352 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 June, 1918. 



yield afterwards averages li to 2 tons per acre, though 3 tons per acre 

 have been obtained at Fresno. The cost of harvesting the crop is $17.50 

 to $25 per ton, according to the heaviness of the crop. The crop is har- 

 vested by the ton. The value for oil is $45 to $55 per ton ; for })iekling 

 $175 per ton. The pickling olives are picked by hand, while for oil pur- 

 poses the olives are shaken off the trees. 



The price of both olives and figs is continually rising. They 

 represent one of the best investments that can be made. 



Wherever I travelled in California I saw young olive plantations 

 scattered throughout the State. 



Fresno has the largest fig orchard in the world. J. C. Forkner has 

 7,000 acres of figs in one block. The chief varieties are the Adriatic 

 and Smyrna. Both of these are used for drying, and the estimate of 

 Fresno men is that they net $3 per producing tree. 



It is a common sight to see a row of fig trees around a vineyard in 

 the Fresno district. The figs are grown along the roads as avenues. 

 Very few fences are seen in the Fresno district, as few stock are kept. 



Homestead, Kearney Park, with Bachelors' Quarters in foreground. 



The figs are dried on trays just in the same manner as the raisins.' 

 At Kearney Park there are 2,500 trees around the estate. These brought 

 in a net revenue last year of $12,000. 



The buyers purchase the figs on the tree, and take all the risks of 

 harvesting themselves. 



The trees are usually planted from 40 to 48 to the acre. The figs 

 do not come into bearing until six to ten years after planting. That is 

 the drawback to raising fig trees. The 2,300 trees on the Kearney 

 estate average 110 tons of figs annually over a five year period. 



The blastophaga insect has been introduced, so that the Smyrna figs 

 set well in the Fresno district. 



Features of Interest on Kearney Farm. 



Among many features of interest on the property, the following 

 might be mentioned: — 



1. The excellent system of bookkeeping practice, which enables 

 the management to detect all leakages and immediately correct them. 



