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fruit in Fresno County does not date back of 1880, and yet her raisins are 

 known and eaten by all men. Lands formerly selling from $5 to $10 per 

 acre, now sell into the hundreds, and pay good interest on the investments. 

 It is situated in the central region or Southern San Joaquin Valley. 



Riverside furnishes an example of the magical change wrought by water 

 and fruit culture. Lands here classed as desert and practically valueless 

 three years ago, pay interest at $500 to $1,000 per acre. This is Southern 

 California. 



Another type is found around Newcastle, in the foothill region of Placer 

 County. 



The development here is marvelous and gives great hope of all the foot- 

 hill lands, of which there are millions of unoccupied acres in this State 

 purchasable at low prices. 



Lands around Newcastle selling five years ago at $5 to $10 per acre, now 

 bring $100 and over per acre. The elevation is from five hundred to one 

 thousand feet above sea level. Olives, figs, oranges, and all deciduous 

 fruits flourish here. Planters are prosperous and making money. Irriga- 

 tion is practiced although not always necessary. 



These are communities of intelligent and capable growers who know the 

 art of growing and marketing fruit. 



This enhancement of value is felt throughout the entire State, as is shown 

 beyond dispute by the enormous increase of the taxable value of lands 

 lying within the fruit belt. 



I find great difficulty in dealing with the question of the profitableness 

 of fruit growing in California, for lack of general statistics. I can give 

 well authenticated instances of fruit growing on a large and small scale in 

 all parts of the State, showing very large profits on the investment at the 

 very high prices of land, or cost of an orchard brought to the bearing point. 

 I hesitate to do this, however, because no one should generalize from such 

 insufficient data. I think, however, it is within the observation of every 

 intelligent fruit grower in this State that, where the business is pursued with 

 that intelligence which its nature and character demand, no more lucra- 

 tive or profitable business can be engaged in by tillers of the soil. 



Intelligent fruit growing implies a knowledge of soil, climatic influences, 

 varieties to plant, the art of culture and handling, and business tact to 

 market the product. 



Aside from any particular illustration showing the profitableness of fruit 

 growing, we have, what to my mind is an exceedingly strong argument in 

 that direction ; viz.: In all the valley counties, from Shasta to San Diego, 

 men of business shrewdness and intelligent observation, who have been 

 long residents of the State, and have observed our fruit development, are 

 buying lands for fruit growing, and paying prices far beyond any price that 

 would yield an income in wheat growing or for any other purpose than for 

 fruit. 



Probably the best single illustration covering the widest territory, and 

 the greatest variety of fruit, is shown in the result of the work of the Cali- 

 fornia Fruit Union for the year 1887. I take this from the " California 

 Fruit Grower," of November 10, 1888: 



Boxes shipped 



Crates shipped 



Net weight of fruit, not including weight of package (pounds") 



328,296 

 169,268 

 11,363,020 



