Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-04
A MODEL ORANGE ORCHARD.

now claims population of $4,000 souls.
A MODEL ORANGE ORCHARD.
Colonel Keith,s Oranges Equal to
Amy Grown.
A representative of the Gazette visited
Colonel Il. H. Keith's model orange or
chard a day or two ago, for the purpose
of ascertaining whether this seasons
crop Of oranges was up to the usual
standard OF excellence. This lovely or
chard is located at the corner of Palm
and North street, and contains six acres
of as beautiful trees as can be found any,
where. Four acres are set with budded
Washington Navels, four years old, and
two acres are seedlings, fourteen years
old. These latter trees will aver
age height of over twenty feet
and are literally groaning under
their weight of golden fruit. This has
always been noted as one of the most
carefully cultivated orchards in this Sec
ton. To saunter through the fragrant
rows of beautiful trees, robed in their
garb of rich, dark green foliage, and
note the shining clusters of golden fruit
everywhere-at the very top, sides, lower
| limbs and partly concealed within the
| dense green branches-is sight long to
| be remembered. Every tree bends with
the weight of its golden fruit, which is
bright and glossy as silk, revealing un-
der the microscope not the faintest
touch of smut or scale. One Seeding
orange, when placed under the glass in
the sunlight. revealed a surface as clear
as crystal This was the case with every
orange that came under inspection.
Upon the tree was a cluster OF 81
magnificent oranges, that certainly would
weigh over twenty pounds. Another
cluster was observed which contained q
larger number of oranges, ana which, it
is confidently expected, will weigh over
twenty-five pounds. This will be weighed
soon, when the result will be given the
public. From each of many trees in this
orchard no less than eight boxes OF
oranges were gathered, the fruit averag-
ing 146 to the box, the tree thus bearing
,168 oranges. The crop on these two
acres of seedlings has been sold for
81 900. This, it will be observed, is 10
per cent. on $4,000, or $1,000 per
acre. Some of the larger oranges
from this orchard go S5 in the box,
and some go 12S. The trees have been
plentifully supplied with bonemeal and
manure, three tons OF the former fertil'
izer having been placed upon these six
acres, together with one hundred two
horse wagon-loads of the latter. Besides
there is constant attention given the
trees, a man being employed continually
giving attention to their care. Colonel
Keith states that he considers his orange
trees his babies, and has fatherly eye
on them at all times. There is moi
much doubt as to the truth of bis state
ment, for a lovelier orchard is seldom
seen. The price paid for these oranges
is So 50 per box, while it may be of in
terest to note that the same purchaser il
paying but $1.75 for the Riverside
product. Within the past few weeks
several parties from Riverside have
inspected this orchard and pro
nounce the oranges fully equal or ever
superior to any ever grown at Riverside
Another point may be worthy of mention
at this time. A gentleman from Riverside
few days ago had been inspecting the
grove and asked, after mysterious glances
about the orchard, where "the pans and
posts wereIkept ?"When informed that the
question was not clearly understood, the
visitor remarked that at Riverside posts
/ are pldCeQ III tlO ElOuAu al lutOINdlo VI
every fourth tree. Pans filled with tai
are placed upon the posts, and the in
dustrious Riversider arises at O'Clock
every morning, sets fire to the tar and
thus prevents visitation of frost He
was surprised not to see these
frost preventives in use here, and was
also very much surprised to note the ex
cellence of our oranges, having
been induced to believe by willfu
Misrepresentation that we had nc
orchards worthy OF mention. AS mat
ter of fact, oranges sent from Anaheim tc
the pomological fair at Riverside last yeal
by Messrs. Keith and R. j. Northan
were pronounced fully as good or super
ior to any on display. There is no fear
of frost in this locality, and we chal
lenge comparison with our oranges from
any section in the State. Colone
Keith's orchard shows to what extent
orange growing may be carried in this
section. With proper care and attention
oranges can be grown here fully the
equal of the Riverside product, and in
the majority of cases our oranges will be
| the better. Practical tests and compar
isons have proven this fact to be true
Anaheim Gazette.