Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-09

"pine" is very simple The land is
cleared and as a rule is not plowed or
turned over. A small hole is dug for
the slip, and all the cultivation given.
is an occasional clearing with hoe.
With this simple cultivation fine fruit
IS produced. One plantation near TERRA
Blanca, state of Vera Cruz, owned
by an American, and another near
Jalapa. owned by a naturalized Ameri-
can-Italian, are the best, as far as
known, in the entire republic. The
fruit on both thrives well on clayey soil
of only moderate fertility, which had
been planted in corn for generations.
As a rule. better results are secured
from localities on steep hillsides than
from those on level ground. Land
suitable for planting may be had at
$50 to $40 gold an acre, near railroad
transportation, and at a much lower
figure at a short distance from the rail-
road.
Citrus Fruits
The most profitable orange planta-
tions are those in fruits of the citrus
varieties All of them will flourish in
attitudes up to $500 feet, and bear
plentifully. The sour orange ard the
lemon grow wild in the forests in great
abundance, and bear fruit the greater
part of the year. The trees are ex-
tremdy hardy and free from insect at
tacks, and furnish excellent grating
stock, which may be had in unlimited
quantities. Shipments of oranges are
comparatively light as yet. During
1903 oranges We're shipped to a total
value of $33,417 gold. The oranges
grown are, as a rule, seedlings, rather
small, but of good flavor. Others
grown in the Tlaliscoyan section are
famous for their exquisite flavor. The
fine California and Florida varieties
grow vigorously and are excellent bear
ers. The crop comes in about October
Much ripe fruit, however, is found as
early as August and September and
again. ripe fruit is often gathered in
January and February Budded
oranges are large in size, beautiful in
appearance and of fine flavor, They
would command the highest prices on
any market.
Another enterprise that promises
great inducement to planters is the cul-
tivation of the lemon. The trees grow
rapidly and begin to bear the second
year. The fruit is large and of superior
quality. Trees are laden with fruit
all the year round. Some trees have
not been without abundance of fruit
for seven years. No cultivation is at
tempted, yet the trees are vigorous
and grow to a large size. The fruit is
compact and stands shipment remark
ably well. Lemons will thrive on any
soil and at all attitudes UP to 1000 feet
above sea level.
The grapefruit pays the planter well.
The trees grow to a large size and are
most prolific bearers. Trees have been
known to carry 1000 fruits at about
seven years, the branches covering
space Of not less than eighteen feet in
diameter and being bent under the
weight of the fruit. The average size
of the fruit was over four inches, and
it was compact and fine.
The only question open to discussion
as to the profits of the fruit business
in this country is that of marketing the
crop and the kinds that will best stand
shipping. AS there have been no crops
to market naturally no facilities have
been provided for handling any large
amount of fruit. There is plenty of
push in transportation companies. but
business must be in sight before they
could be expected to supply the facii-
ties. They will meet the producer half
way in any enterprise that is taken up
seriously. No more than this can be
expected by the planter, who, in the
development of his business may rest
assured of square treatment by tho
transportation companies, the govern
ment and the officials of the state Of
Vera Cruz.