Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-05
OUR HERITAGE.
lrofits of Farming in This
\ Region.
CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA.
lhe Semi-Tr0pics-The Paradise OF
The Farmer and Fruit
Grower.

The Farmer and Fruit
Grower.
The Daily Ne,os published at Palatka,
Florida, under date of September 7th,
and under the. caption 1925, 900 for six
acres of land," has the following:
'This sum of money was paid by Mr..
Ives, Of New York, for Captain Belts.
worths orange grove, located q few
miles south of Palatka, on the st. Johns
river. Last winter Mr.. Ives examined
this property. 1t is young bearing
grove, consisting of six acres and a mod.
erately fair Florida house. During his
stay the severe cold came on, causing
the trees to shed their leaves and other.
wise look bad. But after the ''scare"
had subsidized, MIR. Ives purchased one.
half interest. A few days ohe was in
Florida to see how his trees were com.
ing on. He found them looking as well
as they ever did, very fine, and good
Large crop of oranges hanging on them.
I He then went to New Haven, Conn :,
where Captain Bettsworth is stopping
for the summer. and purchased the other
half. The cost of the grove to Mr..
Ives is $25, 600. This is large sum to
pay for tract of land of six acres only,
but Mr.. Ives has put in this amount Of
money all the same, and for ali invest.
ment. The place is located at Buffalo
Bluff, twelve miles south Of Palatka.
This is transaction since the 'bliz.
zard, and wilt show to our readers that
good orange groves have not deterio-
rated much in value. This grove is
beautiful one, about half a crop OF
oranges now on the trees, and not an
unhealthy tree in the lot. But the
grove is in no better condition than hun.
dreds of others in this county. There
is very little evidence of the great "bliz.
zard." We have never seen the foliage
look so green as at present. This sale
by Captain Bettsworth is the first one
for any considerable sum that has been
made since the freeze in this section.
A California exchange Of recent date
says of California farming:
ga farmer near Calistoga has Us
acres of land. He uses As acres for pas
ture, 3S acres for vineyard, and the
rest for hay. This year, on his 3S acres
of grapes, he sells 100 tons at $50 ton
$1,000. From his 92 acres Of hay. l20
tons at $40 ton, he makes 81 200. Hay
and grapes from 100 acres give him and
|Deis two boys $3, 500. From his cattle on
As acres of pasture he makes 5000. His
income from the Us acres is 81, 600,
with promise of great increase"
Now that is no uncommon history Of
little ranch in California. The opinion
is risked that Florida has no such re-
suits to show, and so far as climate goes
there is no comparison between the two
States. The climate Of Florida is
heavy, damp and close. There is moth
ing bracing or tonic in it. 1t is mild as
regards frost in the winter months, but
as early as March becomes unbearable
to invalids and by May is all but certain
death to the healthy.
The climate of California, is, on the
contrary, very dry, light, bracing ant
full OF ozone at all seasons of the year
1t is delightfully."- mild in mid winter
and in mid seldom uncomforta
bic for even day.
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
The farmer finds an Eden to cultivate
aud profit unknown elsewhere. N
such prices as those quoted for Florid
obtain hereabouts. There has no vine
kysrd or orchard land sold here exceptin
!, hold on speculation for subdivision
at even $1,000 an acre. There is plent,
Of property here in full.bearing vine
and trees which can be purchased a
less than $500 per acre. There is yer,
lskAIa that raaohaa that Enf,1~ Ifba,.
are very nice places to be had at $3.50 t.
S4OO.
1t is not 10 be supposed that sucl
prices will continue to rule. The vine
yards and orchards of Southern Califor
mia will yield net income of $50 t
500 per annum as an average. Th
-la1 \ figure is ten per cent. year o.
$500. That is all money is now worth
Interest must 60 down here er
long. In less than five years i
will be as low as six per cent. As none
becomes cheaper property producing
steady income must advance in value
The day is not distant when vineyard
and orchards will be worth $1,000 al
acre.
But it is in our uncultivated propert,
there is the greatest speculation. Their
is plenty of irrigable land of the bes
soil to be had for about $3.50 per acre
Some is for sale at lower figure. Thi
can be got into bearing for from $50 t.
500 per acre in three to five years
time. At the end OF the latter perio
there can be no doubt that it will b
worth $500 to $1,000 an acre. Reall,
good irrigable land is getting scarce
The country is illing up about here at
rapid rate. The increase in this ceunt,
is fully 5000 year. With 1000 fami
lies and upward year coming in, th
rise Of property will be rapid. Asstate,
above, the lowering of interest tends il
the same way. Both influences take
together will send it up flying. From
present appearances property in South
ern California is good thing to hold.