The herald., 1894-04-11
GROWTH OF FRUIT INTERESTS
One Firm Supplies eO0,O 900 Trees to
Ronthnrn California.

One Firm Supplies 100000 Trees to
southern California.
During the past few yeHrs California
has been growing into one vast orchard.
The large profits made annually by those
who have trees in bearing have stimula-
ted others to plant. until in come por-
tions OF the state one can travel for
miles among trees Of nearly every known
variety. The shipments of dried and
canned fruits out OF California now ag-
gregate millions of pounds annually.
The earlier orchards of deciduous fruits
were planted in the northern part OF the
state and it is that section that naturally
looks for the greatest proficiency in the
art OF growing and care Of orchards. The
large demand being made upon our
ing citrus orchards has caused many of
our shrewdest land owners to turn their
attention to the planting of deciduous
trees which. while yielding large profits
require little or no irrigation, especially
when we'll cultivated. In no part Of the
state perhaps has tho fruit indus
try aud growing OF nursery stock
been brought to greater perfection
than in the vicinity of Biggs, Butte
county, California. There are to be
found some of the largest orchards in
the world, one alone containing more
than 1900 acres OF bearing trees.
The deep alluvial soils of the Feather
river bottoms, deposited there through
eons OF time, are especially adapted 10
tree growth without irrigation aid. 1t
is no uncommon thing for peach and
prune trees to reach q height OF 16 feet
at one year old. The fact that the win
ters are much cooler than In the south
ern part OF the state. gives the young
tree uhRnce to boone dormant IN the
winter season, and hence it bears trans-
planting better than stock grown by
irrigation in q warmer climate. One
hundred thousand trees seem q good
many, yet one firm alone, at Biggs,
turned ont over 100000 trees this sea
son, 200, 900 Of which came to Southern
California points. We refer especially
to the Rio Bonito nurseries owned by
Mehsrs.. Alexander & Harmon. Mr.
w. P. Harmon of this firm has
the reputation among orchardiHts
of experience OF being cne of the best
posted men in the nursery business on
the coast, having been engaged in the
business nearly 20 years. Being very
progressive and enterprising man, he
has established an experimental oych-
ard as we'll as vineyard, where all varie-
ties of trees and vines arc tested before
being introduced to the public; all buds
and gratis are selected with the greatest
care from bearing trees in their own
orchard, containing over 400 acres.
hence mistakes as to variety are really
impossible. Owing to the climate or
some other cause, tree pests of any
kind are practically unknown there. and
it is now matter OF record that while
the firm shipped thousands of trees all
over California and Arizona this season,
there was not an inspector that did not
pronounce their stock absolutely clean,
and some even went so far ae to state
publicly that their trees were the best
they had ever examined. Owing to the
firms immense interest in Southern
California, they have found it necessary
to keep reaident agent in Los Angeles.
Dir. Jerome Caldwell, life long resi-
dent OF the state, and having travelled
over the greater portion of it is prepared
to give the new beginner valuable in
formation in regard to aoils and varie-
ties to plant. He is now in charge OF
the yard at l3I s. Broadway, but will
have an office In the Natick house dur
ing the coming season. Those desiring
to plant orchards the coming year will
do we'll 10 place their orders with him
early.