San Andreas independent., 1858-07-17

accomplishing the work done-the ground
having all been trenched deep, and great
quantities of the muck, ashes and sand
incorporated with the soil This gentle
man informed me, upon inquiry, that the
number of his 0ariety of cherries were
seventeen. Quite large part of his
ground was planted with cherries early
last spring, which now require much at
tention. This being their first year in
their present location, it is indispensably
requisite that they receive attentive care
in order to become we'll rooted this season.
To enumerate all the valuable trees and
plants | saw here, would be too tedious
| noticed beautiful locust hedge, eight
feet high, which is really an ornament
The taste, skill and energy of this gem
tleman, justly entities him to the high and
honorable position he occupies in the ag-
ricutural world. He is known to our
agriculturists and horticulturists as the
chairman of the "Visiting Committee"
who rendered so able and interesting re-
port of their labors at the last annual ex-
hlbltion of the State Agricultural Society,
held in this city; also, as Vice President
of the Society.
In company with friend, Mr.. Editor,
| paid hurried visit to the garden of
Mr. Wolf, to sec his foreign grapes
These vines are remarkably strong, healthy
and in good condition. The only thing
wrong with them is, that several of the
buds at the base of the footstalk of the
leaves on the main or leading stem have
burst and are shooting out. This ought
not to be so, for these are the buds to be
relied upon for next years fruit. The
cause Of it is too severe pruning-or what
is called pruning. One joint of the late
raj shoots ought to be left, on vines of a
very strong and rapid growth, in order to
prevent the base bud from starting This
lateral may be removed as soon as there
is no further danger of the one bursting
which it was left to save, and before the
vine ceases entirely to grow, so that the
slight wound caused by its removal may
be partially or wholly healed before the
rood of the vine is fully ripe.
1t was far from being an unfortunate
circumstance that there was none of Mr..
VOLTS grapes entirely ripe; otherwise,
the q finger which wrote upon the WALL"
(you know who placed those plumbago
brands on the fence-a friend, might
have "lightly' fingered some of the fruit
which grows upon the vines.
Let us turn our attention for moment
or so, to the watering of trees. The soil
here seems to be one great deposit Of veg
table matter, stiff and adhesive, needing
sand and water as the principal fertilizers;
and proper application Of these require
the exercise Of discriminating judgment
1t would not be any more absurd to force
bucket-full of water down your horses
throats, merely because you see that DON
key over the fence drinking, than it would
be to saturate plants promiscuously. Many
an individual, supposed to be an intelli-
gent cultivator of trees and plants, seem
to entertain an idea that an otter and an
apple tree, are equally fond of aquatic
elements. An ercess of water produces
very bad results 1t forces upon any plant,
or fruit-bearing trees, much unnatural
and unnecessary labor In order to get
gut of an excessive artificial supply of
water, the leaves are forced to throw off
more moisture than it is natural for them
to do, which exhausts them and prevents
a thorough exercise Of all thier functions.
Here is the question: Will the leaves of
a plant, when forced to perform unnatural
labor, as above mentioned, perform their
duty in the digestion of air at the same
time? If not, are not some of the legiti-
mate functions of that plant in statu quo,
while the leaves are performing extra and
unnecessary work? We may, with a fair
share of feasibility, reason that much of
the willing or "fagging" of leaves, is
produced by, or results from, the applica-
ton of too much water. Natural moist
ure is indispensably necessary for the sup
port of trees, and good sense is required
in determining what IS natural Differ
ence in plants, locality, depth and char
acter of soil, must all be considered, in
order to arrive at correct conclusions
This is subject upon which we all
need information, and very proper one
to engage the attention of agricultural
editors. We have those in this State who
stand out before the public in the osten-
siJle capacity of agricultural teachers
Agriculture covers the whole ground
horticulture is only branch. To be ac-
ouainted with one, we must know both:
for it would be the incest distinction i'm
Imaginable to draw a line between them.
| hope it will not be considered any
departure from the ordinary rules of COM
mon politeness to make suggestion to the
Editor of the only weekly agricultural
paper published in the State: A series of
plain, matter-of-fact articles, written on
this and kindred subjects, in the Cazifor-
MIA Farmer, would be read with aviditv
1t is subject which has not had that at
tention due to its merits. | do not know
of anything bearing so important con-
nection to the fruit-raising interests of
California, as the subject of irrigation.
which has been so much overlooked. Upon
this, far more depends than the casual
observer can readily perceive. Tt is a
subject nroli6c Of thoupht and roo.,: