Part 7

Fifth year.--The orchard is now in good bearing, and should pay from 100 to 250 dols. per acre; say the lowest .. 4,000

(No time to attend to any but Fruit trees unless a man is employed, so only the return of Fruit trees is given).

Sixth year.--The orchard now pays, if properly attended to, from 150 to 350 dols. per acre; say the lowest .. 6,000

Seventh year.--The orchard pays, if properly cared for, from 200 to 450 dols. per acre; say the lowest .. 8,000

This clear after expenses have been deducted. The farmer can take care of 20 acres himself, with occasional help. With 40 acres he requires one man more, his son or hired help.

The first three years he will only make his living ordinarily so; after that time he will make money. Poultry, and vegetables should, during the first year pay for all expenses at least, and in many instances leave a large surplus. All this depends upon the capacity of the settler. With good land such as this 100 dollars or more could be made from vegetables the first season by a capable and experienced man. At least it has been done repeatedly.

If poultry is properly cared for, a family will make its living by selling eggs and chickens until the trees come in bearing.

=How to start with a capital of 8,000 dols., i.e., say £1,600.=

dols.

Land, 40 acres, 6,000 dols., half cost.. .. 3,000 House and barn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,500 Horses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 200 Cows and chickens .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Waggon and tools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 200 Sundries, tools, etc. .. .. .. .. .. .. 400 Trees, etc. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,200 Well and pump .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 Or windmill and tank .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 Interest on 3,000 dols. at 8 % for three years .. 780 Sundries for living, etc. .. .. .. .. .. 295 ----- dols. 8,000

The fourth and fifth years there should be a gross profit of at least 2,650 dols. a year, enough to pay for the balance due on land.

How to start with, a capital of 5,000 dols., i.e., say £1,000.

dols. Land, 20 acres, 3,000 dols., half cost .. .. 1,500 House and barn, etc. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,000 Trees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 600 Horses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 200 Cow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Household furniture .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 Waggon and tools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 200 Well and pump .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100

(If tank and windmill required, from 250 dols. upwards extra).

Seed, etc. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Sundry expenses and chickens .. .. .. .. 300 Interest for three years on balance of land at 8% .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 360 Capital on hand to pay for part of the land.. 840 ----- dols. 5,300

What some people have started with, and come out all right.

dols. dols. Land, 3,000 dols., cash, balance credit 1000 House and barn 500 Horses 150 Cow 50 Poultry 25 ___ 225

Provisions, sundries, etc 100 Furniture and tools 150 Sundry expenses 100 Waggon and horses 150 _____ dols. 2,225

But ordinarily, this is too little, as the planting of the land cannot be proceeded with at once, and work must be procured among the neighbours, etc.

The estimates, were furnished us by Professor Eisen, who remarked that, probably, in giving estimates all persons would vary somewhat, but these, and other estimates which he gave, are really more than estimates, because they are the actual results of past experiences.

PROFESSOR EISEN'S OPINION.

Received January 20th, 1891.

Professor Eisen writes:--"I am of opinion that these lands (British Colony, Merced) are amongst the very best in the State for raisins; still, as I explained to you, I do not advise any one to put his whole interest in the raisin industry, as the market for this Fruit is limited. For other dried fruit, especially for prunes (French plums), apricots, peaches, and nectarines, the market is practically unlimited, and as our population increases yearly 1,500,000 people, it will be seen that our markets must extend as well, even after we have driven all foreign Fruits out of our home markets. As regards the adaptability of the land of British Colony for various Fruits, I can say that they are especially adapted to the prune (French plums) and peaches for drying and canning, olives for olive oil and pickling; also for oranges. You can see how the orange thrives in the city of Merced and surroundings, or in localities exactly like those of British Colony lands, and there can be no doubt that oranges and lemons will prove very profitable in British Colony. Olives will especially do well there. The British Colony lands I consider as exceptionally rich and fertile, and there are few, if any, equal to them in this State or anywhere else."

PRICE OF FRUIT TREES.

The prices in California of young Fruit trees for planting, for the season 1890-91, are given as follows:--

dols.

Prunes (like French plums) 25 to 30 per 100

Plums and other prunes 15 "