The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21

kinds, are extensively cultivated. They
require irrigation. Vegetables, as the
whole world knows, grow to wonderful
perfection and hops yield abundantly ana
bring handsome returns. Those who have
sought California wherever they have set
tied have generally bettered their condi-
ton. Almost every county in the State
has some claim to superiority for some
product, hence the difficulty In directing
the home-seeker without knowing some
thing of his tastes and requirements.
While in most counties In the State frult-
growing and general farming may be tol-
lowed with safety and profit. and the life
of the farmer will be attended with many
pleasures, one must make intelligent selec-
ton if he has any fixed plan with respect
to the particular branch of fruit-growlng
he desires to engage in. Wheat and bar
ley are successfully grown in every portion
of the State. Peaches, pears and plums
have range. Apricots, almonds, French
prunes and olives are more restricted,
while oranges, lemons, walnuts, ETC., are
confined to a limited area, though not to
any particular district. Grapes grow al
most everywhere.
This has been very favorable year for
the fruit industry in California. There
has been an increased planting over its en-
tire territory. In the central portion OF
the State the planting has been largely OF
olives. oranges and almonds. Butte
County is setting olives and oranges in in
creased quantities. In the country around
Cleverdale, in Sonoma County, oranges are
being extensively planted. On the eastern
side of Tulare County, in the nelghborhood
of Porterville, Limekiln and Lindsay,
great numbers of lemons and some oranges
are being planted. San Diego County also
is showing great partiality toward lemons
Tn Tol~ Nv n1iUnc and
prunes are being extensively planted. The
increased planting of olives has been some
thing enormous.
In speaking of the profits of the fruit
industry a. T. Hatch, the well-known
orchardist, said few days ago that taking
one-half the average crop on his prune
orchards at 8 cents per pound, allowing $37
per acre expense, he could figure on a
profit of 800 per acre. He claimed that
he might get q of cent per pound for
apricots in the orchard and still make
profit. He said 1t was poor excuse OF
family numbering for instance five that
could not make from a well-bearing orchard
$50 per acre. He continued that the fruit
market of last year was abnormal. There
was good crop, but owing to the railroad
strike what fruit did not spoil was rushed
into market at one time where some more
spoiled, owing to a surplus. The returns
to the grower last year were not satisfac-
tory, but even with the prices of fruit last
year an orchard economically managed
could be made TO pay.
Mr.. Hatch suggested that often obliga-
tions met, which swallowed up the fruit
grower, did not belong to the running eX-
pense of the orchard. Some superficial
observer would infer at once that the fruit
business was failure. Such view is
narrow and unwarranted. Failures of
fruit-growers in California are the out
growth of circumstances wholly apart from
the vital considerations of soil, climate
and market.
From the annual report to the California
State Board of Trade upon the industrial
resources of the State of California for
1894 compiled by n. 2. Chapman and pub
lished the 1st of this month, the increased
shipments of fruit are noted Mr.. Chip
mans comparative BILE for the years 1890
TO 1894, both inclusive, referring to ship
ments East by rail, shows the steady adj
vance of the industry.
The year 1894 compared with 1890, COW
ering a space of five years, shows the fol-
lowing increase: Green deciduous fruits,
1914 carloads, 1851 per cent; citrus,
2475.4 carloads, IS per cent; dried, 1857
carloads, 5S.7 per cent; raisins, 1888 car
loads, 1871 per cent; nuts 1927 carloads,
1878 per cent; canned, 1860 carloads, 31.4
per cent; average increase, all kinds,
ii, 1853 carloads, S7.7 per cent.
The exports by sea of fruit are given as
follows: England, 100. 72S cases of canned
fruit; Australia, 16,5 94 cases; New Zeal
and, 1915. These three countries took all
but 30,613 cases shipped to foreign ports.
We sent 1876 cases to Germany. Our neigh
Dor, Mexico, took LOG cases. British Column
bia bought 952 cases, and Central America
75S cases. China took 2139 cases and Japan
1854.
This is particularly significant consider
ing that we are obliged to circumnayigate
the globe to reach foreign countries.
While this is good showing, cheaper and
better facilities of shipment by water and
rail will materially increase these figures
and add to the profits of the producer.