Pacific Rural Press, Volume 57, Number 1, 7 January 1899 — AGRICULTURAL REVIEW. [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL REVIEW.

CALIFORNIA. Alameda. Shelter for Ladybirds. — Niles Herald: When in Niles recently State Horticultural Quarantine Officer Craw urged orchardists to follow the suggestions made by William Barry, County Horticultural Commissioner, regarding the placing of corn husks in the crotches of deciduous fruit trees before the leaves fall. This, he said, will give the ladybirds protection during the winter, and they will be in the trees in the spring ready for work. I have made a trip around this township and find that olive, orange and lemon trees are entirely clean, and never saw cleaner trees than those on Mr. Mclver's place. These beetles did the work without the cost of a cent, where $800 failed to do it in other ways.

Hickmott Cannery Sold. — Oakland Enquirer, Dec. 30: Negotiations for the purchase of the plant of the Hickmott Canning Company of this city and at Biggs, Yolo county, by an English syndicate, have been practically carried to a successful issue. The terms of the transaction are not public but it is understood that the plant is valued upwards of $65,000. The business transacted by the Hickmott company amounts to about $250,---000 annually. The Hickmott Oakland cannery is located at First and Filbert streets. During the busy season it employs between 500 and 600 operatives. The enterprise was established about six years ago by Mr. Hickmott, and the branch cannery was put up later at Biggs, as it is the center of the best peach producing area of the State. The product of these two canneries has found a market in Europe as well as in the East and has an established reputation for Alameda county fruits in the markets of the world. Fresno. Orange Industry.—Sanger Herald, Dec. 31: The last carload of this season's oranges from the Kings River groves was shipped eastward this week and the packing house in Sanger is now closed. Fifty carloads is the record of shipments from this station since November Ist, as against forty-two carloads for last season. When we consider that the frosts and drouth destroyed the greater portion of the crop this season, a net increase of about oneflfth over last year is not bad after all. From reliable sources we have learned that the seedling oranges netted the growers here about $1.12% per box, and navels $1.75. Hnniboldt. The Dairy Industry.—Arcata Union, Dec. 24: The past year has been a bad one for the dairying Interests of California on account of the drouth which prevailed in most portions of the State. As a result, the year ending October Ist found a falling off of 10 per cent in the amount of butter manufactured. A large quantity of Eastern butter was shipped into this State, and in some of the large dairying counties it was so dry that the herds had to be driven to other localities to prevent starvation. This was not the case in Humboldt. In fact, the butter output for the year ending Oct. 1, 1898, showed an increase of 28,594 pounds. In 1897 the average price of butter was 20.8 cents per pound. At this rate the butter exported from the county, 3,204,022 pounds, was valued at $666,436.57. In 1898 there was exported 3,232,616 pounds and the average price was 23.9 cents for the year, which brings the total up to $772,595.22, or $106,158.85 more paid out to the deirymen of Humboldt county than the year previous. The report of the State Dairy Bureau, from which the above figures were taken, says that in October, 1896, there were 203 creameries in this State and now there are 283, showing an increase of 80 of these profitable institutions in two years. Humboldt leads them all in number, as well as output, having 39 against Marin county's 29 and Los Angeles 20. Kings. Ranch Quarantined. — Hanford Sentinel, Dec. 29: The Lindley ranch, on which there is considerable stock affected with Texas fever, has been placed under quarantine by order of County Veterinarian and Health Officer Price. No stock or produce of any kind will be allowed to leave the ranch until in perfeot sanitary condition. A number of cattle have died and many are still affected with the disease. Mr. Price stated that he was loth to issue this order, but the health of the stock on adjoining ranches demanded it. Generally speaking, Kings county is considered one of the healthiest in the State, and the introduction of this disease is attributed to the large number of cattle brought in from the coast for pasturage. IiOS Angeles. Rose Tournament.—Dispatch, Jan. 2: The tenth annual "Tournament of Roses" took place at Pasadena to-day in presence of thousands of spectators who crowded the streets and windows along the line of march. The weather was unpropitious for this New Year's festival and rain caused a postponement of the parade until three o'clock. The number of visitors from other points was large, and the tournament itself was conspicuous for its brilliancy of coloring, the abundance of flowers, and the novelty and beauty of design in the arrangements. The residence and business sections of the city were decorated in the gold and blue colors of the tournament, supplemented by American Hags and bunting. One of the features of the parade was the long line of elegant single and double carriages. Mrs. H. Geohigan's single carriage, decorated in golden acacia blossoms and plumage, took the first prize for single teams. B. O. Kendall and wife took the first prize for the best decorated double team and carriage, their team being hidden under a solid mass of red geraniums. Mrs. C. Bartwell's single

