68 



THE ORANGE; 



until the second year in orchard that the 

 tree regains its normal vigor. If in the 

 meantime any special causes have inter- 

 vened to set it back, such as the loss or 

 partial loss of its leaves by grasshoppers, 

 or the gnawing of its roots or stock by 

 vermin, or injury by frost — any or all of 

 which are liable to occur — the tree may 

 not get a good start before the beginning 

 of the third year after planting. If it do 

 not show itself in a thrifty growing con- 

 dition by that time, better dig it up and 

 throw it away. I would not wait that 

 long with a tree that gave earlier evidences 

 of being stunted. 



When Budded Trees Yield.— But if 

 good budded trees are planted and thrive 

 well from the start, the third year in or- 

 chard they ought to yield a little fruit, by 

 way of sample. The fourth year they 

 will produce more, but not enough to 

 bring much revenue. At the end of the 

 fifth year there should be quite a fine crop. 

 If the trees have been retarded in any 

 way the fruiting may be a year later. 

 Accordingly, the man who plants an or- 

 chard of budded oranges, must expect to 

 wait from five to six years for his first 

 substantial proceeds. 



When Seedlings Yield.— With seed- 

 ling trees one must wait nine or ten years. 



A Long Wait. — Five years is a long 

 time; ten years a great deal longer. If a 

 man is possessed of a plethoric purse he 

 can abide the issue with equanimity; but 

 for one who is dependant for a living up- 

 on his own energies this hiatus is a most 

 serious matter. It is a matter which one 

 should weigh well and provide against 

 before embarking in the enterprise. Not 

 only must the family have a living, but 

 there is a continual demand for the ex- 

 pendikire of money or its equivalent — 

 energy— in caring for the orchard. 



Tiding Over. — Many and divers ways 

 are resorted to by men of limited re- 

 sources to tide over this period of waiting. 

 The mechanic finds work at his trade for 

 a part of each year ; the teacher returns to 

 teaching, and the professional man to his 

 practice. If the previous vacation was 

 that of a farmer the orchardist can gener- 

 ally find work to do near at home in car- 

 ing for the places of others or in general 

 farm labor. Some may be able to pay 



their way as they go from their own* 

 places. Such are to be envied most of all. 

 It often happens, however, that the fruit 

 farm par excellence is not well adapted to 

 raising general produce. This is the case 

 with many of the mesa locations. 



Helps.— But with all farms established 

 on a right basis there are helps to the liv- 

 ing which prove most valuable at this pe- 

 riod. The cow is one of these adjuncts ; 

 chickens another ; the vegetable garden 

 a third. If a man is provident he can 

 have his patch of alfalfa and his fodder 

 growing in odd strips and corners of the 

 place, thereby providing, without any 

 outlay of cash, enough feed for his cow 

 and some to help along with the support 

 of the other animals. Chickens, as an 

 auxiliary, under the charge of the gentle 

 and painstaking housewife, are not to be 

 despised ; but I warn the novice against 

 placing too much dependence on the 

 chicken business as a principal means of 

 livelihood. Heretofore some people, prin- 

 cipally dealers in fancy stock, have in- 

 dulged in a good deal of hyperbole re- 

 garding the profits of the poultry yard, 

 and some other people have believed 

 them and have been badly disappointed. 



Economy Wins.— The thrifty man, aid- 

 ed by his helpmeet, can devise many 

 ways to cut down expenses and produce a 

 little revenue pending the issue of the 

 main horticultural venture; and those who 

 address themselves earnestly to the task, 

 and keep clear of debt, generally work 

 through and find themselves on the com- 

 fortable side of independence in a few 

 years. 



Diversified Planting. — Most people 

 who improve small places diversify their 

 planting, i. e. set a portion of the farm in 

 deciduous fruits and a portion in grape- 

 vines ; and some devote consideroble space 

 to small fruits. These come into bearing 

 at two to four years and shorten the un- 

 productive period correspondingly. 



Advisable Crops. — In this connection 

 it would be proper to discuss the products 

 that may be grown in the spaces between 

 the rows of young fruit trees, for the man 

 who struggles to make ends meet almost 

 invariably feels the necessity of utilizing 

 this ground Corn and sugar cane for 

 domestic use or for fodder, potatoes, beets, 



