THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF THE KERN DELTA, 



45 



The first named is very popular. Its bright red 

 color, large size, generally handsome appearance and 

 shipping qualities, which serve to carry it to the 

 market in fine condition, render it popular in the 

 East and enable it to command the highest prices. 

 It is easily grown and produces large crops. 



A number of the choicest varieties of foreign 

 grapes are under successful cultivation in the Kern 

 Delta. They thrive in every part of the valley and 

 foothills, and are easily cared for and bring quick 

 returns. Quite a crop is harvested the second year 

 from planting, increasing annually until 15 to 20 tons 

 to the acre are sometimes gathered. 



THE RAISIN. 



California is the only one of the United States 

 which produces raisins, and no part of the Golden 

 State excels Kern county. Thousands of acres are 

 now planted to the raisin vine, and the quantity and 

 quality of the product are the best. 



Raisins are chiefly made from the Muscat raisin 

 grape, but the seedless varieties are extensively 

 grown, produce abundantly, and have paid well. 



The process of raisin making is extremely simple. 

 It consists simply of spreading the ripened fruit 

 upon wooden trays and exposing it to the sun in the 

 open air, where it is cured to perfection. When 

 cured, the raisins are put into " sweat boxes " and 

 sold to the packers. 



One pound of raisins is made from 3 to 3J^ pounds 

 of fresh fruit, and the grower who realizes S% to 4 

 cents per pound for raisins gets a good return upon 

 his capital and labor, while prices in the eastern 

 market warrant him in expecting a much better 

 figure. 



OLIVES. 



That the olive gives good results in Kern county 

 has been proven by long experience. There are a 

 number of aged trees which have produced heavy 

 crops regularly for years. The many orchards plant- 

 ed later are more than justifying the expectation 

 which induced their planting. 



Olive culture is one of the industries of California, 

 and a more promising one no country need desire. 

 The bearing orchards of to-day are bringing uni- 

 formly good returns to the orchardist, and the field 

 for production and the market for the product are 

 unlimited. 



The trees are easily grown and cared for, are very 

 tenacious of life, withstand much neglect, and will 

 grow upon soil of inferior quality, but better, of 

 course, upon the rich soil which is so abundant here. 



THE PEAR. 



The popular pear in the Kern Delta, as elsewhere 

 in California, is the far-famed Bartlett. It has a wide 



range throughout the state, but nowhere does it more 

 nearly approach perfection than here. 



The equable climate during the ripening season, 

 which is exceptional to this locality, frequently brings 

 the entire product of the orchard to maturity with 

 scarce a discernible blemish. The skin is uniform, 

 smooth and waxy, the blush is beautifully tinted, the 

 texture all that may be desired, the flavor superb. 



To properly ripen the pear, here as elsewhere, it 

 must be gathered when apparently green and allowed 

 to mellow in the dark. This fact admits of it being 

 packed when in condition to withstand a long ship- 

 ment, and enables it to reach its destination in prime 

 condition and flavor, and substantially without loss. 



In the orchard the trees are set 20 to 24 feet apart, 

 or say from 75 to 100 to the acre. They come into 

 bearing four years after planting, and the product 

 increases year by year thereafter. A mature pear 

 orchard of 20 acres is a competence to a man who 

 gives it deserved attention. 



For further particulars about Kern county lands, 

 address S. W. Fergusson, manager, Bakersfield, Cal. 



W. W. MONTAGUE & GO. 



MANUFAOTUBEHS OF ALL SIZES 



Irrigating, Mining, Power Plants, 



Artesian Wells, Water Works, 



Town and Farm Supply. 



SINGLE AND DOUBLE RIVETED. 



WATER PIPE 



Made in Sections of any Length Desired 

 13 to 28 Feet. 



The Cut on the left shows a Section of Five joints 



of pipe. 

 DOUBLE RIVETED IN LATERAL SEAMS. 



Particular attention given to Coating Pipe with 

 our "EUREKA." Composition, a Special Mixture 

 Containing Wo Coal Tar. Iron Coated with this 

 Composition is Rust-Proof and Rendered Imper- 

 vious to the Alkalies of the Earth, is Practically 

 Indestructible. 



iron Cut, Funded and formed for Making Pipe on tie 

 Gronnd Wnere Repired. 



309-317 Market St., San Francisco, Cal. 



