Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-09

popularity is this, while the powder made
from them is poison and sure death to every
form Of insect hfs, SO far as known; neither
the blossoms nor 20 Sder are poisonous, or in
any way Injurious TO either man or beast. Cat
tie sn0 horses, il they have an opportunity,
will make a meal from the flowers and
branches, with apparent great relish, and
suffer no inc nvenisnce while the same, cured
as hay. makes very good feed for stscs. The
plants come in full blossom in the latter part
of Msy and first of June, and the plantation
is now alive with picker, forming g scene
something like that Of c1tton-picking. The
flowers are gathered in boxes. 30x40 inches il
size and inches IN depth. Ons person. upon
into it until full, when it ia taken
to the dryine-erounds and dried in
the sun until fully cured. 1t takes
about two days and a half for drying. and
mas to be covered or taken indoors st night to
prevent dew falling upon it, which would in
jure the quality. When fully cured. it is
sacked and sent in carloads to the compauy's
factory at Stockton. The machinery used
for preparing it for market il simply for the
purpose of pulve-izing, which is slow pro-
cess, 10y reason of the great amount OF oil
which the flowers contain. The blossoms are
quite lighf, only about four tons can be
shipped ia carload when pressed in sacks.
The growing of pyrethrum has proved a
source Of good profit to the owners OF the
plantation. The sales have continued TO in
crease as rapidly as they have been able to
extend the production of the plant, aud one
firm in San Francisco offered to take their
entire yield for the ensuing six years at q
profitable price, but the offsr was rot &C.
cepted. Il is estimated that the crop the
present year will pay the full value II the
plantation aud all money expended upon il
by its owners.
Much space is given by Prof. Riley in the
last report OF the Agricultural Department
at Washington, as to the value of the pYreth-
rum plant for the purpose Of destroying va
rious insects, and of the experiments that
have been made for its growth in various
portions of the United States. There sre
three or four different kinds of the plant, he
says, but the one grown at the above plsnta-
ton hiss proven far superior to the others,
beiog more des 'rucfiye.
Mess. Peters & Milco also have upon
the rsnch foe Rurssry of forty acres, pre-
psratory to setting OUT portion OF the ranch
TO fruit and vines. The nursery includes al
classes of trees and vines for this
purpose and many of which are Of
recent importa. ion from Dalmatia and other
eastern coun tries.
The SUCCESS in fruit raising in the valley i:
fully assured by actual test. Fruit trees and
vines, with water and without, after first
started, acquire remarkable growth, and give
promise that the pcrs ions OF the San Joaquin
which have been commonly denominsted as
sandy desert, will at no distant day be among
the lesding fruit lands of the State.
A few scattering trees and vines upon the
huhach plantation, which are several yeas
old, but have never had any care until within
year or two since, fully supports this es.
innate SIS TO the quality of these LANDS
Messrs. Peters h MilcO have young vine
yard Of 46 acres set out this spring which
has not been irrigated. and which is looking
remarkably well, with hardly plant missing.
There is one drawback, however, ia the fruit
line, and that is from the rabbit pest. There
wers 5000 almond trees set out upon the
place last year, out of which only few are
remaining, nearly all having been killed by
| the rabbits peeling them or cutting them
down altogether. It has been found neces-
sary. therefore, to incloss with rabbit-proof
fence all orchards, nurseries and vineyards.
which adds quite a considerable cost and
trouble Another pest is that of lbs birds
not 10 eating fruit, but destroying the fruit
by eating the buds. This the lionets do in
the winter, and the orioles in ,hs sprug; so
effectually that on the few trees nosiced
hardly specimen Of fruit could be found, ex-
cept upon low-hanging branches. A fine large
almond tres was examined, which disclosed the
fact that every bud had been thus eaten off,
except upon few low. changing twigs. These
t~igs were loaded with large fruit, and not
an almond was to be found elsewhere upon
the tree. This difficulty it is believed, how
ever, will be overcome IS soon as the cultiva-
ton of trees to any considerable extent is en-
gagged in, and the entire stock of birds are
not forced to feed upon few isolated plants
and trees.
W. c. West. superintendent of the plan
tation, and who has for many years been
engaged az nuTseryman. states that he
never ssw such growth before in any kind
of trees aud vines as these. Peach buds set
last fall have already acquired growth of
four feet, and this is but com.
mon specimen OF the force which
nature gives in that locality. AlfAlfa a]so
proves as prolific. They have upon the place
thirty acres, which grows as rapid and lux
urisntly as it is possible to find.
Thus it will bs seen that wneu the present
almost limitless tracts of these lands shall be
broken iuto snall parcsl,, and receive due
cultivation and care. tire natural conditions
are such that the great expause OF territory
lying in the San Joaquin valley will De 81
most boundless in its productive wealth. and
prove proud heritage to its inhabitants.