230 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



PRODUCTION AND PRICES. 



It will be seen that the production of this particular orchard was 

 about 28 tons per acre. This is an exceptionally high yield and 

 is away above the average, for even in the Sacramento Val- 

 ley, where trees produce more than in any other section of the 

 state, the average would not be higher than 10 tons per acre. 

 Prior to beginning the preparation of this bulletin a questionnaire was 

 sent to a number of the leading pear growers of the counties where the 

 production of this fruit is of considerable importance and 65 of the total 

 number written replied to the questionnaire. In answer to a question 

 regarding the average production of bearing orchards these growers 

 estimated 10 tons per acre to be a fair average. This is not at all an 

 impossible amount for the better pear-growing sections. The average 

 yield throughout the entire state, however, would be much lower than 

 this and possibly not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 tons per 

 acre. The average maximum yield, as reported by the same 65 growers, 

 was 23 tons per acre and the average age of the trees reported upon was 

 18 years. 



Prices received for the earlier pears are always satisfactory and 

 $3.50 per box is not an exceptionally high price for the first Bart- 

 letts of the season. The average price for Bartletts throughout the 

 season would probably not be more than $1.30 per packed box. 

 Authentic figures from one locality show this amount for a ten-year 

 average. Like the very early pears, those that are very late, and as a 

 consequence reach the market at a time when the early fruit has all 

 been sold, frequently bring a much higher price than the average. 

 The canneries pay from $35 to $50 per ton for fruit for canning pur- 

 poses. Other varieties, such as Winter Nelis, Cornice, Anjou and Bosc, 

 often sell for fully as good, if not better, prices than Bartletts. Winter 

 Nelis, being a late variety and thus supplying the market after the 

 other varieties mentioned are gone, nearly always bring a very satis- 

 factory price. 



PEAR REGIONS OF THE STATE. 



As the pear is very generally grown, and as there are more or less 

 well-defined areas where orchards may be found, the state has been 

 divided into eight regions. These, with a definition of their limits, are 

 as follows: 



Northern California Coast Region All Coast Range counties or por- 

 tions of counties from the northern boundary of the state to the 

 northern line of Sonoma and Napa counties. 



Central California Coast Region All Coast Range counties or portions 

 of counties from the northern boundary of Sonoma and Napa coun- 

 ties to the northern boundary of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los 

 Angeles counties. 



Southern California Coast Region All counties bordering on the Pacific 

 from the northern line of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles 

 counties to the southern line of the state. 



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