CULTURE IN DIFFERENT LOCALITIES 163 
the San Joaquin River. This is reclaimed land, and 
lies some six or eight feet below the surface of the 
water. The soil is river silt on a peat stratum 
thirty feet deep. The top is so fine and friable that 
it does not, in spite of the surrounding river, hoid 
enough moisture to keep the vegetation alive during 
the hot spring months. A north wind in May would 
lift up the whole surface of the island and carry it away 
in dust. It is an easy matter, however, to let in water 
through the dikes, and this is done in sufficient 
quantities to keep the soil in place. 
The question of profit in asparagus growing is one 
that can only be treated in a relative way. The 
industry is as yet so new, and instances of phenomenal 
returns from small holdings are so many, that it is hard 
to arrive at what might be called a commercial ratio 
of gain. It is safe to say, however, that with ordi- 
nary care there has never been an actual loss with 
asparagus culture in California. A low estimate of 
profit is probably $50 per acre. ‘The cost of prep- 
aration and planting where diking has not been 
necessary has seldom been more than $100 per acre. 
The gross returns taken from recent years’ reports 
vary from $100 to $200 per acre, so that it can readily 
be seen that the return to the asparagus farmer is very 
fair. Most of the farms in California are in rented 
land. The Bay Farm Island people pay a ground rent 
of $50 per acre. On Bouldin Island the rental is on a 
basis of 40 per cent. of the net proceeds. In Fig. 48 
is presented a view of a fully established asparagus 
field on Bouldin Island. 
WARREN CHENEY. 
Alameda County, Cal. 
