Evening journal., 1898-11-09
HAS CALIFORNIA TOO MUCH
FRUIT?

HAS CALIFORNIA TOO MUCH
FRUIT?
The adoption by the State Fruit
Growers Convention of resolutions Of
warming against any further paintings
of fruit trees in this state is evcking
considerable discussion. The reso.u-
tons are generally approved by jour
nails depending mainly upon the Iruit
growers for support and attacked with
some bitterness by those localities
where Gand selling is the leading indus-
try We do not see that it is a sub
ject which should arouse antagOnlsm.
Any individual farmer would discuss
with perfect calmne.s the question as
to whether it would or would not pay
him to plant an orchard, and we do not
seen why the people Of a state should
not discuss with equal GOODNESS the best
uses for the land OF their state.
We do not ourselves believe that
there is any danger of excessive plant
ting Of fruit trees in the state in the
future. The danger Of overplanting
expired with the boom. Except under
excitement there is little danger Of
overp.anting in any crop which must
be tended eight CT ten years before pro
ducing. During the excitement when
culmiL1ted in 1898 acreage was DOUBT
less increased at rate faster than
profitable markets could be founu dis
the trees came into bearing. Such mar
kets, however, have been found, and,
as we believe, will continue to be
found as the trees came into bearing.
Such markets, however, have been
found, and, as we believe, viii continue
TO be found. The real trouble which
grew out Of the excitement OF the
eighties was the planting of land in or
chard which was not fit for that pur-
pose, and often by men who were
not fit to be orchardlste. When in such
cases serious debt was incurred IN
bringing the orchard to maturity, dis
tress and loss inevitably followed
That is the natural result of all booms
and cannot be helped.
Now everybody understands thai
fruit-gIOwing does not differ witt
ether agricultural industries in tn,
matter Of profits. There is more CAPT
tai involved and mere risk, but in tn'
end if there has been wisdom in plant
ing and skill in tending, it will pay a.
Well as other farming and no better
Under these circumstances no one vii
run in debt to plant an orchard, no
will the wrong kinds CT trees be plant
ed on the wrcng lands or in the wrOn,
exposures. The saving families OF tn
/ salaried class VIII go back TO the say
lings banks for their investments. IN
planting of orchards will be confine
to those who have suitable land an
the money to improve it, and who Xix
the business Of fruit growing. Their
is no danger of overplanting or over
production of such men. A great man
orchards have never amounted to any
thing and never Will. The trees i
them are still counted by the assessor
, and help to swell the fearful aggrega
Of numbers OF trees, whose product
to overwhe,m all markets when the
come to bearing. Such orchards, {
parts Of orchards, are dropping out 9
the owners means become exhauste
g and the land now going into orchard
g is in the main owned by men who FL
ure that they can make some money
# raising prunes at from 2lA to 3 cen
a pound. raisins from 21z to cents
n the sweat box, pears and plums at s
per ton, apricots and peaches at 81
a and 50 On. At such prices there
u possible a large extension of our ma
Is kets for fruits, and we have an a5un
a ance Of land upon which they can
W profitabl!y raised at those prices. Fri
"a is not likely to be higher than II NJ
Is. and probably VIII not be lowe
m Those who see their way to make
% profit at these rates MAY safely be l.
. TO plant orchards without discourse
Is ment. Those who cannot will gradu
at ly work out OF the business. A +
u early districts will get better pri'
he than these we have named, but
4 crops will usually cost more in 81
- places. so that The profit should
al about the same. The fruit industry
he a very valuable one to California a
rs. is likely to always remain so. IL
fords employment to a great NUM-
ne of people, and as things stand now
serves encouragement rather than
contrary.-San francisco Chronicle.