CULTURE IN DIFFERENT LOCALITIES 1 63 



the San Joaquin River. This is reclaimed land, and 

 lies some six or eight feet below the surface of the 

 water. The soil is river silt on a peat stratum 

 thirty feet deep. The top is so fine and friable that 

 it does not, in spite of the surrounding river, hold 

 enough moisture to keep the vegetation alive during 

 the hot spring months. A north wind in May would 

 lift up the whole surface of the island and carry it aw^ay 

 in dust. It is an easy matter, however, to let in water 

 through the dikes, and this is done in sufficient 

 quantities to keep the soil in place. 



The question of profit in asparagus growing is one 

 that can only be treated in a relative way. The 

 industry is as yet so new, and instances of phenomenal 

 returns from small holdings are so many, that it is hard 

 to arrive at what might be called a commercial ratio 

 of gain. It is safe to say, however, that with ordi- 

 nary care there has never been an acftual loss with 

 asparagus culture in California. A low estimate of 

 profit is probably $50 per acre. The cost of prep- 

 aration and planting where diking has not been 

 necessary has seldom been more than $100 per acre. 

 The gross returns taken from recent years' reports 

 vary from $100 to $200 per acre, so that it can readily 

 be seen that the return to the asparagus farmer is very 

 fair. Most of the farms in California are in rented 

 land. The Bay Farm Island people pay a ground rent 

 of $50 per acre. On Bouldin Island the rental is on a 

 basis of 40 per cent, of the net proceeds. In Fig. 48 

 is presented a view of a fully established asparagus 

 field on Bouldin Island. 



Warren Cheney. 



Alameda County, Cal. 



