The Placer herald., 1873-05-03
HOUSE ND FA Il NJ .
THE MALVA TREE.

J. r. johnson, of the Committee on the
Malva Tree, submitted the following report,
which was received and filed.
70 the Farmers Club of Sacramento coun-
tv: Your committee beg leave to report upon
the malva tree, and submit the information
obtained as follows: Miss Olive Harper,
correspondent of San Francisco, a most intel
ligent and estimable lady, writes that the
malva tree seems originally to have come
from JaImn. Its botanical name is sGratera
assurgentifora, and it is valuable for orna-
ment, shade and food for animals Of all kinds.
1t is an evergreen, and blooms nearly the
whole year. The flowers are perpetual food
for the bees to sip and lay up their store.
The tree attains maximum hight of thirty
feet and is grown from the seed, which drop
and are blown all over creation, sprout rap
idly and require no cultivation. In two or
three years cattle can be allowed to browse
upon the trees They do not eat the branch
es, but only the large, mucilaginous leaves.
The predominant appetizers are cattle, sheep,
horses, rabbits, goats and especially rumina-
ting animals. They prefer such kind of food to
all other. The trunk and main body Of the
tree contains the fiber. The branches are
nearly always tender and sappy. To obtain
the fiber the tree should be telled and allow
ed to remain exposed to the rain during the
wet season, after which the fbrous textile
can be separated and treated as other tibers
for bagging or burlap cloth. In order to
utilize the fiber it should not be allowed to
become dry, else, like fax and hemp when
dry. it will become brittle. From actual ex-
pertinent we have found that the fneness and
strength of the fiber is invaluable, and it is
adopted for many purposes in the manutac-
ture of linen cloth, etc. If the experiment
to obtain fiber should prove Improbable,
there is great value attached to the malya
tree as food for stock, bees, etc, by having
it propagated upon barren plains and hills,
where refreshing green is desirable. There
is one value which should by all means be
cherished through time everlasting, and that
is its sanitary properties for health. No
chills and fever or malarous sickness pre-
walls where the malva abounds. The leaves
and seeds possess much medicinal virtue as
emulsion, having the properties Of field mel
lows and slippery elm. In order to insure a
good start of the growth, the young trees
should not be moested by cattle for period
of two years after the planting After that
time the leaves will grow as fast and often
as eaten. Its rapid growth and tenacity Of
life are remarkable, and its spontaneous re-
production miracle. Fred McCrelsh, of
the Alta also, with his usual kindness and
interest in horticulture, has furnished us with
most glowing account of his admiration and
experience with the malva as indispensable
for cattle food, and the sine qua NON for
barren plains and hills, perpetually atfording
food and pleasure to the senses by its ever
green and flowers. He says: "Fifteen years
ago, when foreign trees were scarce and
high priced, had malva tree growing in
my garden. 1t grew rapidly, was always
green and sent its seed far and wide. The
new plants grew up so rapidly that | had to
dig and keep digging up the young growth
for fear they would overrun and crowd out
my other shrubbery. Az that time did
not know the use or value of the malva, but
have since leaned its usefulness for food and
bee honey, and also its value for fiber.
With this information we take great pleas
ure in bringing to your notice the many viz.
tues and adaptable usefulness of this won
derful tree; and take great pleasure to cal
attention and recommend the planting of the
malva for barren plains and hills of all coun-
tries, wherever to be found, and also its cul-
tivaton for experiment to obtain fiber, and
prove its value for such purpose.
Club adjourned for one week.
ORGANIZATION OF ORANGES. II. Bax-
ter, ESQ.,, of Napa City,is the General Dep
uty of Patrons of Husbandry in California,
from the National Grange, which has its
headquarters at Georgetown, ID. G. Or
Monday, April 7th, Mr. Baxter was present
and organized at Ellis Station, the West Sar
Joaquin Grange, with 25 members. The
officers are +. b. Stiles, Master, and III. w
Fassett, Secretary.
Another was organized at Modesto to be
known as Stanislaus Grange; j. ID. Spencer
Master, and Jas. McHenry, Secretary. Ap.
picaton was also made for the organization
of three additional Oranges in the vicinity O
Modesto.
How TO ORGANIZE
The question is being everywhere asked
in regard to the necessary steps to be takel
to affect organization. Nine men and fou
women are necessary for organization, anC
the number must not exceed 20 men ant
ten women. These must agree to form {
Grange and be present when the Deputy ar
rives. They must also agree to accept the
position or offices to which they may be cho
sen; this helps to facilitate business, result
ing in speedy organization; after which, any
number of persons can unite with and become
members of the Grange. 1t will be under
stood that the organization of Oranges in ne
way interferes with, but is rather an aid tc
the Farmers Clubs, already so extensivel,
inaugurated throughout the State.-Rura
Press.-
AN ECONOMICAL DIsH.-Steam or boi
some mealy potatoes; mash them with som
butter or cream, season them, and place
layer at the bottom of pie dish; upon thi
place layer of finely chopped cold meat o
fish of any kind, well seasoned; then adj