Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-01-30
FOR THE FARMER.
Valuable Hints Taken From Our
Agricultural Exchanges.
SOMETHING FOR ALL RURALISTS.
Interesting Topics for the Agpieulturist,
Horticultupist and General
Farmer.
A Living in the Poultry Yard.

A Living in the Poultry Yard.
A late number of the American Agri-
cuiturist contains the following article
by John Isaac, Assistant Secretary OF
the State Board of Horticulture, on
1.-The Development of the Prune Indus
/ try in America"
When Pierre Pellier in 1856 returned
to California from his native France
with his bride and small case of
selected trees and cions, he little
dreamed that he was laying the foun-
dation for a great industry in his
adopted home, and one that would
some day contest the American market
with her foreign rival Several young
prune trees from the Vile Neuve
d. Agen, which he brought to San
Jose, were the commencement OF the
prune industry in California, which
has since grown to large proportions
and extended to the adjacent States
and territories, for prunes are now pro-
duced in Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Ari-
IONA, although California is by far the
heaviest producer, and Santa Clara
county the center of the indutry.
The growth of the prune industry
was at first slow, and it was not until
1870 that any special attention was
paid to it. In that year the Brady or
chard, near San Jose, was set out, and
in short time gave such returns that
others followed, but it was not for ten
years after that any extensive planting
took place. By this time it was known
that prune-growing was immensely
profitable. The trees bore young
yielded very heavy crops, were easily
handled, were sure bearers, and the
fruit was in demand at good prices
Profits of $500 to 5000 per acre were
not unusual. AS a result there was a
rush in prune- growing; Santa Clara
county became almost one vast prune
orchard. The excitement spread to
other parts of the State and within
the next ten years 100000 prune
trees were planted in California alone,
and the output increased until in 1893
over 50, 900, 900 pounds of prunes were
produced. Owing to unfavorable eli
matte conditions early in the season
there is heavy shortage this year, but
to partly compensate for this number
of new orchards have come into bear
ing and estimates have been made that
the present seasons output will reach
35, 900, 900 pounds
But little over half of the prune trees
of the coast are as yet in bearing and
not more than one-third in full bear
ing. When these orchards are all in
bearing in good seasons the output will
be enormous and will without doubt
totally exclude the foreign article from
our markets. California believes in
"big things and when it was dis
covered that there was money in
prunes our growers went in to the bus
mess ON very extensive scale, and
trees were planted by the hundreds OF
acres-veritable prune ranches. One
grower in the Salinas Valley planted
300 acres in one body, and another
near Hanford, in Kings county. has
500 acres. During the past two years.
however, there has been lull in prune
planting, and while considerable land
has been planted with this fruit there
is general feeling that California has
reached the limits of sale production.
The prune tree is very early and
very prolific bearer In California
some fruit may be expected from it the
third year from planting. and a fair
crop the fourth year. From this time
annual crops may be expected. At six
years the trees are counted in full bear
ing and at that age will yield an aver
age of $50 pounds of fresh fruit to the
tree, although instances are recorded
in which this has been greatly exceeded,
800 to 1000 pounds having been taken
from single trees.