180 DATEGROWING 



production in America for many years, and that 

 locally-grown dates will hardly find competitors in 

 the imported fruit. As people come to know what 

 delicious, clean, fresh, home-grown dates are, the 

 price may be expected steadily to rise rather than fall, 

 no matter how fast the production increases in 

 California and Arizona. 



These are the reasons which lead me to believe 

 that an estimate of twenty cents a pound gross 

 return to the grower is conservative. Others may 

 figure on a different basis or, figuring on the same 

 basis, arrive at a different conclusion. Any one 

 interested in the industry can consider the facts and 

 from them form his own estimate. 



To return to the probable expense of running a 

 date plantation: it should not be large, as compared 

 with the expense of other agricultural enterprises. 

 The difference between good and bad management 

 is so great that one can hardly quote definite figures, 

 but it may be pointed out that the amount of labor is 

 not great at any time of year, and that even during 

 the picking of the crop fewer men will be needed than 

 with many agricultural staples. If the owner is his 

 own manager he will have all the profits for himself, so 

 there is certainly a great future in the industry for 

 men who own plantations of ten or fifteen acres. 

 One man should be able to keep up such a plantation 

 alone, at all times of the year except during the crop 

 picking season. If a manager has to be hired the 

 expense will be greatly increased, unless on a large 

 estate, for only a thoroughly competent man can be 

 considered. In a favorable situation such as 

 Coachella or Imperial Valley the expense of picking 

 the crop is not great; if it is ripened by the slow 



