Appendices 363 



olives, or cherries, is about the same. Citrus fruits are 

 more expensive, as will be seen. And the profits are less 

 variant than one might suppose, if an average be struck 

 between the fat and lean years. The income should be 

 at least ten per cent on the total investment, and often 

 very much more. 



Table showing prices of land per acre : — 



Hill land for deciduous fruit $30 to $50 



Valley laud for deciduous fruit 100 to 200 



Land, without water right, for citrus fruits . . 75 to 150 

 Land, with water right, for citrus fruits . . . 200 to 300 

 Land, with water right, and of the choicest qual- 

 ity, near Riverside 300 to 400 



Orchard in bearing of deciduous fruit .... 300 to 1000 



Orchard in bearing of citrus fruit 500 to 2000 



These prices are for land in the choicest localities and 

 situated near large towns. Some land companies in the 

 State undertake to sell valley land, plant it to trees, 

 deciduous or citrus, care for the same during three years, 

 and then turn it over to the purchaser. Their figures 

 average per acre $250 for deciduous fruits, $300 for olive 

 trees, and $350 for citrus fruits. I cannot commend this 

 system of purchase. Corporations are said to have no 

 conscience, and it is obvious that a company cannot give 

 to these orchards the individual care they need. An 

 orchard is like a kindergarten : each tree in it has its 

 idiosyncrasies. If you do not wish to do your own work, 

 it is possible to find in the districts I have named reli- 

 able orchardists who will take charge of your property. 

 I have made contracts with such men to plough, culti- 

 vate, prune, and supervise orchards of deciduous fruit at 

 rates ranging from |8 to $12 per acre. These rates do 

 not include, of course, the picking and drying of the fruit. 



In Santa Clara county, an orchard of prunes or apricots 



