The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-08-15

lemon trees, varying IN length from
hundred feet 10 half a mile, and about
three hundred feet apart These bitches
cost money, ard are one reason why
the average price of orange groves is
$3.50 per acre. When groves are to be
| irrigated, five burrows between each
two rows of trees are run De an imp!e
m=nJ like harrow with scoop or trowel
teeth. the burrows being three inchs s
wide by four inches deep, and extending
from one ditch to the next. Water Is
let into the bitches until they are nearly
full and then the tin slides over the side
holes are raised, allowing the water to
run into the furrow, care being taken
to have the flow as even as possible.
The water is allowed to run for forty
eight hours about every thirty days in
dry season and less frequently in TIE
rainy season, the amount of water
used depending upon the experience
and judgment of the grower, who irri-
gates when he thinks his trees need
moisture. If he owns water rights in
common with others or if he buys
water from a company he cannot irri-
gate when he pleases, but must arrange
date, as water, of course, can be di-
verted into one particular channel only
when all other channels are closed. AS
the Garrett county farmer arranges for
the visit of the threshing machine, so
the Southern California farmer gives
notice when to send him water. The
supply seems to be inexhaustible, as
there are numberless gorges not yet
damned and rivers Of water run to the
ocean. The supply also is fairly regular
as following the winter rains comes the
melting snow. Onlthe mountains above
the reservoir which holds Redlands'
supply Of water the snow was sixteen
feet on the level last winter Down
in the valleys, in sight Of snow, orange
trees were in fruit, flowers were bloom
ing, and the Thermometer was up to so
degrees.
Orange and lemon trees require a
great deal Of care. They are trimmed
once, and sprayed several times a year.
Insects and other pests, seem to have
great liking for these trees. The ssoil
is turned in at least once year, expen-
sively fortified with commercial man
ures, and in some seasons:irrigation fur
rows are made and water turned on
every day. As is the case now, if
more fruit seems to be forming than
the limbs viii bear or the trees properly
nourish, the surplus is picked off: Some
varieties in some sections of Southern
California are ready for market in
November and others upon the ensuing
months up to July, 50 that orchardists
are busy pretty much of the whole year.
When ready for market, the ripe fruit
on each tree is picked and sent in boxes
holding about bushel each to the near
est packing house. Here they are
weighed and the grower is credited
with the weight. Then they are'wash-
ed, sorted as to size and variety. wrap
ped in soft paper, and packed in. boxes
for shipment, a credit memorandum
being sent to the grower, When the
oranges are sold, the smoney is given
him, less the commission Of the packing
house people for services. These pack
ing houses are maintained by either a
number of growers jointly or by COM
panies and they do the work better and
cheaper than it could be done by each
grower separately.
Orange growing is an attractive oc-
cupation. The groves, as a rule are
small, being five, ten, twenty, fifty
acres-rarely one hundred acres, though
there is one adjoining Redlands contain
ing seven hundred acres. AS the places
are small, the homes are not far apart
and neighbors are near. Electric lights
and telephones are the rule instead of
the exception, and trolley cars lines
gridirOn the orange growing district
California houses generally are one
story in height, FIVE to ten rooms on the
single floor, and they usually are attrac-
tive in appearance. The out buildings
are few and small, as feed and stock re-
quire little room. The trees have
leaves on them all the year round, and
with the leaves either buds, blossoms
and fruit, so that they always present
clean and attractive appearance, max
ing an orange ranch seem like a business
mans home in the prosperous suburb
of large city, especially when flowers
border9 the roads and paths. The fruit
on each tree does not all ripen at once,
but few oranges can be picked daily
after they begin to ripen, andsSlf a
grower has certain varieties ION his
ranch he can begin picking in November
and keep it up until July. On five
acre ranch near Redlands the owner has
made net profit of $500 an acre the
last two seasons. He grows Valencias,
which natures late and sell for the
highest prices. Cultivation, fertilizers.
water, labor and other expenses