Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-12

of the county are large areas of white, ashy
land. which are exceedingly fertile. and
considered to be among the best lands for
the cultivation of fruits. Nearer the west
ern side of the valley is a strip OF land run
ming north and south, in which deleterious
salts. commonly known as alkali, exist in
quantity. But west of this again IS re-
gion which has formerly been subject TO
overflow, and in which the soil IS com
posed mainly Of vegetable mold and fine
silt, and for small crops is the richest soil
IN the valley. West Of this to the Coast
range the soil is fertile, but is not irrigated,
except in the northwestern part Of the
county, being farthest removed from the
sources Of supply IN the streams issuing
from the Sierras.
TIE FRUITS GROWN.
In quantity of fruit grown Fresno stands
first among the San joaquin valley coun-
ties, and in quality is not excelled by any
county in the State. Every variety OF
deciduous fruit grown on the Pacific coast
thriyes in Fresno. There are a few kinds
that reach perfection only in cool eli
mate, and do best in the higher attitudes
Of the Sierra, whose lofty peaks rise into
the regions Of perpetual snow, and on
whose western slopes can be found every
climate. from semi-frigid to semi-tropical.
The stone fruits are best adapted to the
valley lands such as peaches, apricots,
nectarines, prunes, pluIns, etc. Pears; figs,
and also several fruits unknown in the
States east Of California, grow to perfection.
Among the small fruits the most successful
are the blackberry and strawberry both of
which riDen early and produce heavily. The
least successful is the raspberry. The early
commencement and long continuance OF
the dry or summer season causes the
trees to grow thriftily, to bear when very
young, TO yield heavily, and the fruit to
ripen early. The fruiting season, in fact,
begins in May and extends to the end Of
autumn, and sometimes later. All Of the
leading varieties of the different kinds of
fruit are grown. 4 large area of land in
the county is devoted to orchards, and large
additions are made during every planting
season. Many small colony lots OF ten or
twenty acres each might be mentioned,
which contain leading varieties Of the diff
ferent fruits and are thoroughly cultivated,
that in favorable years return enormous
incomes when the small amount invested
is considered. But it is not the purpose
to cite here the maximum duty of fruit
lands and leave the statements unex-
planned, to be accepted as matters Of
regular occurrence. Ii is estimated by
fruit growers that an orchard in full
bearing viii yield an average net profit of
so cents to 81 per tree. In q warm climate
like that of Fresno. where trees grow very
THRIFTY, it is not advisable TO plant more
than 40 trees to the acre. At the yield
per tree given the net returns per acre
would be $50 to S120. This estimate is for
q series of years, and due allowance is made
for occasional partial failure of crops. vari-
alton in prices Of fruit, etc. An orchard is
commonly considered to be III full bearing
at five or six years of age, although the
yield increases slightly for two or three
years beyond that time Trees three years
old produce WELL and frequently good
yields are obtained from two-year-old trees.
The drying and canning Of fruits for mar
ket is destined to become an important
branch of the fruit industry, and the pre-
pared article is now being shipped TO all
parts Of the Union, and to foreign cOun-
tries. When untavOrable years, fuctuation
in market prices, ravages of insect pests,
and all other disadvantages are thoroughly
weighed, fruitfrowing remains the most
pursuitfor the Fresno county
farmer
BAIsIN-MAEING.
As stated elsewhere in this article, the
experiment OF growing the grapevine in
Fresno was made when irrigation canals
were first constructed to carry water from
the San joaquin and Kings river through
large canals out into the wide prairie This
first effort was not attended with complete
success, but il demonstrated the fact that
the soil and climate were suitable for the
vine, and the planting and cultivation of
vineyards has continued steadily since that
time There is in the county large acre
age Of wine grapes, the several varieties
suitable for which grow and produce well.
Several wine vineyards are very large, those
of greatest area ranking respectively as
follows kohler, West and Minturn vine
yard, $50 acres; Barton vineyard, $50 acres;
Eisen vineyard, 100 acres; Fresno Vine
yard Company's, 400 acres Butler vine
yard, $50 acres Wolter vineyard, $50 acres
Eggers vineyard, $50 acres, and number of
others containing 100 acres or less. Several of
these are devoted largely to the cultivation of
raisin grape vines, but the greatest number
of raisin vineyards are small places of ten
or twenty acres each in the colonies. 1t is
a business well suited for such small places,
and as the climate is suitable for the pro-
duction of an excellent article it is always
when proper attention is
given it and Better care can be given
small vineyard than a large one. The
vines produce heavily if allowed to, that is,
If they receive too much irrigation. Some
varieties will produce ten or twelve tons of
grapes to the acre, but the raisins are of
finer quality if the vines are allowed TO
bear only half as much, being frmer and
much sweeter. Fresno raisins have at
tanned wide celebrity, and there IS a
growing demand for them in Eastern
markets, while on the Pacific coast they are
rapidly replacing the imported article.