North Park union., 1900-08-31
GROWING ORANGES.
HOW cALlFoan,ANs DO 1T.
In Order to Make Zig Profits the Raiser
Must lie Industrious aud EnterprisinK
Five Hundred DollArs an Acre an
Average Crop.

Many people going from the East to
California have an exaggerated tden of
t.e profits OF orange raising, 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 he 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 maj,
can care for thirty acres il he employs
help during the picking season.
Except during the rainy season 1t is
necessary TO thoroughly irrisate the
trees once II month. The cost of water
in some districts is Iaitc heavy. run
ming mp as high as $500 Il year for ten
acres The ground between the rows
of trees must he f'nrowed for irrigat
ing. and afterwtrd narrowed leve,
again. This. will, other liarrowings. Is
done upon the s owing belief that fire.
uuent breaking Up of the top soil tends
to conserve the moisture in the ground
Most orchards 6 enrich the soil every
year with maphrc or other fertilizers
Trees are set from twenty to twenty
five feet apart, and about 1OO to the
ac~e. The average tree will bear fouf
or five boxes of oranges per year
Which sell for 81 % per box. The cash
value of the ordinary crop averages
from $500 to 5000 per acre.
Oranges begin to ripcn in December
and the last are ripe in March. but
they can be left on the trce 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 be picked with care tt
prevent bruisiug. Lemons are the NOR,
perishablc, us the slightest bruisc leads
to speedy decay. Heavy winds dc
great damage to these fruits. hut are
of infrcqucnt occurrence. Lemons. un
like oranges, are constantly maturing
and picking goes on the year round
While oranges are allowed to ripcn be
fore picking, lemons are always picked
while green. The pickcrs are partc
ulnr to take them from the tree whcI
they are of the right size. Il ring being
used to determine If they are of th,
right diameter. Lemons that are larger
than the standard command II lower
price. because Il certain number Is re
uuircl in Il box to bring Il given re
turn as they are sold by the dozen.
Lemon raising Is about ;ls proiitabl,
as orange raising. some men prefer
ring one. some the other fruit.
The figures given above exceed the
profits received by many fruit rnisers
but on the other hand some men d,
much better A man Mt North ontario
which is the center of one district, re
ceived 81 500 from II crop of lemons of
ten acres two years ago. Last veal
the crop was small and prices low
This year he rNpctcs to get S1O.Ws
for his crop. He gives his orchard thu
closest attention. and this year eN
pended $1,000 for fertilizers.
The fruits of the district are handled
in II cooperative way. being turne,
over by the raiser to the company n
North ontario. which does the pnckin.
and shipping. The fruit is washed ant
carefully sorted. according to size. ant
then wrapped in papers as 1t Is placet
In tile boxes. An expert packer viii
wrap and pack forty lemons in Il min
ute.