rig, decorated in pink and red geraniums interwoven with Egyptian papyrus and smilax, took the second prize, and the third fell to Ralph Bassett, whose phaeton was solidly banked with red geraniums, bordered with smilax. The bicycle division consisted of elegantly decorated wheels in the most artistic designs. The host of children in pink and other harmonious colors, and white, with canopies of flowers over their heads, were very attractive. The equestrians presented a line appearance on their prancing steeds. They were all decorated in smilax, roses, carnations and geraniums. Model Packing House.—Pomona Times, Dec. 28: John E. Packard has nearly completed his improvements in the old winery building and has one of the largest and up-to-date packing houses in southern California. By means of a double elevator, the first, second or third floor may be reached. Through the north wing of the house has been made an opening sufficiently large to allow wagons to drive into the building, unload the fruit on the elevator, and lift it to the second floor, where it is brushed, allowed to sweat, and then conducted in a long padded chute to the grader on the floor below, from which it passes to the bins of the packers. Lemons may be stored and packed on the first floor, or elevated to the second, and, after packing, sent down the chute to the car. The grader is built on casters, so that it may be moved. The troughs and framework are so constructed that they may all be removed and the grader pushed out of the way in two minutes. The boxes will be made on the third floor and sent by means of chutes to the second or first floor. Foreign Oranges.— Express, Dec. 28: Mail reports from New York covering December 10 to 15 say the total crop of Jamaica oranges will be about 300,000 barrels, two-thirds of which had been marketed. The Florida crop also had been mostly disposed of. There were then due 4800 cases of Valencias via England. Heavy rains in Spain were reported, and fears were entertained that oranges from there would be unsound. Horse Show.—Express, Dec. 31: The location for the coming horse show to be held in February has been definitely decided on, and Fiesta Park, the place chosen, will be all under canvas. It is designed to have the place made waterproof and that it may be heated for the comfort of visitors. Entries are coming in rapidly. S. W. Stillwell, a wealthy Englishman of Santa Barbara, is the latest to add to the list, entering specimens in the new class, the southern California-bred tandems, beside carriage horse, saddle and road horses. Among recent entries is that of the famous hackney stallion belonging to John Parrott. The animal has been the star attraction of northern exhibitions. It is said that the San Francisco horses alone that have been entered will make an elaborate show. Merced. Productive Irrigated Land.— Dos Palos Star: From Fred Hadley's little sixteen-acre colony lot he raised sixty tons of alfalfa hay on eight and one-half acres of land, six and one-half acres of which was newly seeded last spring. On two acres of land he raised two tons of corn, and from one-eighth of an acre of ground he dug thirty sacks of potatoes the first crop, the second crop not being dug yet. On a three-acre alfalfa pasture he kept twelve head of cattle. At $8 a ton for the hay that would amount to $480; at 75 cents a sack for the potatoes, $22.50 can be added, and two tons of corn, which sells at $20 a ton, is $40, making 1542 50 worth of products, saying nothing of what the cattle brought him, or what his fruit was worth, or his garden, or his second crop of potatoes. Monterey. Relief Work.—Dispatch from King City, Dec. 29: The relief committee appointed by Gov. Budd, through their representatives, Messrs. King and Heraim, have been very busy during the past few days carrying on the work of relief, and nearly all needs have been cared for. Feed for the stock has been carefully distributed and enough will be given out to last until the middle of February.when it is hoped that enough grass will have grown on the hills to tide the stock over until the regular supplies can be obtained. The committee is arranging to take care of all people in need until such time as they can care for themselves. Judging by the rapid relief work already done, it is safe to say that the objects of the relief movement will be brought to a successful termination at no very distant date. The citizens of this vicinity are very grateful to all who have contributed to the success of the movement and for the prompt answer of the people to the call for assistance. With abundant rains by the first of February this section will show excellent results next year, and further calls for aid will be unnecessary. Orange. New Use for Cactus. —Anaheim Gazette, Dec. 29: A number of stockmen are feeding cactus to their stock, the thorns first being removed by burning. The food is said to be nourishing and cheap, as it grows abundantly in the valley. Placer. Fruit Industry and Prospects.