THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



371 



NOTES ABOUT MAYWOOD COLONY, CORNING, CALIFORNIA 



(Special Correspondence) 



About 12,000 acres of this colony have been set to 

 trees, the first planting having been done in 1894. The 

 leading varieties planted at Maywood are the peach, 

 prune, pear, almond, olive, apricot, fig, grape, orange 

 and lemon. All of these varieties are growing and ma- 

 turing to perfection at Maywood. Of olives something 

 like 4,000 acres are set and in ten years' time they 

 promise to be the leader at Maywood. At present 

 peaches, prunes and almonds are in the lead as revenue 

 producers. No place in California produces better 

 grapes than Maywood, and colonists should give more 

 attention to this variety. Strange as it may seem to 

 those in the East, it is, nevertheless, a fact that oranges 

 here at Maywood, and throughout the Sacramento Val- 

 ley, ripen fully a month earlier than they do at River- 

 side, Redlands, Los Angeles and other places in South- 

 ern California. The Smyrna Fig, the genuine fig of 

 commerce, is being laregly planted here, and promises 

 to be one of the best payers. 



One of California's leading nurseries is located at 

 Maywood Colony. All trees for colony planting are 

 bought from this home nursery, insuring fresh, vigorous 

 and acclimated trees. This nursery furnishes trees for 

 several other colonies in the Sacramento and San Joa- 

 quin valleys. W. H. Samson, of Corning, the propri- 

 etor, will be glad to mail you a catalogue of varieties 

 with prices. 



At Maywood the tree planting season runs through 

 January, February and March. The rule is to plant 

 trees 22 feet apart each way, making 90 trees to the 

 acre, or 900 on a 10-acre lot. Grape vines are set 10 

 feet apart, making 435 to the acre. All orchards, botli 

 old and young, are thoroughly cultivated during April, 

 May and June of every year; then laid by until next 



Peaches by the Wagonload, Maywood Colony, Corning, Cal. 



cultivation season. During April, May and June the 

 Colony orchards are plowed sometimes twice plowed 

 harrowed, disced, dragged and hoed until the top six 

 or eight inches of the soil is thoroughly pulverized and 

 all grass and weeds killed out. The soil, in this condi- 

 tion, prevents summer evaporation of winter's moisture, 

 and the trees grow and yield fruit without irrigation. 

 On the colony .are a number of experienced and re- 



liable persons who plant and tend trees for absentees. 

 The names of these colonists I will give upon applica- 

 tion. I give the name of the person living nearest the 

 lot to be planted and cared for. The average cost of 

 having an orchard planted is $40 per acre, which price 

 includes the preparation of the soil, the trees, their 

 planting and care of them during the year of planting. 

 After the first year the regular charge for 'properly 

 pruning and cultivating an orchard is $12.50 per acre. 



None but the best are planted at Maywood. Time 

 and experience have shown the varieties which do best 

 in this soil and climate, and which sell the most readily 



Sweeping View Over a Section of Maywood Colony, Corning, Cal. 



and at the best prices. The best varieties of peaches for 

 this place are the Muir, Elberta and Phillips Cling. 

 The Bartlett is the favorite pear. The Petite, or French 

 prune, is the variety grown here. Of almonds, the I X 

 L, Nonpareil and Drake's Seedling are the most de- 

 pendable and profitable. Of olives, the Mission, Man- 

 zanillo, Nevadillo and Sevillano are the best varieties. 

 The Tokay, Cornichon, Muscat and Thompson's Seed- 

 less are the standard grapes of this community. Of the 

 fig, none but the genuine Smyrna should be planted. 

 The Washington Navel, or seedless orange, is the most 

 popular, and matures to unusual perfection here at 

 Maywood. Of lemons, the Eureka, Lisbon and Villa 

 Franca do the best here. 



The olive, prune and pear yield paying crops six 

 years from planting. They bear more or less fruit in 

 their fourth and fifth years, but cannot be depended 

 upon to pay a profit, after the cost of cultivation. The 

 almond, apricot and peach return paying crops when 

 four years old. The orange and lemon bear at four 

 years from planting. Grapes, if rooted vines are plant- 

 ed, yield some grapes in their second year and pay a 

 profit at three and four years of age. 



The trees at Maywood are practically free from all 

 tree pests. This is attributable to the climate. Here 

 there is not a trace of moss, or scale on the fruit trees, 

 The 90 days of dry atmosphere during July, August 

 and September make impossible most growth, or scale 

 life. Very little spraying is done here. Bartlett pears 

 are sprayed once a year and peach trees only occasion- 



