The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-04
WHERE PROFITS ARE LARGE

The article descriptive of the Pa jaro
Valley published in yesterdays CALL
makes remarkable showing. This valley
opens widely upon Monterey Bay, and
hence has a situation and climate very
different from the rich valleys inclosed in
the mountains of the Coast Range. Its
Typographical situation is somewhat like
that of the Salinas Valley, but by reason
of the fact that it is nearer the ocean and
lies directly in the trend of the trade
winds, it is very much cooler and moister
than the Salinas.
One of the difficulties in the way of set
Ting California has been the high price of
farming land. Thus, if an intending set
tier learns that he can buy as rich land at
$40 an acre in Kansas as in California at
SIS or 500 an acre, his ignorance of all the
other conditions will tempt him to settle in
Kansas. There he grows corn and is
fortunate if he makes any profit at all, for
he is producing staple article, is in COM
petition with all the other corn-producing
States, and is in position utterly differ
ent from that of the California grower.
While it is true that some OF the land in
California is held at too high price, let
US glance at what has been actually ac-
complished in the Pajaro Valley. The
CALLS descriptive article contained the
following:
1.-THE profits derived from the culture of
small fruits when prices are even fair are
very large. George H. Brewington, the
pioneer straw berry-grower of the valley,
says the average yield of trawberries is
about sixty chests to the acre, each chest
weighing on an average eighty pounds.
The average cost of production is So per
chest. Prices per chest have varied from
50 to Sc during the past few years. Mr..
Brewington bought twenty-five acres eight
years ago, for which he paid 500 per acre.
This land was graded and prepared for
berries at an average cost of $25 per acre.
After preparation the expense of plants is
considerable, as it requires Is, 600 at cost
of 81 so per thousand. Mr.. Brewington
also planted Newton pippin and belleheur
apple trees on the same tract. The returns
from the berries in FIVE years paid for the
| land as well as all expenses for both the
| ranch and family. After the trees came
into bearing berry culture was discon-
tinued and the strength of the soil given
up entirely to the trees. The net proceeds
| from the trees has so increased that the
25-acre tract, bought for $500, is now worth
| $1,000 per acre."
This illustrates the difference between
| farming in Kansas and farming in many
parts of California. Still more striking is
the case of a quarter of an acre in straw
berries near jacksonville, which yielded
$175 last year. This income from piece
of land about the size of a town lot is as
large as the amount expended by millions
| of families in Europe for a whole years
| living.
1t has been somewhat unfortunate fol-
this wonderful valley that the removal oil
the sugar bounty has forced the Western
Beet-Sugar Factory to reduce from IL ,00C
| to 1000 the number of acres of sugar beets
| which it had been formerly buying from
the growers of the valley The company
| pays 81 ton for beets showing IA pei
| cent sugar and 80 cents additional fol-
beets showing a higher percentage. AS
| the prices thus run from 81 to $6 ton
and from fifteen to thirty tons are pro.
duced to the acre, very generous profit to
| the grower is apparent.
The opening by the Southern Pacific oil
| its southern overland passenger line by
| way OF Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and
Santa Margarita will bring the marvels oil
| the Pajaro Valley under more general OBJ.
servation. Strangers may then see fol
| themselves what a country is whose com.
bination of soil and climate enable the
| harvesting of two or three crops year
| and the making of profits that have never
been equaled in other parts of the United
StataS