Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-10
PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL.
Recent Changes from Old TO Newer
Methods of Cultivation

Recent Changes from Old TO Newer
Methods of Cultivation.
The acknowledged superiority of Cali
fornia in the growing of all kinds of deci-
duous and semi-tropic productions, the i'm
mense extent of country dependent upon
US for these productions, make any devel-
spment in fruit-growing or any region
which affords superior opportunities for
such development, a matter Of public con-
Germ and interest.
Agriculture is rapidly undergoing
change, whereby vineyards and orchards
are replacing the wheathelds and pastures
These changes are so great and rapid as to
amount to revolution. Everywhere in
the great valleys and on the foothills Dor
dering them, fruit trees and vines are being
planted, the areas of the old cultivation
narrowed, and in no section has the revo-
luton been more sudden and complete
than at this point.
The time was, and but a short time since,
when this section was known and con-
temptuously designated as the sand
plains" Here were annually sown vast
fields of wheat, which, without the ad-
vantages of irrigation, yielded, according
to the rainfall of the season, from nothing
70 thirty bushels to the acre, and rendered
farming an occupation that was at best the
vaguest kind of uncertainty.
ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION.
But note the change The season of
1886 marked the period when the irriga-
zionist was assured the right and protec-
ton in the use of water, and Immediately
all attention turned to the fruit indus
try, experimental tests having shown the
wonderful results obtained in that direc-
ton. Small tracts with water rights were
Immediately sought after and in great de-
mand, and as evidence of what may be ac-
oomplished by well directed investment of
a small amount of capital, backed by
energy and push, we present figures show
ing the returns received by different indi-
viduals from various crops.
BLACKBERRIE.
p. Allen, living one mile west of Selma.
has one-fourth acre in blackberries The
vines are planted in rows ten feet apart
with hills in each row every five feet.
They are of the Kittinany and Lawton
varieties, and the plants cost ten dollars.
The first year they did not bear, but the
second year the yield amounted to $50
pounds. The third year, besides what
were used by the family, there were sold
1880 pounds, at cents per pound, and the
fourth llast year,, 5000 pounds, at 81 cents
per pound The net receipts amounted
TO over SIS, or at the rate of over $500 per
acre.
Mr.. Allen also marketed from peach
orchard of six acres 1925 worth of dried
fruit the past season. The trees are early
and late Crawford and Salways.
RAIsIN GRAPES.
NJ Lewis, three and half miles east of
town, has six acres in raisin grapes, planted
eight feet apart, or go vines to the acre
The expense of pruning amounted to S24;
cultivation, 50; water, 81 80; picking and
turning, $40 He sold the crop for S775,
or a net profit of SIG 20 per acre. Vines
come into bearing the third year, when
the Weld is Just about sufficient to cover
all expenses of culture up to that time.
In starting vineyard, the cost Of the
vines, blowing and ieFeling the ground,
irrigation aud cultivation of the vines for
one year amounts to Sl3 per acre.
The fourth year the vines come into full
bearing, and produce an average yield of
six tons TO the acre.
METHOD OF CURING.
The grapes are picked and sun-dried on
trays IN the field. When sufficiently cured
they are gathered in what are called
sweat-boxes," holding from thirty to fifty
pounds each, and in this condition mar
keted to the packing houses at price
ranging from three and a half to five cents
per pound. a ton of green grapes viii
average between 500 and coo pounds in
the sweat-box," or about 5000 pounds to
the acre. These averages are made up
from actual successive haryests, and pre-