ii6 Fruitgrowing uuder Irrigation 



Pruning and spraying, 5 years . . . . 500 

 Net expenses for sixth year, after de- 

 ducting net income . . . , . . 300 



Total upkeep.. .. .. .. 39 2 6 



Harvesting Plant. 



s. d. 

 Picking or sweat boxes . . . . . . 200 



Proportionate expenditure on storing 



or curing shed . . . . . . . . 800 



Total 10 



s. d. 

 Interest on initial outlay and upkeep for 



six years. . . . . . . . . . 10 10 



Owing Irrigation Department after five 



years 10 



Total capital outlay 83 18 6 



The initial outlay for planting an acre of oranges 

 is greater than that of any other class of fruit, 

 owing chiefly to the greater cost of the trees them- 

 selves. In planting, also, greater care than is neces- 

 sary with other trees has to be taken, and if the 

 season is dry a special irrigation will be needed at 

 planting time. 



On calculating the annual expenses of cultivation 

 and irrigation at 5 per acre a low estimate has 

 been taken. A glance at the young orange planta- 

 tions at Berri at once reveals the blocks that have 

 received the best cultivation. So readily do orange 

 trees respond to good cultivation that a first class 

 looked after orange grove will come into profitable 

 bearing at least a year before a block that has re- 

 ceived but average attention, 



