FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



37 



as needed, the crop ranges from five to ten tons an acre, varying, 

 of course, in different districts. Only those Grapes showing 

 22 to 24 degrees by the saccharometer are used for wine, those 

 showing less are used for brandy. One ton of Grapes makes 

 from 135 to 160 gallons of wine, according to the variety of the 

 Grape. The wine-makers are this season paying from £2. 8s. to 

 £3. 4s. a ton for Grapes, and wine of this year's vintage is being 

 sold for l\d., 9d., and lOd. per gallon, according to quality. 

 "Wine sold early in the season for Gd. a gallon. 



Mr. Herbert's Drying Sheds. 



In 1887 J. B. Herbert commenced to dry the product of his 

 young orchard. He then found a few hundred trays sufficient 

 for his needs. He subsequently commenced to buy fruit from 

 surrounding orchards to dry. The business has since grown to 

 such an extent that he has shipped this season seventy- six car- 

 loads of dried fruit. Mr. Herbert is a practical fruit grower, and 

 knows what fruit is, how it should be packed, and what the 

 market demands. He is constantly advised of the condition and 

 demands of the market, and can therefore pay as much for 

 fruit as any 'drying establishment in the county. 



Mr. Flickinger's Cannery. 

 A few years ago the only fruit canning plants in the State 

 were located in San Francisco, and to these fruit was shipped 

 from all over the State. As a result much of the fruit was 

 necessarily picked when it was green. That which was allowed 

 to remain on the trees until it w r as thoroughly ripe was entirely 

 too ripe by the time it reached the cannery. It was then made 

 into jams, which were unfit for food. J. H. Flickinger was at 

 the time a wholesale dealer in cattle and sheep. He noticed the 

 difficulties experienced by the cannery men, and at once planned 

 to obviate them. His first proposition was, that instead of 

 taking the fruit to the cannery the cannery should be taken to 

 the fruit. He decided also that only the best varieties should 

 be used, and of these varieties only the most perfect fruits. He 

 accordingly purchased 500 acres in the Santa Clara County, 

 which seemed to recommend itself as the choicest fruit-growing 

 section. Having first determined which varieties were the most 

 suitable for canning purposes, he selected and planted them. 



