Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-02-28
Orange Raising in California.

An orange grower Of experience paints
the bright side Of the picture as follows in
letter in a Pomona paper Nothing is
said about the outs or drawbacks, but it will
be safe to take for granted that they exist
in this as in everything else
The first question that business man
asks when about TO invest his money is,
"Will this investment pay and will my
money he safe ~ If these questions are
answered satisfactorily the proposition Is a
simple one Applying this principle to the
price Of lands in the Pomona valley, what
is the inducement TO investors, and is there
chance of loss In answering this we have
but to appeal to established facts and fig
ures, that any person who knows anything
about the soil and fruit culture in this re
gion will willingly corroborate. But right
here let the writer say that he is well
aware Of the careless, unreliable figures
that have been made sometimes through
ignorance and sometimes with intent TO
mislead, relative to this matter. The fig
ures as they appear in the statement below
are the result Of careful study through in
quirv and long familiarity with the fruit
production in this valley. The actual ex
penses and results OF large number of
orange groves are made the basis of the
following figures
Good orang, lands with water right
for irrigation can now be- bought
Tor $50 per acre-lu acres will
cost '.... ............... el51u
Clearing, blowing and leyeng iO0
Cost Of budded orange trees INavels
three year roots and one year
buds 1000 al % cents ........ 80
Setting out same ........... ....... 100
Firstc Observation-Disclosures. ss.45o
Care of orchard for first year 1870
Care of orchard for second year 100
Care Of orchard for third year ... 15u
Care Of orchard for fourth year @u
Care of orchard for nth year .. "a So
Interest ON S245o at per cent for
five. years .... .......... ...... gsO
Total Observation-Disclosures. ........ s4.eso
CONTRA
Yield the fourth years. box to the
tree-500 boxes at 50 5Oper box on
the tree .......... ......... sl25U
Yield the fifth years, box to the
tree-750 boxes at $3.50 per box 1873 S8,l25
After the fifth year the Weld increases
quite rapidly We now have a Navel or
ange orchard of ten acres-trees five wears
old from betting What is it worth Sew.
en- hundred and fifty dollars per acre is as
low as such an orchard can be bought. and
most holders would ask a higher figure
This makes the orchard worth s. 500
Thus, in five years the balance sheet in or
ulnaTN circumstances, would stand
Yield Of orchard the fourth year sl2in
Yield of orchard the fifth year ... 1850
Value of orchard ..... ......... 800 $40 e.
CONTRA
/ Cost Of land and levtling - Sl6OO
/ Cost of trees and setting ....... S5n
/ Care for five years ....... ....-... $50
Taxes for five years, say ...... .... lOn
/ Interest account ......... ...... qSu : 3Su
Net profit over all expenses
including interest ...... S6.24j
We have figured the oranges at 50 80 a
box OF course the price may fuctuate.
but this price is the lowest for which Wash
ington Navels have ever been sold on the
tree The price has varied from this to
81 80 box
This showing has been made from the
standpoint that the owner of the orange
orchard gives no personal attention to the
care Of his orchard, but has hired all of his
work done According to this estimate the
owner of the orange property may reside
in New England or New York or anywhere
else that he likes The case is as clear as
a crystal The investor has only to buy
the land, plant the trees and hire reliable
man to care for them The sun will shine.
the rain fall, the seasons will succeed one
another, and behold in little while YOU
have this result E.Ps