The Extensive Orchard and Garden Tract
Near Alviso, Which Has Been
Improved by
Andrea Malovos. Silty Soil in the Artesian Well
District.
As a rule, orchards in Santa Clara County are comparatively small, ten
acres of fruit trees in full bearing will support an average-sized
family in good style. Again, the proper cultivation of ten acres,
with the gathering and marketing of the fruit, will furnish occupation
for one man most of the time, whereas if more land is cultivated,
additional help is usually required. Occasionally large companies own
orchards of from 100 to 500 acres, but individuals, seldom.
The Lighthouse Farm,
on the Alviso road, about five and a half miles north of San Jose,
owned by Andrea Malovos,
is an exception to the rule. Mr. Malovos secured 260 acres
of land, on Coyote Creek in 1870, and at once commenced to improve
it. The soil was exceedingly rich and fertile, as it
consisted almost entirely of silt deposited by the waters of
Coyote Creek, which in winter time formerly spread over the land.
Mr. Malovos constructed a levee along the bank of the stream, at great
expense, from thirty to forty feet in height, for a distance of more
than a mile. The work was done most thoroughly, and the levee is
safe for all time. Mr. Malovos then sank four artesian well,
varying from 225 to 475 feet in depth. He thus secured an ideal
orchard tract- one containing rich soil, with plenty of eater, in a
locality where there is an abundance of sunshine to ripen and give to
fruit its choicest flavor.
Subsequently Mr. Malovos purchased 100 acres more. There are two
artesian wells upon this tract, and a fine twenty-five horse-power
engine was purchased at a cost of $2,300, with which to propel a Byron
Jackson rotary pump. WIth this plant, 2,000 gallons per minute
are pumped in to an irrigation canal which leads to all portions of the
vast orchard tract, supplying abundant water for irrigation purposes,
just when and just where it is needed.
Mr. Malovos now has a large orchard, and the trees are all very thrifty
and bear heavily. There are 22,000 prune trees, 3,000 peach,
3,000 apricot and 2,500 cherry trees. They are planted from
20 to 24 feet apart, the average number of trees for the entire orchard
being 108 per acre. Sixty acres are devoted to asparagus.
This is one of the most profitable tracts on the farm. In years
when the prices are good, the profits are in advance of those secured
from prunes; and are always great. Twenty-eight acres are devoted
to strawberries. The profits vary with the season and market
price, but are always satisfactory. Twenty-five acres are in
pasture for horses and cows.
Mr. Malovos leases about 60 acres to a nursery company. The
nursery stock is heeled in between rows of young fruit trees.
Mr. Malovos has supplied a thorough and extensive system of drainage
for the entire farm. Thus, with water supplied by artesian well,
and that furnished by the stream pump, he is enabled to supply the land
with all needed moisture, and with the drainage canals can at any time
remove an excess of moisture.
Mr.. Malovos has a large two-story residence, containing sixteen rooms
and bath, a large basement, hot and cold water piped throughout, and
sewers connecting with the main sewer, which leads to the bay from San
Jose. Water is raised from artesian wells to tanks above the
house by hydraulic rams. There are also two large barns, and a
house for employees.
Mr. Malovos' neighbors, in every direction, are pleasant and
intelligent people.
All of Mr. Malovos' children have received good school
advantages. Most of the boys have attended the Santa Clara
College, while several of them have completed a course at the Garden
City Business College. The younger children are now attending the
district school.
Mr. Malovos' residence is surrounded by a beautiful flower garden,
flowers growing here most luxuriantly.
The residence is connected with San Jose and San Francisco by a
long-distance telephone.
Mr. and Mrs., Malovos have ten children, all of whom, except a married
daughter, Mrs. B. N. Trubock, wife of the commission merchant of
San
Francisco, reside at home.
transcribed by cdf