—ln a letter to the S. F. Weekly Chronicle, Paul H. Steude of Newcastle writes of "Fruit in Placer County," in part, as follows: " I wish to call attention to a few facts, generally unknown to the public. Sacramento gets the credit of all the fruit shipments of Placer county and it seems in crop reports that Placer county is hardly ever mentioned. People will be surprised to learn that Placer county shipped over one-third of all the green deciduous fruit, including apples shipped to Eastern markets from California this year. Newcastle alone shipped over 1000 carloads of fresh fruit to Eastern markets, Penryn, Loomis and Auburn together having over 700 carloads more, to say nothing of Roseville and Colfax, mak-

ing in a district of six miles in radius from Newcastle 1700 carloads of fresh deciduous fruit shipped to Eastern markets, to say nothing of dried fruit and oranges. There also has been shipped from this district 2400 tons of cling peaches to the various canneries in the State, besides supplying the Lincoln cannery. This will give one-third of all the fresh fruit shipped out of the State of California to Eastern markets, and any one may see how much business is done in Newcastle when it is a fact that the average size of a fruit farm is less than forty acres. While we had hard times in 1896 with the rest of the country, there was a marked improvement in 1897, and in 1898 Placer county took the cake in grand style, for many have paid up their mortgages, old trees are removed and new land is being put out to trees this year. There was no scarcity of water for irrigation this season in Placer county, and new reservoirs are built every year, insuring a plentiful supply for the ever-increasing demand. There is not only room for a cannery in Newcastle, but Penryn, Loomis and Auburn could keep canneries moving very lively, and there are but few places in California where there is so liheral a supply of fruits, berries and tomatoes as there is in Placer county. While peaches are the main fruit, pears are a good second. Cherries, apricots, plums and raspberries from Placer county are well known. Strawberries and blackberries are plentiful, and there is quite a trade here with early tomatoes. The value of fruit shipped from Newcastle is estimated to be at least $750,000. Taking tho resources of Newcastle and vicinity into consideration, it could support a very large population, and should have at least a dozen good stores, a first-class bank and one or two large canneries. I will also say that I am not in the real estate business and I have no town lots for sale." Riverside. Improving the Weatiieu Sekvice — -Press: E. L. Koethen, secretary of the Riverside Horticultural Club, is in receipt of an interesting letter from Forecaster Hammon of the Weather Bureau, in which he promises to send an evening forecast when conditions develop during the day which indicate a severe frost. At least, he is willing to do this if arrangements can be made to distribute the warning to the orange growers. Mr. Koethen has arranged with one of the Western Union messengers to take the message over a route for some distance down the valley at a very slight expense to each grower. Fifteen or twenty growers can combine and secure this late forecast, in case frost threatens, at a cost of 5 or 10 cents each for each night such a message is delivered. Mr. Hammon explains that conditions sometimes develop after the forecast given the press is published, so that he could make a forecast at (5 ot 8 o'clock, which would be different from that in the morning, and that occasionally would be very important for the orange growers to know. Orange Industry and Freight Rates.— Enterprise: A representative of this paper interviewed a number of prominent orange growers recently relative to the petition to the railroad companies for a reduction of freight rates, and they all agreed that if the orange growing business was to continue there would have to be some concessions made by the roads. As one of them stated the situation, the freight rates are about the same as they were years ago, when oranges sold better and for anywhere from twice to three times as much as the fruit sells now. The markets, said he, have come down in price, and the competition is stronger than ever, yet the railroads continue to collect the old rates. These rates were established long ago by the railroad companies, when conditions were different, and the cost of transportation was larger; yet, now that they can deliver the fruit in the Eastern markets cheaper than they could then, no change in old rates has been made. In a word, as one talked to said, the railroads are not willing to share the reduction in prices with the grower, but, on the other hand, continue to collect all the trafllc will bear. Sacramento. New Flouring Mills.