Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-18
PRACTICAL WORDS.
Ravages Of the Cooling Moth in Fl Dorado
The winter-Mines-seasib Talk.

LACEhfILLEt hdiCu ~, 1907
Last fall the weather-wise, with that un.
erring knowledge which they imagine they
possess, informed us that we need not look
for much rain or snow this year, as we
would have an "open winter" do not
know on what they based their predictions,
but am sure they missed it as badly as
they ever did before, for of rain there has
been all that has been needed, and of snow
more than for many years past. Yester.
day was day to be remembered. From
morning till night there were alternate falls
of rain, snow and hail without intermis-
sion, and portion of the day accompanied
by thunder and lightning. But a few
miles east of this place the snow is reported
to be more than three feet deep.
FRUIT INTERESTS -INsEcT RAvAGEs.
The weather has been so cold that there
is but little indication of che fruit trees
budding for some time to come, and people
are hopeful that it will be SO late when
they do bloom that there will be no danger
from frost. For several years past the
peach crop has either been badly injured
or destroyed by the frost, and as the apple
crop is no lenger to be counted on-owing
to the cooling moth-the peach has
become Of more Importance. The great
question now among fruit-growers is what
can be done to relieve us from this pest
which is destroying one of our most i'm
portant interests? fear the case is almost
hopeless one. | have conversed with
some of our largest fruit-growers, and they
inform me the moth has spread over almost
the entire country-only those orchards at
an altitude of five hundred to q thousand
feet above this. have, so far, escaped.
They have even invaded the household,
the outbuildings, fences, trees. logs are
under stones, in the ground, every
where, and in myriads, and the
wonderful rapidity with which they
have spread is startling. Still, although
the outlook is disheartening, there is no
doubt but that intelligent and persistent
effort will do much to lessen the evil. An
old farmer and extensive fruit-grower near
this place informs me that he succeeded in
getting fair crop of apples last year by
watching the early development of the
fruit and picking off all that showed ten
dency to mature earlier than they should.
In this way, and by vigorous and unceas.
ing crusade against them, he succeeded in
obtaining fair crop, while many of his
neighbors saved scarcely enough for the
use of their families, believing nothing
could be done to save the fruit. Others
here propose to SOW their orchards down to
clover, claiming that it lesses the ravages
of the moth greatly. Indeed, this is a
matter of SO great importance that the
most determined effort should be made by
every one to rid US of this evil, because all
are interested, either as producers or con-
sumers.
THE WHEAT CROP-MINING MATTERS
1t was thought by many farmers that
the cold weather of the last month had
injured the wheat crop, but it seems to
have received no injury, and is looking ex-
tremely well, especially that growing on
the high table land a mile or two east
from here The principal hardship en-.
tailed upon us by the cold weather is the
closing of the ditch by snow and ice, and
unless the weather moderates considerably,
the water will hardly come through before
two or three weeks. This, of course, sus.
ponds mining operations, and contributes
largely to the general cry of hard times.
The Placerville Gold Quartz Company,
however, have succeeded in keeping their
mill running, and are said to be taking out
some excellent rock They have lately
purchased the Rose mine, adjoining their
own, and are to add ten stamps to their
mill, which will increase its capacity one
half. Reports coming from the north side
OF the river are quite hatteripg, and from
the quantity and richness of the ore
brought in it indicates lively work there
in the spring, for We must consider this as
winter yet.
DULL TINES
Merchants complain that business has
been very dull all winter, yet it is not prob
ably more so than usual at this season, and
viii no doubt greatly improve as the season
advances. There is always complaint by
the farmers at this season of the year of
scarcity Of money and l question if they
are not much to blame for it themselves.
know score or more of them who buy
nearly all the vegetables they use in their
families, the butter, lard, most of their
meat, and even the wheat to feed their
chickens. Some are forced TO buy hay for
their stock, or, worse still, turn it out on
the barren, frozen hills, without shelter, to
live if it can, and die if it will. Ii the
former, the cattle come out in the spring
mere shadows, and midsummer must come
before they are even in fair condition again;
and if the latter, it is charged to bad luck,
and is taken as an indication of hard times.
It is interesting to compare what is called
hard times in California with that in some
of the Eastern States years ago. How
many old and even middle-aged men
can recall times in their lives when even
whole seasons passed without their coming
into possession of more than dollar or
two; when they practiced
THE UTMOST ECONOMY
In every relation of life, and yet were
cheerful, and complained but little of hard
times. Boys then found the utmost diff.
Guilty in obtaining possession of even few
cents, while here in California there is
scarcely a boy that mas not, or cannot get,
if he wants it badly, ten times that amount,
and with little effort, too. remember
once going to neighboring village to spend
the Fourth OF July with two copper cents
in my pocket. 1t was my first holiday in
town, and it was really happy one. One
cent purchased stick of candy, which re-
sembled miniature barber pole, and the
other piece of gingerbread. Californians,
as a rule, have a very limited knowledge
of domestic economy. The fact is, it takes
too much to make us happy and too little
to makes us miserable. This has been a
favored land, and very many of us are
spoiled. We grumble and growl at our lot
because we are really ignorant of genuine
hard times. PARIS.
A Coon LITTLE Boy SToRY.-A little
boy wanted drum. His mother, wishing