Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-24
FARM AND FRUIT.
Interesting Facts and Valuable Susges-
tions for Farmers, Orchardists, Etc.

productive, but the best return which the
writer of these remarks has been able to
obtain from the fruit has been as food for
domestic animals, for which on account of
their rich flavor, they have been estimated
as worth twenty-five cents a bushel. An
acre planted with this pear would probably
Weld, when over fifteen years old, an aver
age from the two hundred trees, twelve
hundred bushels, or six bushels a tree, al
though large trees, twenty years or more of
age, have occasionally borne over twenty
five bushels in a single season. Twelve
hundred bushels, at twenty-five cents 4
bushel for feeding, would be worth $500,
where there is a herd large enough to con
sumo them all, or at the same rate for
smaller crop"
There seems TO be two kinds of millet
the seed of which is placed upon the mar
ket While the evergreen millet has been
Endorsed by some who have raised 1t in
this State, another kind of seed called
Arabian evergreen millet, has been sold at
the East. and purchasers will do well to use
caution in buying, as will be seen by the
following: The american Agjc'dtluist,
speaking of " Arabian evergreen millet, -
under the heading of sundry humbug,L
says:
A correspondent sends us a circular setting
forth the wonderful claims made for this
"millet." While the plant may be a useful one,
it is advertised in manner likely to excite sus-
piCion. Though il has grown and has borne
seed in California, where there are numberwhO
could give its botanical name. we are furnished
with no clue TO its identity. Arabian ever
green millet ~ is apparently local name, no
such variety being known to the seed trade or
TO the literature of grasses. From the deScrip-
ton, we hazard the guess that this will turn out
(Sorqi,tnt HClcpease). Why all this mystery
Why not give its real name, if everything IS on
the square?
The Texas Wool journal in a recent issue
thus speaks concerning the subject:
We received the seeds of the Arabian ever
green milet, mentioned in the Journal last
week and no sooner laid eyes on them than we
became impressed with their resemblance to
Johnson grass seeds. And when we remembered
that DR.. Pharcs, the great Mississippi grass man,
had at one time made inquiry if they were not
one and the same the odor OF the mice became
still louder. BY and by Mr.. WilguS, who is a
pretty good authority on the grass question,
dropped in, and on examining the seeds, pro
nOunced them Johnson grass seeds and cOmpar-
ing them with the millet seeds, We are ready to
say that any difference between them is not yiSi-
Bile to the naked eye. In short, we have every
reason TO believe that the Arabian evergreen
millet that they are making such hurrah over
In California is nothing more or less than John
son grass the seed OF which sells at 81 30 per
bushel in the san Antonio market. At any rate
we shall not send the \. L. NJ. seeds out in en-
vclopes till We learn II little more about them.
There is much commOtion among many
cattlemen in Texas. Under the Act passed
by the last Legislature the Land Board of
that State has adopted rules for leasing the
school lands TO ranchmen, which call forth
loud complaints 1t is alleged that the ac-
ton of the Board has resulted in unsettling
the range and cattle business and driving
many herds from the State. The rental
fixed has caused many stockmen to give up
Board, and it is given out that some of
these men, who have immense herds will
go on to the school lands, incloSe them,
and pay at the end of lawsuits a rental of
four cents, the minimum price fixed by the
Legislature. Nearly 100000 acres at four
cents per acre rental, were applied for re-
Gently by agents of stOckmen and refused.
and the applicants have decided to take
possession Of the lands and test the matter
in the Courts,
A correspondent writes in the COuntfg
Gentleman as follows on this subject: From
my limited experience, | am satisfied that
laying hens kept in confinement to limited
quarters viii produce more eggs if no
cocks arc allowed with them, and that the
eggs possess superior keeping qualities. The
most prolific layers | ever had were Ply
mouth Rocks. taken when half grown and
confined in yard with a small house for
shelter, and there kept, never having any
cocks to run with them. They commenced
having when about five to six months old
and laid all winter and the next summer
producing on many successive days as
many eggs as there were hens, and there
never was day when there We're not some
laid by them. When one does not care to
breed chickens, on the score of economy
1t is better, in my opinion to keep the
layers without any cocks. 1t saves his
keeping, which Will average the profit of
one LAYER at least ! had formerly supposed
it essential 10 egg production that hens
should have the attention Of cocks. but
from experience. | found that good we'll
formed eggs are produced from hens which
never had the attention.
IN an essay written by successful Mis-
suu.i hurtjcultTist, and published in the
Prdirie Farmer, the writer makes a strong
plea for orchard cultivation, during which
he SAYS The practice of leaving bare
and stirring 4 small space around the trees,
Is. of course better than no cultivation, but
is only very partial help, deceiving even
the planter himself. Farmers know they
can seldom grow Il good hill of corn on
four feet square. if surrounded by sod.
Tree roots soon extend more feet than the
tree Is high. and the feeders are at the eX-
tremities rather than near the base. and are
forced to struggle with the grass or other
growing crops for moisture and food neCeS'
sary even to their existence, to say nothing
OF increased growth and the producing of q
crop of fruit
We are pleased to note that the suggcS
ton made in times past TO plant something
with barbed wire hedges So as to hold the
wires when the posts rot away thus com
bininS barbed wire and live fencing, re
ceived the Endorsement of many speaker,
at the December meeting Of the MaSsaChu
sets Horticultural Society. A paper by J
J. Thomas especially advocated it. On thi
plan we have a perpetually protective
hedge, and il will not matter 50 mucl
whether we have skilled labor or not 10
the pruning. No matter how cut TIKI
hedge viii always be safe from inTuderS
TThe Gardener Monthly.
1t would seem that the cause for tn
toGt-and-mouth disease, set up by tn
veterinary surgeons in Kansas, that @
.erg0t eaten in wild rye straw, is surely {,
bee set aside by continued experience anC
observation elsewhere Recent dispatche
and information published in the RECORD
iINIoN fully justities this belief. The dis
ease has just broken out afreSh in Ireland
where a few weeks ago medical authorize
declared the locality free from it. Thi
time the disease first appeared in cattle re
Gently landed from Canada Where the
received the contagion is a mystery, a
there are no cases in that Province.
A large sale of ranch cattle was made
few days ago ut Kansas City. The Bugbe
Cattle Company bought of \. J. Snide
5000 halEbreed cows, calves and bulls, I
be delivered September lst; also 1000 on
and twO-year-odS and dry cows at S25 ]
each Mr.. Snider then bought from tn