— Bee, Dec. 29: The Sacramento Flour Mills filed articles of incorporation. Gait is named as the principal place of business. The capital stock of the corporation is $50,000, divided into 500 shares of $100 each. Of this amount (12,000 have been subscribed. The incorporators are J. W. Surface, J. Surface and D. McCall, of lone, Amador county; Don Ray, John McFarland, J. McClanahan and A. Montague, of Gait, and M. C. Harris, of San Francisco. Old Fair Grounds fob Sale.—Dispatch, Dec. 28: The directors of the State Board of Agriculture were entertained to-night at the Sutter Club by the directors of the Chamber of Commerce. The matter of the sale of the old fair grounds and the purchase of new ones was discussed informally. The State Society has perfected its title and is now ready to dispose of the present park, embracing sixteen blocks. It is desired to have the new park prepared and buildings erected in time for the next Slate Fair. Han Diego. Water Filing.—National City Record : The California Development Company has filed notice of appropriation of 10,000 cubic feet of water per second from the Colorado river. The water is to be used for irrigation in this county and in Lower California. A canal 200 feet wide, 80 miles long, with a carrying capacity of 10 feet of water is to be built. San Joaquin. Sale Confirmed—Modesto Herald, Dec. 29: The sale of the Stanislaus & San Joaquin Water Co.'s canal system to J. D. Brown of the California Safe Deposit & Trust Co. for $27,300 was yesterday confirmed by the Superior Court of San Joaquin county. San Hernardino. Novel Experiment.— Chino Champion: The

U. S. Experiment Station here is to enter upon a novel line of culture. The University has secured a pair of gigantic land turtles from the Galapagos Islands, and they are to be sent to this station. The British Museum a short time ago made an effort to secure a monopoly of these turtles and sent a ship to the Galapagos to secure all the turtles on the islands, one of the men from the expedition returned via San Francisco and brought this pair of turtles with him. He made overtures, resulting in the State University purchasing the pair for -$100 of University money and $100 by donations. These turtles are vegetarians, live on dry land and grow to a monstrous size. Their home on the Galapagos is directly on the equator, and in the matter of temperature they will have to be humored somewhat. A glass hot-house will bo improvised at the Station for their accommodation. San Luis Oblitpo. Oblbrt m the Carload.— Arroyo Grande Herald. Dec. 31 : Another carload of celery started for Chicago on Thursday, making seven carloads that have been shipped. Advices have been received from the first shipment and it brought 75 cents a dozen and was pronounced the finest ever received in Chicago. The letter went on to say that our celery growers must have found the richest land in the world to grow such large, crisp and well bleached celery. Santa Clara. Poultry Snow. —San Jose Mercury, Jan. 2: The third annual poultry show of the Santa Clara County Poultry and Kennel Club will open at Turn Verein Hall on January 18th, to continue for four days. Besides the regular list of tine prizes the following sweepstake prizes have been offered : For best display by one exhibitor, grand champion medal, gold, set with diamonds and valued at 150; for second best display, a handsome California goldheaded cane, valued at $35; for third best display, a silver table crumb scraper, valued at $5. Exhibitors need not accompany their exhibits, which may be shipped or sent by express or by messenger direct to the hail addressed "Secretary Poultry Show, San Jose." In the classification list of the show the following classes of fowls are mentioned: Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes. Javas, American Dominique, Jersey Blues, Brahmas, Cochins, Langshans, Leghorns, Minorca*, Andalusians, Spanish, Polish, Hamburg. Red Caps, Houdans, Crevem;urs, La Fleche, Dorkings, Games, Game Bantams, Cornish Indian, Malay, Bantams other than Game, turkeys, ducks, geese, pet stock, ornamental and rare. UK KG ON. Range Houses Doom En.— Long Creek Dispatch, Dec. 28: It is said that of the countless number of range horses running at large throughout Grant county four-fifths will die of starvation. In most cases the horses are not considered of sufficient value to feed through the winter, and stockmen claim there is not enough grass on the plains to winter one-tenth of the horses. Even a mild winter will not save the horses, as they cannot possibly live until the new spring grass grows. Much trouble is experienced in keeping them out of pastures which are being reserved for cattle and sheep. WASHINGTON. Fkuit Growers' Convention.— Oregon Anriculturitt, Jan. 1: The sixth annual convention of the Northwest Fruit Growers' Association will be held at Spokane from January 24th to 28th, inclusive.