors chair In n
college in Kansas, and for many months as
ISOLATED with me in Maplewood Seminary.
Both these ladies sought their present occu-
patton as a rest from the wear and tear of
school life. They find it health giving and
delightful. When 1 allow my friend To tell
her story you may judge with what profit TO
the pocket they tickle Dame Nature. She
writes:
1--WE Rave corporate farm of eighty
acres, all devoted to fruit raising, part of it
in bearing and part not yet old enough,
therefore the returns are but partial, while
the larger portion is in anticipation. OF
these eighty acres, forty are in grapes,
abe ut fifteen of which are in bearing, five
acres of spIicots, a small part of which bear
now, but as this is fruit grown only in
favored localities, and is in great demand,
it is a profitable fruit to raise; five acres of
peaches, which grow rapidly, bear early and
heavily; in great demand for canning; two
acres of nectarines, a very delicious fruit re-
lated TO the peach; this promises well and Is
great favorite; two acres of Bartlett pears,
the very perfection of excellence anywhere.
but especially so in this climate; six acres of
prunes, French variety; these do well. We
have also an assorted orchard of apples.
plums, ounces and cherries for our own use,
The small fruits are not well adapted to this
climate, on account Of the heat, but as onr
trees grow to shade them we expect a good
supply of varieties of berries.
81 almost forgot to mention two acres of
almonds, from which we gathered forty
pounds the first year. and four hundred the
second year they bore. The original cost of
this eighty acres was $4,000. There is now
S15.0 900 invested, including all / have men,
toned, also bored well with windmill and
10000 gallon tank, good barn, small
dwelling house, a house for packing raisins
chicken houses, and some rough outbuildings
occupied by the man. With age added to
our vines and trees, we anticipate hand
some remuneration. We find ready mar
ket for all our fruit, and our rsisins have al
ready won good reputation. Ten tens is
cur largest yield yet.
Labor, unskilled, is high in this part of
CaliforDia. We average three men all the
time. Miss A. and myself spend the greater
part of fruitage time among trees and vines,
and the pruning knife has become our badge
of honor.
within, we regale ourselves with the
Atlantic Monthly, feast in reading that
most excellent work, "Duties of Women"
by Francis Power Cobbe. We read with
pleasure tho number of Western Woman's
Journal you 60 kindly send, and are pray
ing and hoping this advance wave of higher
civilization may reach California. Justice
must win ere long. Woman's enfranchise-
ment is the aurora of q new day for the
world.'