Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-31
FARM AND FRUIT.
CHANGE PRODUCED BY THE RECENT
RAINS UPON CROPS.
A Valuable Dry Land Grass Squirrel
Poisoa-Manure for vineyards
Orchard and Vine Planting.

ing, the general condition of the agricult.
ural districts of this State was such at to
awaken the utmost anxiety, and the pros.
pect of destructive drought and failure of
crops was already reflected in commercial
and business circles, where expenses and
investments of stock were being greatly
lessened. Now, however, the cheerful sky
is already seen through broad riffs in the
gathered clouds of financial adversely, and
the prospects are very assuring for the
major portion of the coast. The Kern
County Californian, Immediately prior to
the recent rains, said "The wheat
crop, except where irrigated, has
failed beyond the power of rain to
save it, in Tulare county. The streams
in that county dry up and are of little ben
eft for irrigation in seasons such as this.
What is true of this county applies gener-
ally to the entire valley of the San Joaquin.
There are occasional spots where the grain
is not altogether withered, and good rain
would cause light yield. Between La
throp and Livermore Pass, where there is
a wide expanse of fine wheat. growing land,
all of which was sown as far as the eye can
reach from the cars, appears to be hope
lessly dried up. In Santa Clara valley the
prospect is not go favorable. Without rain
the crop will be complete failure, and 1t
must rain copiously to make even light
one." The amount of rain which has fallen
since the above was written will probably
change the prospect even more favorably
than was it anticipated by the writer such
an event would produce, and should we be
favored with still further rains, in many
sections where it was expected the crops
would be an entire failure light yield may
yet be harvested.
| A VALUABLE Dry LAND Grass
The Scientific Press, speaking of forage
plants worthy of trial in this State, says
| chat species of grass, which has no com.
mon name, but is botanically called PaspG
lam OUatuna, is pronounced most valuable
for producing feed upon dry lands. 1t is
described in the agricultural report for
1880 as growing about three to five feet
in hight. 1t las only recently been de-
tected in this country, and seems confined
| to few localities. 1t was collected in
Louisiana by DIR. Ravenel also, later at
| Fortress Monroe, Va, by DIR. Vasey. and
more recently by S. B. Wallis, of Wallis
vile, Tex. It is also a South American
species Mr.. Wallis says: This grass
4 COuslQtE bQc ulO5b NdiudDlC VI GIL bhC
grasses that am acquainted with. It is
! perennial, and grows here all the year
round, furnishing excellent green feed for
stock at all seasons, except that the green
| blades freeze in our very coolest weather,
perhaps two or three times in winter, and
then grow out again in few days time.
1t increases rapidly from seed, and also re-
produces itself from suckers, which sprout
from the nodes of the culm after the first
crop of seed has ripened. l have seen
these suckers remain green fer six or eight
weeks after the old stalks were as dead and
! dry as hay, and then, when the old stalk
had fallen to the ground, take root and
form new plants. 1t grows well on all
kinds of dry land. The plants with roots
two or three years old form stools twelve
to eighteen inches across, have very strong
roots, and grow in the longest drought
almost as fast as when it rains.
MANURE FOR VINEYARDS ques.
ton at the East has been troublesome
one for some time as to what will replen-
ism the vine producing quality of the
ground in the older vineyards, and this is
also addressing itself to the vine growers
of this coast. A French vineyardist, in a
communication to viticultural journal,
claims to have demonstrated by years of
practical use that the health of the vine is
promoted and the phylloxera and other
noyious insects destroyed by application of
manure compounded in the proportion of
% pounds of wood ashes, % pounds of sui
| phate of iron and about a pounds of coal
| tar, pressed several times through seive
to insure thorough and equal mixture. The
writer referred to claims that the use of
this mixture has preserved his vineyard
from phylloxera and kept it thrifty and pro-
ductive, while other adjacent vineyards
have been greatly damaged or ruined by
the insect. The manure annually applied
to the surface and scratched in slightly
about the vines, handful to the young
and twice the quantity to plants of older
and strong growth.
CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE SQUIRREL POI
SOM. A. Quinby, of San Jose, writes to
the Mercury as follows: Please give
through your paper the following recipe
for exterminating squirrels, which | have
used with the most satisfactory results
viz; Take an even tablespoonful of
arsenic, mix with a well-beaten egg to the
consistency of thin batter; put this in one
pint of Clean dry wheat and stir well until
all the grains are coated with the mixture.
1t is now ready for use. give this az the
proportions to use for any quantity. One
pound of arsenic at forty cents will mix
sixteen pints, costing aside from wheat
aud egg, only two and one.half cents per
pint. put teaspoonful in each hole for
the squirrels to eat at their leisure. If left
outside it will be eaten by birds-to their
sure destruction. This mixture is not so
immediate In its effects as strychnine, bnt
whole colonies will soon disappear with its
use. | hope those interested in the de-
struction of our squirrel pest will give it
trial. 1t is equally destructive on gophers,
rats and mice. Put in their holes and run
ways.
ORCHARDS AND VINES. The Contra
Costa Gazette says that large area of land
in that county is being set out this spring
in vineyards and orchards. A. Boss, OF
Pacheco, is now planting a vineyard of
about fifty acres, and he has about 200
acres in fine condition, the whole of which
will probably be set out in grape vines by
next season. William Stone, of Green
Valley, has just completed an addition Of
fifteen acres to his splendid almond and
apricot orchard. He has tank erected,
and will water the trees during the pres.
ent season, unless sufficient rain falls to
supply the earth with abundant moisture.
His almond trees are loaded with blossoms
and are an attractive spectacle. Mr. Bar
Der has added few acres to his vineyard
near Martinez, and on the back road from I
this town to Walnut Creek several new
vineyards and orchards have been planted. |
In fact, the gratifying effects Of the grape
and fruit boom may be seen all over the |
county.
New ZEALAND MUTToN.-A consign-
ment of ID carcasses of New Zealand NUT |