Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-26
SATURDAY, APRIL se, 1890.
THE PROFITS OF ORANGE CULTURE.

The people of the East find it very
difficult to realize the high value set
upon lands adapted to the cultivation OF
the orange, with, or course, water
privilege. The HERALD, some time ago,
made mention of the fact that Mrs.
Bettner, of Riverside, four or five years
ago tried to sell forty acres of land
planted in the finest varieties of oranges
for $4,000, and failed, and that last yeal
she sold her crop alone from those 10 rty
acres for that sum. Such statements
look incredible, but they are readily ac-
cepted by those who know what has
been done in that line. Of course, such
large returns are out OF the common,
but conjuncture OF fine soil, good
exposure and careful cultivation, makes
them attainable. There is also period
of waiting which is vexatious, but this
has been greatly reduced in the case of
budded trees. These last, when skill
fully handled, and with all the condi-
tions favorable, have been frequently
known to yield $3.50 in the third year
from the bud The period of waiting is
also more than compensated for by the
great longevity of the orange, whose
yield increases steadily with the age of
the tree, and for periods which have
been already verified in Southern Cali
fornia for fifty and sixty years.
The Riverside Press says that reports
are beginning to come in to the Secretary
of the 2Sth District Agricultural Associ-
alton in reply to circulars of inquiry to
get returns from all crops of 1889 that
netted the owners $500 an acre or more,
as per offer made in the late premium
list. From these reports We publish the
following as samples of what our fruit
growers are doing:
D. w. Mcleod, Riverside, reports on
nine acres of oranges; eight acres in
Washington navels and one acre seed
lings planted nine years ago. Irrigated
five times. In 1889 sheep and barn
yard manure was used as fertilizers; in
1887, bone meal in 1888, sheep manure.
Picked and packed the crop himself, and
sold t. o. b. for portion, and part of crop
was consigned; crop netted $4,600, or
$514 per acre. Cost of cultivation, ETC.,
$35 per acre. Four acres of raisin vine
yard netted 81 100, or $275 per acre.
This report on orange crop was for the
season of 1SSS-S9. This years crop is
not harvested yet, but the result will be
about the same as last year. He took
up one half his vineyard to plant to
orange trees.
Roswell Hart, Riverside, reports on
twelve acres Washington navel oranges
planted nine years ago. Irrigated three
times each year. Fertilizers used
stable, chicken and sheep manures; also
commercial phosphates for three years,
1000 pounds per acre, each year. This
seasons crop not all sold yet; go boxes
sold to tourists at $5 per box; 140 boxes
to San Francisco on an average OF 81 per
box; 1,50O boxes still on trees. Cost OF
caring for orchard roughly estimated at
$75 per acre per year. This seasons
crop estimated at a net profit of $5, 900 /;
possibly $6,000-$425 to $500 per acre.
Crop Of 1878, gross receipts, $3.50; crop
of 1859, $2, ,267. Orchard just beginning
to bear. Never irrigate more than three
times per annum; plough deep as pos
sible semi-annually, regardless of roots.
Have sold oranges in open market at Sc
to 81 per box the first of June.
H. Saunders, of Riverside, reports on
-. of,
eighteen years old from seed-about
thirteen years IN orchard. No fertilizer
used for last crop. Sold crop on the
trees Sin lump" for 81 ,550-$569 per acre.
Cost of cultivation and irrigation was
about $50 per acre. Net profit, 81, BIO
$3.50 per acre. In full bearing. Perfect
irrigation and thorough cultivation,
careful and judicious pruning, is what
makes this showing possible.
j. d. McNab, of Riverside, reports on
seven and one half acres in bearing
orange orchard, of which one-third are
seedlings, one-third Mediterranean
sweets, and balance in Washington
navels and st. Michaels. Trees planted
ten years ago. Bone phosphates are
used, one ton to the acre bi-annually
Fruit was shipped to order. The net
average price being, seedlings, $3.50 per
box, navels, $2.75 per box, and the Med
iterranean sweets are yet on the tree.
Cost of caring for the orchard is $50 an
acre per year. Net profit of this seasons
crop, $400 per acre. Orchard not. jim full
bearing. The phosphate used is manu-
factured on the ranch from ground bone,
treated with sulphuric acid, etc.
When the fact is borne in mind that
the territory in Southern California, and
indeed in the whole United States,
adapted to the production of the orange
is very limited in extent, and that three
ports of Italy export that fruit to the
amount Of $25, 600, 900 yearly, the future
Of the industry cannot well be drawn in