The morning call., 1893-04-04
IN PRAISE OF CALIFORNIA.

California has received good advertise
ment from an EnglishmRn. who encourages
his own coUntTymen to study fruit culture
and not % depend so much upon wheat and
OATS as profitable crops. Rarely has grain
been so low in the market as at this season.
The English farmer would like to strike out
in some new direction. but beyond rearing
stock he has little adaDtablity. To tell him
10 grow fruit is TO engage him in new vo-
cation, which requires years Of intelligent
husbandrY to insure success. But how the
English farmer must sigh for sunny Cali
foTnia when he reflects upon the glowing
accounts which reach him of successful
fruit culture all tie way from Shasta to the
Mexican border. One ranch is described as
5000 acres in extent, of which 26j7 acres are
planted with fruit trees. In 1892 the net
profit was S2l2, 40 OF $50 per acre, very
handsome return, no doubt. but not exag-
gerated when examined from the single
acre point Of view. There are small orchards
in numbers Of counties which yield a far
larger income without being considered in
any sense phenomenal, and It is better to
see these than large ranches The writer
does not COndescend to name this large area
Of fertile orchard land, and perhaps his
cOuutTymen may infer that it is exceptional
soil and that there is no more left in the
State. On the contrary, he ought to have
assured them that there are thousands of
square miles Of foothill and valley land Just
as suitable for the orchaTdist, and that only
capital. intelligence and labor are needed to
obtain quite as prosperous results. How the
English must open their eyes when in
formed that California has pa days of SUM-
shine in the year. Yes, at least thatl
Garden-like as England is, it has to
weather the year with about half that allow
ance oil sunshine. And a fruit crop is there
so precariOus.
On one point there is no room for doubt
far as we are from the East and from Eu-
rope there is always market tor the choice
fruit of this State. We have by no means
made the utmost OF that market. Treble
the quantity of fruit we grow would find
consumers were the system Of distribution
thoroughly planned so as to reach all the
moderate SIZED as well as large cities of the
Bnst. California need not fear competition
as to quality, come from whatever quarter
1t may. The time is at hand when better
railroad terms Will be won from the trans
portation companies. Were the rates rea-
sonable much more would be possible In the
markets of the Eastern States, and a great
deal would be possible in Europe, even with
green fruit. The price Of fruit must remain
high on shipments to the East as long as the
carloads are saddIed with transp Ortation ex-
actions prepo>terously beyond the real value
Of the service rendered. With fair rates to
encourage Inn tie California producer
would undertake to supply not only an
enormous. quantity of the finest fruit, bat
thousands o tons Of vegetables delivered at
season when the ground in the East is
hard. feet deep in the frozen grip of winter.
II also is certain that with improved market
facilities California offers opportunities 10
settlers OF brain aud industry far surpass-
ing those Of other States.