The record-union., 1899-05-05

next years crop and perhaps the
pleasures of hope" will be all that
you realize. There are number of
things which cause the almond-groWer
to lie awake nights, and presently that
phase of the subject will be touched
upon. In connection with the subject
of almond orchards in Banning, il
might be well to say something of the
brief history of the nut in San Cor
gonio Pass The first tree was a seed
ling on the ranch of Rams Moore, an
early pioneer of Banning. The tree
bore good crops occasionally, and it
was thought that the improved va
rieties might be profitable; SO few
trees were planted by some of our
ranchers DR. Murray, now of Palm
Springs; j. M. Gilman and c. o. Barker
have some of the oldest trees in the
pass, and later the planting became
more general. E. E. Pierson, now at
Santa Rosa, was largely instrumental
in getting our people to plant almonds.
The acreage in Banning is 100 acres,
and if the sixty acres in Beaumont be
included, it will be seen how much of
figure the almond industry cuts in
the pass
may prove interesting In 1895 the
shipments from Banning amounted to
upward of twenty-six tons, and in from
Beaumont about fourteen tons In 1896
Banning had only eight tons and Beau
mont none. In 1897 Banning shipped
about twenty tons and Beaumont more
than sixteen tons. In 1898 Banning had
about two tons and Beaumont none.
At present the outlook for crop in
Banning is good on the north side, and
poor on the south side, but l think it
safe to estimate the crop for 1899 at
twenty-five tons. 1t seems to be every
other year in even the most favored
spots that crop is to be expected.
Prices have ranged from 6 to 10 cents
per pound for the past six years, ac-
cording to variety and season. 1t costs
a trife over ~ cents a pound to har-
vest and sack the nuts. Orchards in
1895 and 1897 have netted about $50 per
acre. and the average for four years of
one or two orchards with which ] am
familiar has been So. %. Trees bear
from nothing up to ten, twelve or fif-
teen pounds, according to age and sea-
son, and as they grow older will doubt
less bear more. 1 know of one tree. a
seeding, from which forty-five pounds
were picked one season
These few figures show the results
that have been obtained in Banning,
and if any one still wishes to plant in
Banning, few hints about planting,
variety, pests, ETC., may prove of value.
Trees planted here seem to thrive best
on the loose soil-those with trace
of sand or gravel On the clay or adobe
soil the trees do not make as much
growth, nor do they bear so heavily.
And the trees are planted too close to-
gether, the usual distance being only
twenty feet each way, when they should
be at least twenty five. But if crops
come only every other year, land is too
valuable in Banning to spread almond
trees to that extent. The trees are
longlived and grow to a great size.
In pruning the custom seems to be to
head in for the first year or two and
then merely thin out super1uous wood.
Some get good results by merely top
ping the trees when planted.
GOOD CROP OUTLOOK.
Yreka Journal: Over in Scott Valley
the grain and grass crops never looked
better, and the prospects indicate an
unusually large yield. unless severe
drouth intervenes before harvest, which
is not likely in this mountain region of
cool weather and occasional showers
of rain.
In Shasta Valley there is also a large
acreage Of grain, with gradual increase