The morning call., 1892-08-15
NOTES FROM NILES.
How TO Make Comfortable Living on
Ten Acres.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL

Correspondence OF THE MORNING CALI.
Having been asked so very many times in
the past few months how many acres of
fruit are sufficient to afford a good living.
perhaps it would be wise to reiterate what
was published mere than year ago-not.
however, in detail.
An acre of land in any of the following
fruits, VIZ: Peaches, prunes, apricots, cher
ries or almonds, the trees all in bearing, will
yield from Sl00 10 500 year. never less.
and many years more. But the trees must
be of the right varieties, must be healthy.
must receive proper care and the soil must
be properly worked. 1t is mistake to
have too great variety in an orchard. In
10 acres 1t Is wise not to have more than
three, possibly four kinds OF fruits-say
peaches, apricOts, pTuneS and almonds.
} These crops mature the one after the other
making it possible TO utilize the same boxes
and trays. thereby requiring but fourth Of
tEe number, thus lessening the cost one
fourth.
The greater number of the orchards in
this vicinity are 10-scTe ranches" and have
such mixed fruits. There are, however.
several ranchers here who have all their
eggs IN one basket" and have an almond
orchard or prune orchard. which is all
right II the trees are of a variety which will
bear every year. For $1,000 q man can
purchase q 10-scre farm with a comfortable
house and Outbuildings; for $500 more he
can pny COW, tools and necessary team,
and he then has not only a charming home
bat an income Immediately large enough to
Keep moderate family in comfort. With
20 acres OF such bearing trees a rancher can
Keep help both in and out of the house the
year around. and be independent the rest of
his days. Grocer ami butcher supplies are
the same as IN San Francisco.
1t Is hard to make the city worker be-
lleye In the independence of fruit farmer
with such comp paratiyely small capital
And IL Is impossible 10 persuade grain
farmer into believing the large amounts
possible 10 produce In such a small space.
or the large sums realized from such
small number OF acres.
Not 20 years ago this valley was a vast
heid OF wheat, but with the success of the
first few came others 10 fill the valley full
OF fruit. Sunol Valley followed later. and
now has thousands of acres of orchards,
with room for as many more. Livermore
followed still later; grapes fiourished spien-
dldly In both valleys-their wines have
long been famous and now orchards are
becoming numerous.
The pioneer fruit-growers in any commu-
nifty are not the ones usually to reap the
beneht; they experiment until they find out
the best fruits adapted TO the soil and
climate and those coming later plant to
those fruits. Pears, pTunes and cherries do
admirably In Livermore Valley. Alameda
county is nearly 100 miles long by - to 40
wide. and there are thousands OF acres of as
good land still In grain as are already in
trees Livermore Valley is completely en-
elrcled by hills, has an equable climate, and
while. as they tell You there its soil is as
spotted as leopard" still not half of the
good fruit land is yet planted.
Peopae VIII so where the best railroad ia
eilities are, will so where the best schools
are, provided the land is good and for that
reason the best land near to the great cen
ters IS the first usually 10 be occupied But
right here IN this county are hundreds of
acres Of as fine land as ever lay out Of doors.
but much Of 1t hidden away in these little
valleys and yet to be brought 20 the knowI-
edge ois would-be buyers. The several val
leys north OF Haywards are Just as fertile
toe. and are beng filed with small ranches,
Ii is expected before another. year that
high school building will be put up here
Comparatively little fruit is being dried
IN this section. Mr.. Mortimer has a large
force Of men handling his large crop OF
prunes. 1t will take fully two months TO
dry and take care of them.
There is more and more indigna tion from
day TO day upon the question OF the lack of
water, and even IN the midst of their bus
lest season good deal OF talking and plan.
ming Is being done. Mrs. l.. L. THANE
Niles, Aug Is.