California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 CAMILLA RANCH. Orange growing in California is perhaps the most profitable of all the outdoor pursuits that have made the Golden State so attractive to the homeseek- er; certainly it is the most alluring. There is a nameless something about an orange grove that appeals to the man from the east, satisfying to the full the longing that fills his heart when his mind's eye draws its picture of California. The orange grove is not the alpha and omega of California attractions by any means ; nevertheless it is the first thing the man from east of the Rockies hopes to see. "But how can I get an orange grove unless I go to California," is the plaint of one man. Another says, "I want an orange grove, but I cannot leave here now, and I want it ready to support me when I get there. What am I to do ?" The Camilla Ranch Company answers both these questions. In fact the Camilla Ranch Company came into existence for the exact pur- pose of meeting these and other "long-felt wants" of the orange industry. And it was in response to the scores of letters in this vein from eastern friends that the Camilla Ranch Com- pany evolved its unique proposition. Briefly, the Camilla people have put forth a proposition something like an interchangeable mileage book. It is good for land or it is good for dividends. If you cannot look after your land now. draw dividends on your investment. When you are ready for your land, hand in your stock, get your deed and the land is yours. Simple, isn't it? And you can do this when you want to, in a month, a year, two years or five years. When you want to, not when somebody else wants you to. No restrictions. It is all at your option. When you get your deed the land is absolutely yours — no strings tied to it. The Camilla Ranch Company is the absolute owner of one hundred and ninety-five acres of the choicest and most fertile orange land in Tulare county, the banner orange growing district of the state. The property is fully equipped in every way, with its own wells and pumping plant, houses, barns, live stock and implements, and is today a paying property. Its earnings for 1905 will approximate $25,000, which would pay the handsome dividend of sixteen and two- thirds per cent, on $150,000. The property is situated at Lindsay, in the heart of the Tulare orange district. There is no finer nor more productive orange property in all of California. Nine years ago one hundred and twenty acres of this property were planted to navel and Va- lencia oranges and the condition of this fine grove today is sufficient evidence of the care and good management it has had. It is well known as one of the best and most productive groves of that region of splendid orange properties. The property has three fine wells from which water for irrigation is pumped by electric power. By means of large underground pipes the water is conducted to the various parts of the ranch as required. The efficiency of the Camilla irrigation system is well known to everyone in the Lindsay district. This irrigation system will at once be incorporated and stock issued, free of charge, to the purchasers of Camilla orange land, in the ratio of one share to every acre. The own- er of a Camilla orange grove is thus assured of all the water required for his trees, at a mini- mum expense. The Lindsay district's greatest advantage in the growing of oranges lies in the early ripening of all citrus fruits, due to the higher elevation and extreme dryness of the climate. The rich, sedimentary soil, which requires no fertilization, also plays its part, in bringing the Lindsay orange to the perfection which distinguishes it. The navel orange in the Lindsay district is ready for the market early in November, six weeks ahead of the southern fruit. The Lindsay oranges, navels and Valencias, will average a net profit to the grower of not less than $1 per box in the packing house, and often far more. In order to be conservative, we estimate the yield for Camilla ranch at only two and one-half boxes to the tree for navel and four boxes for Valencia oranges, and for the other forty-seven acres at one box per tree. We esti- mate the net price in the packing house at only $1 per box, though such a low price, with one exception, has not been known in the history of Lindsay. Thus we have for Camilla Ranch 8,800 navels, 22,000 boxes, $22,000; 4,400 Valencias, 17,600 boxes, $17,600; and for the other forty-seven acres planted later, 5,500 trees, 5,500 boxes, $5,500. Total gross profits, $45,100. From this deduct cost of working ranch as above, $6,800; net returns, $38,300. The yield of fruit, and consequently the profits, will continue to increase for the next ten years or more.