The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-09-13
Those Veteran Horticualturlists.


Those Veteran Observation-Disclosures.
Marshall P. Wilder, Charles Dowing, Geo
Ellwangcr and Patrick Bany, having
made tour Of California visiting the
principal orchards, nurseries and vine.
yards have made report which is pub.
lished in the Rural New Yorker from
which we take their general conclusions
Having now given brief account Of
the various orchards, gardens and vine.
yards visited, it may not be improper for
us to express an opinion as to the capa.
bilities Of California for fruit growing
Our opinion is,that in the several sections
which we have visited, and doubles many
others which we have not visited, fruit in
general can be produced at much less
cost than at the East, for these reasons
1st-In most cases the land can be had
good quality - at low prices. Good
fruit and grain land in the coast valleys
except close to a town or village, can be
bought for 800 to 800 per acre. In
the second range of valleys, Sacramento,
San Joaquin, &C., at less.
2d-The trees grow nearly twice as
rapidly as with us, and come into bearing
in less than half the time.
2d-the fruit is larger and haDdsomer.
4th-As yet they are almost entirely
exempt from disease and insects.
5th-The atmosphere is so dry during
the whole season that rotting on the trees
is unknown, and, the fruit remains on the
trees, sound, long after they arc ripe,thus
greatly prolonging the season of gather
ing
6th-The ground requires much less
cultivation than that in the East. When
the dry season commences weeds cease to
be troublesome, and for period of be-
tween four and FIVE months very little la
Dor is needed to keep the ground in good
order This is an important saving
Labor, at present, is quite as cheap as
with us. The necessity of good culture
exists there no less than with us, and is
probably greater, as we observed instan-
ces where single years neglect had in a
great measure ruined the plantation
This is no doubt owing to the exhausting
nature of climate where heat and drouth
is so prolonged.
Although we have said that fruits and
fruit trees were in great measure ex-
empt from insects and diseases in Califor.
MIA, they are not wholly so, and it is rea-
sonable to belive that as fruit culture is
extended these enemies will increase
Such has been the general experience
We saw the pear slug in many instances
on the pear and CHEEKY foliage, catcrpil.
lars and in some cases borers scaly aphis
on the orange and olive trees the thrips
on the grape. Among animal depreda'
tors, the gopher and ground squirrel were
complained of in some localities.
Diseases.-The peach in same places is
affected with curcd leaf, and the grape
with oidium or mildew; both of these
however in a slight degree. Spotting
and cracking of the pear we saw in two
or three instances, and so light as almost
to escape observation.
1t seems to be the general opinion Of the
fruit growers of California that the pro.
duction already exceeds the demand
This will appear extraordinary when we
reflect that twenty years have not elaps.
ed since the planting Of the first orchard.
We think we were told that in 1853
peaches were first sent to market, and
some sold as high as SO per dozen, and
even IS for single peach. Now they
are selling at SOC, to 81 per basket, and
they have been sold much lower. In
1853, "a and 55 cherries were brought
from Oregon and sold for $3.50 per
pound; apples at $3.50 per ID. Of the
6rst crop Of peaches raised by Mr. Smith
of Sacramento, in 1855-'56, single
basket was sold for $50, containing sirtg
peaches. Until last year the fruit grow.
ers were confined to a home market.
The Pacific and other railroads recent.
ly opened and in course of construction
will open up new markets, and greatly
augment the demand. The business is
now becoming systematized. Cars arc
being specially constructed to carry fruit
to Eastern markets. We examined four
Of them just being finished at Sacramento
and two Of them, loaded with Bartlett
pears, ten tous each, are on our train, Ju'
ly the 2Sth, bound East. Judging from
some specimens that we have with us
picked at the same time, they will reach
the market in Chicago, New York Oh
Boston in good condition. Though moi
more than two thirds grown, they are ri
pening well, but seem to loose most O.
their peculiar muskey aroma.
While the growers are complaining O
low prices, the dealers keep them up we'll
We visited the fruit stands of San Fran
cisco on various occasions between the %
Of June and the 10, of July, and find tn
following prices on our memoranda =
Wholesale or by the box : Cherries, II
to 35c. per pound apricots, 8 to 10c
Do. strawberries, 10 to 15c. do.
July l4th to 10Th. - Peaches so t,
60c. per basket; strawberries, 3 to &c
per pound jaime Hativc plum, 4c do.
Early Orleans do, SC. do; Washing
ton do, l2c. do. apricots, 6 to 7c. do.
currents, Zoe. do. +; grapes, l5c. do.
Early Harvest apples,50 to Toe. per box
Red Astrachan, so to $3.50 per box
Red Juue, $50 do; figs, 4 to SC. pc
pound cherries, Royal Ann, Napoleon,
80 to 35c. per pound Belle Magnifque
Is to l8c. do; pears, Bloodgood, 8:
per box Of SO pounds; Tyson, $3.50
peaches, SOC. per basket; blackberries
10 to l5c. per pound raspberries, IL t.
25c do. Strawberries, Zoe. do; blacl
July grapes, 25c. do. (; peaches 81 pc
basket; plums, l2c. Red Astrachal
apples, 81 to 81 80 per basket apricot
Alto &c. per pound cherries, Is to zoe
do. strawberries, o to l0c. do; rasp
berries. 25 to SOC. do; Duane's Purple
large and handsome. &c. per pound :
peaches rs to S5c. per basket Blood
good pears, 81 to $50 per box Dear
horn 90 IN 9 h0 do nlums dameons