New-York tribune., 1890-08-31
PEACH RANCHES
HOW THE DELICIOUS FRUIT Is RAISED AND
SHIPPED.
AND BEAUTY THAT TEMPT NAN To
EXOESS-SHIPMENTS EAST.

EXOESS-SHIPMENTS EAST.
The fact that New-York IS compelled to look to
distant California this for the bulk OF her fr
supply has awakened Inquiry 10 an unusual extent con
cerning California fruit ranches. Pears ana peaches
have made up the greater part of the California ship
ments to date man familiar with the fruit growing
of the Pacific slope Yesterday said
1T IS worth the while OF any tourist to California
to take run up the sacramento River. Not one
tourist in thousand docs this simply because the
attraction is advertised. But such peaches ana
such a trip! Let me tell you about it for the en-
ghtenment Of travellers in search Of something new
and also IN the interest Of general information.
The fruit ranches OF the sacramento Riyor district
are near the river banks lcvecs. Tnc river is mar
row and winding. fringe Of cottonwood trees maFAS
its course for miles. These cOttonwoods also make q
wind break to protect the orchards The sacramento
River fruit which comes East is packed careiuly IN
boxes 1t cxhaes less odor and is duler looking than
the rper fruit which IS ready 70 60 TO san Francisco
for immediate consumption. 1t IS in fact expected %
ripen on the way while the COnslgnments Tor san
Francisco are in their prime And here LET me sug
gest that while California has It's mining r0manccS inc
daring and successful marketing Of green fruits-car
ried over snow-clad mountain ranges and extensive
dc-erts 5000 miles IN fao-that the pais'e' oi
New-Yorkcrs may be t!ckled, is something out OF the
common.
.Tncsc orchards are ~ carefully cultivated as Il
Gower. Garden in the East There Is not \ weed an
inch long or a blade II growing grass between hclr
uniform and weTtrimmcd rows. They have as Il
basis a rich 'bottom-lands' soil and the glorious
climate Of California. Tncy are scattered al along
the river on both sides. The fruit boats which v'l,
them are stern -whec:crs which plough up te water
like an old fashioned churn. And here come IN the
picturesque features OF the trip Thcrc are ~ whar'es
nothing but bank landings Each boat makes
trips Of two sorts. The first IS made largely ai'"f
dark. The boat IS hllcd with empty baskets when
must be delivered from the city back 70 The owners
at Their ranches 70 be rohllcd. Thia l. on u'r up
Trip from the city. The pilots steer up III The baeN
90, night with unfaillng accuracy the slight breaks
In the cottonwood ha:rers-nODe over few fc-t "iuc
to tine bank landings. Iy some occult sense tho
deckhands acquire equally exact acquaintance with
The identity aud number Of baskets 10 be thrown
ashore q; each Of the many stops OverheAh inc
dark sky underneath the quiet nvcr on eaoh sid'
a ragged row Of trees Except for the tihhliog oi
the bell In the engine room and the pounding OF the
wheel on the water astern the ZIP u soo"'Dphe'o
in almost total silence.
Hut with the coming OF the daylight the scene
changes At each gateway through the trees there ac
great cousignnents OF fruit, smelling sweet a, az tc
spices oi Catnay. and rlvsAns anS hoSe' "a ~ 70 30
orug Great Juicy luscious peaches, III u'ous4uu. ".
basAets, muteJ impOrc you 70 cal uIem-oIoon az 49,
oil While the basAe' afr sons over t,e ssh ~ Az
Francisco you have chance 70 view ths Ianches'
First there Is an odof OF cea iEs ;rsw' Svw rncn =
,cw of California tasteful wooden buuoIhG'
IL surround ng turf il brilliant ana odoious WIN thV
mnst luxurious flowers, al the result OF HIibi.uH
copnled WIN the III Jet the climate never Dc LOT
roIrn Then YOU SEQ the hitherto cOnccaed orchAFus,
IN, trees arc small without ono parucie oi ocau sOp,
on t1cm All the strength Of tho sou i. IN we l.u
and The manner ia which that has been thlnncd ou' i
"a eary sfare Ol growth would prove slrpI!h- 10 ls
uovicc or tcndclfoct. Jhesc orchard loint5 COY"
many thousand acres. and each i ,u!u, e, ,,t,s.
hrhest possible degree. Thcy are SO many eo!a Ih.S.
~ "A asou Of hirh prices and source oi f1oo irCoh,
- ans time Easier than Eastern farming lc', u
1o,rsa. hut tho orchard owner has some d'aN pSeA
a.. f. constantly incLatcd by the ever fh'aulb 90
,n.u,o piycr for one thing. The miner nave pou,It1
.ucb mas ~ dctr4tu- into tho river that 'l b 10
len r.isad 40 that the levecs must be made iheho
,"hich IRE OF were, practically submerged rev ycL.
.go Whether tlelf many broad acres haNe DEC" ro
III ,l.lmcd since then I don't know. - T., j.,
- Well The of loading The htdiutI iV' ~,
trp In San Tr1lcsco. wheTc She ~ill arrive W I'M
:, "a. rplnadcd before daylight the succeeding da'
- of courc monotohous. Dut az the cargo accuna
i.c until OH hoard there peachc, every VAerc 'N
ar AGGREGATION of iucousnes, Is reached that "ouh
IN thr F.,tern man or woman with delight. nave
seen all tho frult growing sections ui ur j n'uui
e which % inocssanty provoke tho palate and sens
,,f eneiI The boat e. full carly ~ the cu'Th'0n
Thcn sIc leave, the last boat landing thrcsAe' h'
,r,y down the river toward the city, Will" TIC wave
o. IA The high tulrs on either side 10 and fro Bo
forc uidnl,h She il piouchng the waters Of suisu'
Tav Before ;ayl.ght she Ia, pafsc1 the Colder
Gste feeling the ocean swell, aud has landed he
fruit at thc Jackson ~ wharf. When The cargo o
mis- and other fruit boats IS piled mp there " Is NJ
necessary to look further Tor ncat fruit show. iri
by the tom