The state herald., 1900-08-24
GROWING ORANGES.
HOW cALlFoRNIANs DO 1T.
In Order to Make Big Profits the Raiser
Must lie Industrious and Enterprlsing
Five Hundred Dollars an Acre an
Average Crop.

Many people going from the East to
California have an exaggerated Idea of
tie profits of orange raisng. They also
underestimate the amount of work
necessary to success.
While general farming in the
eastern portions of the country calls
for harder work, the successful orange
grower must give constant care ana
attention to his crop and much tillage
of the soil is necessary. The profits
will not be extraordinary without eN-
traordinary effort on the part of the
owner.
Orchards now command lower
price per acre than they did eight or
ten years ago when the industry was
younger and the price of fruit was
higher. Very good orchard lands with
ordinary improvements upon them can
now be bought for 5000 to $500 per
acre. Most of the orchards consist of
ten acres, though an Industrious man
can care for thirty acres il he employs
help during the picking season.
Except during the rainy season 1t Is
necessary TO thoroughly irrigate the
trees once Il month. The cost of water
In some districts is qalte heavy, run
ming mp as high as $500 n year for ten
acres. The ground between the rows
of trees must be f'rr0wed for irrigat-
ing. and afterw.;rd narrowed level
again. This, witt, other borrowings, Is
done upon the S owing belief that fire.
quent breaking Up of the top soil tends
to conserve the moisture in the ground.
Most orchards 6 enrich the soil every
year with MANURE or other fertilizers.
Trees are set from twenty to twenty
five feet apart. and about 100 to the
acse. The average tree will bear four
or five boxes of oranges per year,
Which sell for S1.25 per box. The cash
value of the ordinary crop averages
from $500 to 5000 per acre.
Oranges begin 10 ripen In December
and the last are ripe In March, but
they can he left on the tree until May
or June without serious deterioration.
This gives opportunity for placing the
crop on the market during the larger
part Of the year. Both oranges and
lemons have To he picked with care to
prevent bruislng. Lemons are the more
perishable, AS the slightest brisc leads
To speedy decay. Heavy winds do
great damage to these fruits, hut are
of infrequent occurrence. Lemons, un-
like oranges, are constantly maturing,
and picking goes on the year round.
While oranges are allowed to ripcn he
fore picking, lemons are always picked
while green. The pickcrs are partic-
ular TO take them from the tree when
they are of the right size, II ring being
used To determine If they are of the
right diameter. Lemons that are larger
than the standard command lower
price. because certain number is re
puircd In n box to bring a given re
turn as they are sold by the dozen.
Lemon raising Is about Ms profitable
MS orange missing, some men prefer
ring one. some the other fruit.
The figures given above exceed the
prorits received 10y many fruit raisers.
but on the other hand some men do
much better 4 man nt North ontario.
which is the center of one district. re-.
ceiyed $500 from crop Of lemons un
ten acres two years ago. Last year
the crop was small aud prices low.
This year lie rNpetcs To get SlO,uUu
for his crop. lie gives his orchard the
closest attention. and this year cN-
pended $1,000 for fertilizers.
The fruits Of the district are handled
In u cooperative way. being turned
over by the raiser To the company Mt
North Ontario, which does the packing
and shipping. The fruit Il washed nnd
carefully sorted. according To size, and
then wrapped In papers Ms II Is placed
In the boxes. An expert packer Will
wrap and pack forty lemons In n min
~ Nt.a