ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 9 



It is well to know at the threshold of the enterprise, that to 

 plant, cultivate and bring an orange orchard to a remunerative 

 condition requires money, determination and close application, 

 and years of time and labor, to carry us safely through all the 

 vicissitudes and disappointments continually encountered in 

 orange raising. I do not make these statements for the pur- 

 pose of discouraging the extension of our citrus interests, but in 

 all kindness, as a warning to the uninitiated, and, perhaps, to 

 the over-zealous of our people. We are prone to be in too much 

 of a hurry, and to go too fast for our ultimate good. 



However strong may be my belief and faith in the grand 

 profits destined to be realized from this industry, my advice is, 

 be careful in your estimates, and do not go beyond your means. 

 Be not too hasty to get rich in this branch of horticulture ; be 

 sure of your ability to carry to a successful termination the load 

 you start with. It will be better to add a little from time to 

 time, during your progress, than to break down by overloading, 

 and never arrive at the promised land. Numbers among us 

 have been wrecked on the hopeless beach of despair in their 

 efforts to rush, without probation, to the realization of their 

 golden dreams. Then, beware of quicksands, and ford the river 

 at a safe place. Let all, then, proceed patiently to peruse the 

 following pages, and put in practice the information ^gained 

 information that has cost the author years of time and if they 

 then engage in this business they may reasonably hope_for a 

 golden reward. 



I neither profess perfection nor aspire to it in the department 

 of horticulture. As time rolls on, and orange'culture shall have 

 become more systematized, I sincerely believe that much knowl- 

 edge superior to mine, and more practical than what may be 

 found in these pages, will be garnered and assimilated ; but I 

 believe that this (perhaps the latest attainable at present) will 

 be endured. 



On this foundation let us work to build a^grand super- 

 structure. Those who profit from the hints in the preceding 

 will surely be benefited, and will certainly succeed. 



