Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-16
FARM AED FRUIT.
General otes of Interest for Agriculturists
and Fruit Growers


on the Mulberry Tree, its Culture and
Varieties and the Silk. Worm, its Rear
ing and Production" There is probably
now no question in the minds of those who
have given the subject any thoughtful at
teution that sericulture will be, at q not
far distant day, a successful and esssb-
hshed industry in California. Few, per-
haps, have had better opportunities of
forming correct estimate upon this mat
ter, or can give clearer views from
an experienced standpoint, than Nh
Gillet. The chart mentioned is in.
tended to give in a clear and concise
manner full information for entering upon
and conducting silk culture, but at the
same time the beginner is advised not to
deIude himself about the profits to be de-
rived from the silk business, but to go
slowly, feel his way at first, and with the
Z ,st information before him that can be
procured. He advises the raising of silk
worms for the cocoons, small as the profit
may be, and not for the eggs, as the latter
will prove a failure, and such efforts dis
enlargement to the sericultural industry.
The contents of the chart include the Sc
lection of the best varieties of mulberry
trees; the soil required, and method Of
planting, propagation and cultivation in
formation in regard to Matching silk-worm
eggs; care and feeding of the worms
gathering and disposition of the cocoons,
etc. To those interested in the subject
the chart viii be found highly acceptable
for examination and reference.
Many leading dairymen regard barley
grains their most profitable feed. They
produce fair quantity of milk of fairly
good quality, and are so listening that
after using a few months most of the COWS
are ready TO turn off to the butcher. 1t Is
a general fact, however, that fat. producing
feed is not at the same time the b=st milk
producing, and hence if the cows are more
valuable for milk and as permanent stand
in the dairy than for beef, the conclusion
may not be in all respects wise one, As
barley, however, ia not an expensive grain
in this State, mixture Of barley feed with
bran or other well-kDown milk producing
substances, would st the same time effect
excellent condition of the herd, and large
returns in dairy product. There is no
question but that the dairyman who gives
greater care in feed than is usually exer-
cised, will ind the remuneration in the
quality Of his herd and the income from
dairy far beyond any comparison of the
extra cost required to produce the result.
In this connection 1t should be added, with
emphasis, that it is not the knowledge of
successful method that gives returns, but
Us adoption and practice.
The third annual Ensilsge Congress met
IN New \ ork city on January 23i, about
seventy. live persons being in attendance.
Professor Manly Miles, of the Massachu-
sets Agricultural College, read au inter.
estlng article upon preventing acidity in
ensilsge. He claimed that it was caused
b. bacteria, and that could this acidity be
remedied, eusilage might be greatly i'm.
proved in value as food. He thought
that a heat of from ll5 to I'D degrees
would destroy the bacteria germs. Several
persons present testified that ensilage was
fata! to horses, and one gentleman from
Connecticut stated that GU. Of ten horses
Ted on ensilage for a week, eight died dur.
ing that period. He thought death wac
caused by stomach worms, which were
driven to the throat by the acid and caused
strangulation. There were cases of horses
killed by ensilsge Ia New York about three
years ago, bat 20 conclusion was ever
reached as to the method of their taking
eff Since then ensiiage has been used BY
a number, and 10 fatal results have been
reported.
As is well known, much trouble has been
experienced by growers Of apricots through
the face that after the tree has matured
aud as soon as weighted down by full
load Of fruit, the trunks Of the trees will
frequently split down to the ground,
and the tree, together with the time,
labor and fruit, are total loss. An
orcnardist OF this city, who found several
of mis- best trees thus dying out, hit upon
. lucky eXpedient which will probably
prevent ali further loss of this kind to
both himself and neighbors AS an ex.
pertinent ne took one Of the trees up, and
b ndiDg 1t up temporarily, ran a bolt
through the two parts and brought them
up tight together. The tree immediately
put forth new life, and not only grew into
one again but has grown over the bolt en-.
tirely, so that the iron that keeps it firm
aad prevents it from falling under the
weight OF the harvest WELD is completely
hidden from sight. Santa Barbara indie
pendent.
The Farmers Ga-etts. published at Port.
land, Or, says a farmer in Marion coun.
ty sowed to whest 3 field in which was a
low piece of ground, on which water re.
NAMED later tran elsewhere. The wheat,
or that which was supposed to be wheat,
came up on the low land about as thick
and nesrly as quick as in other part, OF
tic field, but did not make Wig.
orous growth, and when the heads came
OUT, all except on occasional one, proved to
be cheat Another gentleman tells us that
while walking through his field he CHANGED
to pluck a head of oats, which he rubbed
out in his hand, aud upon examination
found that but portion of the grain was
oats, and that the remainder was cheat.
An exchange says Few farmers ap,
preciate the Importance of annually clear
ing out the mud from the bottoms of small
ponds aud bitches. This mud ia very rich
in available nitrogen. Water is the great
absorbent Of ammonia, and in still waters
this settles in the mud at their bottom.
This sediment also holds much of the more
soluble mineral manures from the adjacent
lands that havo been washed into low
places" But, thus far, 10 such degree OF
attention as here indicated has been paid
to fertilization in this State, but the time
is not far distant when, with smaller hold
ipgs. more prudent and hence more profit
ie farming will even here be observed.
Messrs. Haggin & Carr, our near Kern
county neighbors, in addition to building
an immense canal to irrigste their lands,
that are rented, and aending for negro
laborers from the South and Swiss from
their native country, to supplant the Chi