THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 



vigorous and yielding immense crops of fruit, 

 although they are only twenty feet apart." 

 Seedlings are said to begin to bear remunera- 

 tive crops in their tenth year, but by superior 

 cultivation this long unproductive period may 

 be somewhat lessened, while trees from three 

 to five years old may be purchased from the 

 nurserymen, so that the newcomer who sets 

 out an orchard may begin to gather fruit by 

 the fifth or sixth year. When first set out, and 

 for some years afterward, the trees are irri- 

 gated by making rings of earth around them, 

 which are connected with small ditches, 

 through which the water is distributed to each 

 tree. Or, where the ground is nearly level, the 

 whole surface is flooded from time to time as 

 required. From 309 trees, twelve years old 

 from the seed, DeBarth Shorb says that in the 

 season of 1874 he obtained an average of $20.50 

 per tree, or $1435 per acre, over and above cost 

 of transportation to San Francisco, commission 

 on sales, etc. He considers $1000 per acre 

 a fair average at present prices, after the trees 

 have reached the age of twelve years. The 

 average price throughout the county for the 

 last five years has been about $20 or $25 per 

 thousand; and, inasmuch as the area adapted 

 to orange culture is limited, it is hoped that 

 this price may not greatly fall for many years. 



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