A Word of Caution 



23 



San Dimas, California 



TRIANGULAR, OR ALTERNATE, SYSTEM. In laying out 

 an orchard by this system, the lines are run forming a square, as 

 in the square system; a line is then run diagonally across, and a 

 tree planted alternately, forming a triangle. The advantage in 

 this system is that the trees are given more space, and can be 

 planted closer together without crowding. 



For any distance not given in the above data calculate the 

 number of trees to the acre by the square system, and add fifteen 

 per cent. This will give the number if planted septuple. 



COMMERCIAL SIZES OF CITRUS TREES BALLED. 



The picture A shows a one-year bnd, caliper ' to ^ inch; B one -year 

 bud. caliper i<j to 8 s inch; C a one-year bud, caliper 5 g inch and all up; D a 

 two-year bud, caliper 3 g to "4 inch; E a two-year bud, caliper 3 4 inch and 

 all up. A, B and C are cut out with 40 pound balls; D and E ( on special 

 orders only ) are cut out with 60 pound balls. 



COST OF BRINGING AN ORCHARD INTO BEARING. 

 So much depends upon local conditions soil, climate, water, lay 

 of the land, whether the owner and his family are to do the work, 

 or it is to be done with hired labor that any estimates are quite 

 apt to not apply in every detail. Broadly, however, the cost of 

 preparing and grading the land and planting the trees, will average 

 from $15 to $25 per acre; this includes cultivation for the first 

 year. After that, however, cost of cultivation will increase, and 

 be about, according to the amount of labor expended, $15 to $25 

 per acre up to the fourth year. If the orchard has been well cared 

 for, it should pay expenses the third year from planting; by the 

 fourth year it should produce about a box of fruit to the tree; the 

 fifth, one and one-half to two boxes to the tree; and from that 

 time on increase in productiveness and profit to its owner in a 

 corresponding ratio to the care and attention expended on it. 



The volume of irrigating water is also subject to some fluctuation 

 governed by local conditions. Usually the amount would be 

 about one inch to 10 acres for the first two seasons; one and one- 

 half inches for the two following seasons; two inches for the fifth 

 and sixth years ; after that period an inch to every four acres will be 

 found to be about the right quantity to use on an orchard in full 

 bearing. 



The expense of caring for an orchard obviously hinges on local 

 contingencies. If in full bearing, allowing for the cost of water and 



cost of labor in supplying same, together with the expense of 

 cultivation, would average anywhere from $25 to $60 per acre. 

 Much depends upon the owner's resources, environment, and 

 method of carrying on the business. 



A WORD OF CAUTION. In planting an orchard, no matter 

 whether it be citrus or deciduous fruit trees, too much care cannot 

 be exercised in securing trees known to be true to name, of vig- 

 orous constitution, and so grown as to produce maximum crops 

 when arriving at the bearing age. The victim of untrue-to-name 

 citrus trees has indeed a sad experience, and suffers no end of 

 loss and vexatious delays. In the first place, the cost of the trees 

 and the attendant expenses are items for which no adequate dam- 

 ages are ever recovered; and in the second place, the loss of time 

 in the case of the orange and the lemon usually from two to four 

 years labor and expense of irrigating and culture are a severe 

 strain on even the resources of the well-to-do; and finally, the 

 dissapointments are quite apt to be so trying as to drive the man 

 who plants untrue-to-name citrus treees out of the business. In 

 no case does Davy Crockett's celebrated aphorism, "Be sure you 

 are right, then go ahead," apply so strongly as in the selection of 



ORANGE BLOSSOMS. 



citrus trees true to name, when planting an orchard. Hence avoid 

 the irresponsible dealers and growers, and buy only of old and 

 well-established institutions. The truth of the above has on 

 more that one occasion been verified in the development of 

 orchards in California, notably during the earlier history of citrus 

 culture when many inferior trees were grown and also imported. 



