Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-08-17
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LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA

we have the advantage of the coast
climate of Oregon and Washington
where the rain is daily thing dur
ing the rainy season. r.
We have fog here almost every
morning now which is very benef-
cial to the lima beans. 1t is not at
all unpleasant, sheltering us from
the rays Of the sun till the coast
breeze arises in the forenoon.
We spent the day last Thursday
at the celebrated Limoneira Ranch
being the guests of Mr.. and Miss
Overm'ann, the uncle and aunt of
Mr.. w. M. Chase of your city.
Since Limoneira Lemons are some
times on sale at 1.-The Leading
Store' land perhaps others) in
Willmar, you may be interested to
know some facts in regard to this
ranch which is one of the largest in
the United States. It consists of
about 2200 acres, in all. which in
cludes some hay land on the foot
hills which cannot be utilized for
fruit. Three hundred acres are
planted to lemons in bearing.
From these they shipped last year
III, 767 boxes or 400 cars of fruit.
Besides this, 267 tons of, English
walnuts were sold and q considerable
amount Of olives. There are 255
acres of lemons on the ranch not
yet bearing. Those who are fortu-
nate enough to be stockholders in
this concern think it is a good thing.
In it's early years they were assessed
on their stock and it sold for $40
per share; now it is $3.50 per share
and hard to get at that.
We not only drove over this fine
ranch but were especially interest
ed in visiting the packing-house,
a spacious building six hundred
feet long by over one hundred in
width. Here were 100 men, most
ly Japanese, busily engaged in get
ting the lemons ready for market.
The orchards are picked about once
each month, at least eleven times
year,-the pickers using measur-
ing rings. EVERY lemon too large
to go through the ring being the
proper size. After they reach the
packing-house they are carefully
handled las they are in picking) by
the various men through whose
hands they pass. They are first
emptied from the boxes into vat
of water. containing a slight solu-
tion of copper sulphate to destroy
any fungus growth, and run through
a trough consisting Of rapidly re-
volving brushes, that seem to touch
them in every spot in the cleansing
process. AS they pass from here
they are sorted into three classes,
the light greens, the dark greens
and the yelIows, and are placed in
boxes again to be cured under can
vass where the temperature is kept
at about 60 degrees and the humid
ity at about 80. They are kept
here for two or three months, ex-
cept the "yellows'' which are ready
for market sooner and which re-
quire quick shipment. After the
curing process is finished they are
again sorted, according to size and
quality, wrapped in the tissue COW
ering and packed in boxes for ship
ment. The Flaps" show great pro-
ficiency in wrapping and packing
and especially in putting the COW
ers on the overlooking boxes '(for
they give good measure) and an
average of over a car a day from
this one establishment will be seen
to require quick work from many
hands. The concern is we'll man.
aged. everything going with clock
like precision, and no doubt to this
fact can be attributed, in large
measure, the success that has been
attained.
l don't know whether this will
prove interesting but | feel sure it
will be an interesting sight for any
who may come out to see it. At
any rate you may remember, next
time you use lemon. that it has
gone through number of careful
pre- cesses before it reaches your
hands. Even the hands that handle
them are gloved lest they should
be Scared from contact with the
finger nails.
This is perhaps already too large
an instaIlment. Let me say that
while we appreciate the climate and
scenery here, we greatly miss the
lakes and verdure land mosquitos)
of our old Minnesota home. We
hope to have many Of our friends
visit US in course of time.
Sincerely yours.
Henry C.. Buell..
China ware to be closed out at
cost, at Elmquist's jewelry store on