The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25


try is taking the attention of quite num-
Der of ranchers The fact that the olive
can be grown successfully without irriga
ton makes some of our high hills, which
at present are above irrigating bitches,
specially adapted for their culture. A
great deal of inquiry OF late in reference to
olive culture has been received in this por-
ton of the State, indicating that the near
future will develop an increased acreage OF
this desirable product.
might continue until had enumerate d
all the varieties of fruit grown in Califor-
mia, but these named are representative
and among the staple fruits and must
suffice.
Possibly some one may rise up and as
sert that my calculations are not correct.
/ therefore desire to affirm that they are
verified by fact and that my calculations
are conservative. I have made no attempt
to tell of special instances where enor-
nous yields could be detailed ever so
truthfully. Had been so inclined l could
tell of years gone by of one cherry tree. 1t
is nearly four feet in diameter four feet
from the ground, sixty feet high, and with
a spread of branches sixty feet, and its
owner claims it to have yielded 1000 pounds
of cherries in a single year and its product
to have receipted him $500. While this
statement of q remarkable cherry tree
might have been found correct, yet the
assertion would have been misleading
from the fact that the same tree brings no
such returns now. In the days when this
marvellous story could have been recited
with truth it was a time when fancy prices
were to be obtained in the East, and was
altogether a remarkable yield on very
notable tree. This story might be told by
the real estate boomer, but the victim
who would be deceived by it would in time
awaken to the reality that he never could
attain any such success in the future, be-
cause no such instances can be recited of
the present day.
In evidence that there is profit in raising
fruit. however, have but'to state fact
that the average owners of ranches have
succeeded in renting the same at the rate
OF from $35 to $50 per acre per annum for
full bearing orchards IN this locality. Many
have come to this portion of the State
with very limited means, but by pluck,
energy and good management now have
improved ranch es and are living in COM
Portable circu instances, with houses and
barns equipped with modern conveniences.
1t is true that many mortgages are mat
tiers of record, showing plainly that there
stands Indebtedness against the premises,
but I affirm it as my belief that in nearly
every case the money has been used in i'm
provements and for that which would tend
to make life more pleasant in their estima-
ton, and very few of them indeed are to
be found who would be willing to accept
the face of the mortgage against their
estate.
The profit per acre few years ago was
considerably larger than to-day, because
prices were higher. There is no ques-
ton in my mind but that the days of fancy
prices are past. Rates of transportation
are still too high and ought to be reduced
in proportion to the decline OF profits.
Fruit-raising and transportation have
mutual interest-the one is dependent upon
the other. The man with his twenty
acres of fruit has as much right to a fair
profit on his investment as the corporation
which owns railroad. The policy of the
carrier should not be to make rate of
'just what the traffic will BEAR" or in
other words bring it down just to the bare
cost of producing. Let the rancher live
and prosper, and you will find that pros
perity to him means more travel over the
lines of the railroad-yea, it means the
transportation of more goods, and still
further an influx of settlers and general
prosperity for all concerned.
AS to the future, some new methods will
have to be employed. More drying of
frrit will he necessary greater care in shin.
ping and packing of fresh fruit for market,
canneries will have to be started where
they now are not, and more care taken in
the marketing. By all these methods have
no fear of an overproduction of fruit. AS
new markets are being constantly devel-
opcd, and will continue to be, with good,
intelligent care ami an economic way Of
living believe that fruit-growing not only
is now but will continue to be as profit
able as any class of farming and equal to
that of any other line of legitimate busi-
ness. Yours respectfully,