FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 
35 
private house, and is housed in an expensive and model 
building. In another room of the engine-house there is a 
55-horse power engine, which propels two dynamos, one of which 
is a Thomson-Houston 600 light alternator, and the other an 
Edison 250 light direct current. In the upper storey of the 
packing-house the Prunes are packed. As they are all extras 
they are packed exclusively in boxes. The room is 55 ft. by 
185 ft., and there are two rows of incandescent lamps the entire 
length of the building. The packing-house is on a plateau about 
500 ft. above San Jose, and at night the electric lights may be 
seen from a large part of the valley. 
A tract of fifteen acres, in a little valley, about 100 ft. below 
the packing-house, is used as a drying-ground, and here are some¬ 
times spread out as many as 18,000 white wood fruit trays, each 
4 ft. by 8 ft., where they are allowed to remain until the fruit has 
been thoroughly cured by the warm rays of the sun. At intervals 
all about the grounds are arc lamps upon poles to furnish light 
for the men engaged in attending to the drying fruit. 
Steel tracks extend to all parts of the grounds, and long 
trains of flat cars, loaded with stacks of fruit trays, are pulled to 
and from the various sections by horses. A railroad also extends 
from the drying-ground in the little valley directly up the steep 
hill to the packing-house on the plateau above, and this is worked 
by a cable from the engine-house. All parts of the packing¬ 
house and drying-grounds are connected with the engine-house 
by electric wires and alarm bells, so that signals may be given 
for the stopping and starting of the machinery. Every machine 
is connected separately, so that in case of accident it may be 
disconnected at once without stopping other machinery. 
All fruit waggons, carriages, and farming implements are 
kept in perfect condition and freshly painted every year, a shop 
supplied with every requisite having been provided for the 
purpose. The ranche has its own blacksmith’s shop also, which 
is supplied with lathes, forges, band and buzz saws, drills, emery 
wheels, and all other necessary machinery, power being supplied 
by a Pelton wheel propelled by water from springs in the 
mountains above. In winter, when the water supply is ample, 
the Pelton also drives a 150 light C & 0 dynamo, which supplies 
light for the residence and grounds. 
The family orchard contains about 250 trees, including 
d 2 
