Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-19
FARM AND FRUIT.
pLEURo-qNEUMoNIA AND OTHER coNTA-
eIaUs DISEASES.
Ratsin- Hal king and Frult-Growiug-St
Patching aided by the Use of Char
coal-GeneraI suggestions.

As hiss been seen by dispatch from
Washington to the RECORD UNION, a
a bill has been introduced III Congress for
effective measures to prevent the spread
of pleuro-pneumonia and other contagious
diseases among cattle aud domestic ami
mails. The Act proposed will place it's ex-
ecution in the hands Of the Commissioner
of Agriculture, who will cooperate with
any efforts put forth by any of the States
upon the subject. The experience of the
past four years shows the necessity of the
proposed legislation, and it should be had
and actively put into effect before the con-
tagious diseases referred to become general
or prevalent throughout the country. The
difficulty in all cases where vital interests
are threatened, as we have recently seen
in the matter of insect pests in California,
is that the people viii not heed the APP
proach of threatening evil, but CON-
placently remain uudisturbed and without
action until the menace has been followed
by presence Of the scourge, and immense
damage caused. Then all are ready to
lend a helping hand, But it is far easier
to avert any Of these contagious diseases
or prevent the spread of injurious pests
than to get rid of them when they have
been allowed to come and make home
with us. a few years ago the fruit pests
could have been barred from the State or
those introduced easily exterminated and
kept from spreading. Now it will require
the utmost vigilance and effective measures
to prevent them from producing ruin Of
crops and rendering fruit raising uEprofta-
Bile. Let the people now profit in other
things by the failures of the past, and see
that further iuroads upon our industries
by menacing causes be held back and over
come.
The results already obtained in fruit.
growing along the foothiIl belt, to the east
of the Sacramento valley, give full assur-
ance of the prosperous future Of that sec
ton. Most of the orchards and vineyards
there. 1t IS true, are still young and not of
bearing age, but some of the earliest plant
ed are already yielding beautifully and of
finest quality. The question Of locality is
most important one in the growing of
grapes for raisin- making, and while the
foothills have been considered by many as
superior to any other section of the State
for wine grapes-sDd other portions of our
heritage have not seriously questioned the
clsim-tbe same degree of superiority Tor
the raisin varieties, and the necessary con-
ditlon Of atmosphere and sunshine for cur
ing them, is also now made in favor Of the
foothills, and supported by reference to
products put upon the market.
One of the pioneer fruit growers in the
region referred to is William Foster, whose
place is . short distance east Of Lincoln,
and in a recent letter upon this subject,
published in the Placer Herald, lie says
will try and give you few items in
regard to rsisins and their production in
this vicinity. There has been but par
tial crop this year IN some vineyards on &C.
count OF late spring frosts, and on account,
also, of the fact that some four weeks later.
when they put cut the second time. we
had a week Of hot north wind that blasted
them in the blossom. Young vines were
affected the most. The writer had some
sixteen acres tAat did not yield one.fourth
of = crop from this cause. Notwithstand.
ing this was the most unfsvorable spring
in ten years. We bad a good fall for curing,
and We have sent TO market some thirteen
tone OF raIsins Of IS good quality as there
is made in the State, having been compared
with the bsst brands Ia the market. Now
SIS to the profits, where there was any.
thing like good crop on old vines My
neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, an industrious
and enterprising lady, sold from one
acre of Apsoats $l6O worth of raj
sins, on the trays, besides selling
enough grapes in their green state to pay
all expenses of cultivation and gathering
Mr. Arndt did as well, or better OF of
one acre ne sold $50 worth in the sweat
boxes. II. NJ Cartwright realized 500
per acre for his on the trays from five-year-
old vines, from F, Crosby, a local packer.
j. c. Crosby had a good yield, and is
extending his vineyard. In fact every one
has the fever bad, and viii put out all their
means will permits Of. There are about So
600 vines rooted in nursery, and about half
the amount will probably be put out in
vineyard the coming spring. Hall Lubrs
& Co, OF Sacrsment), bought all the
raisins boxed IN this neighborhood, and are
well enough pleased with them to bid for
all we can produce IN this vicinity next
year. Now these are facts enough to con-
vince most any one that raisin vineyard
in this section will pay good interest on
money invested.
In another letter from the same
writer, in speaking of the adaptabii.
iy Of the foothill5 for grape cult
IRE and the opportunities for procuring
homes upon the lands now being offered for
sale, he says ] will here state that we
have compared or raisins with the best
brands produced from here 10 San Diego,
and always with the same results IN our IA
vor. They approach nearer the standard
museatel rsisins from Malaga than any yet
found Their peculiar ty resides in flavor
which is hard to describe, but something
Ike the favor of the orange and lemon
added to the aroma Of the rose, and also
having a thinner skin than the valley
raisin. I commenced clearing these dry
chsparral hillsides some sixteen years
ago, and planted the musoat
for the special purpose of making raisins
and as far as | can learn was the first to
make raisius in any quantity 10 Placer
county. Another fact: I grew my vines
from the cuttings, on the highest and
dEiest hills on my place, above all bitches
or springs snd can well remember that
was pointed at as fit subject Tor the Ia
nstlc asylum Tor doing SO, as 1t was cOusid-
cred doubtful whether by setting good
roots, even. they wouli grow and produce
anything without irr cation. Some Of my
neighbors gave me all the way from two to
five years 70 s.arye out, and as ! had no
capital after buying cut q possessory right,
/ had 20 struggle along and work oub the
problem. Bat to-day | have the sa,isfac-
tion Of seeing the same parties that ridi-
culed me years ago, eager TO engage in the
same industry,
Whatever increases tae power Of layiag
On fat or promoting the rapid and healthy
production Of Gesh, must be food or equiv.
slsnt thereto. TINS pare charcoal does
most etfectually, as recently proved by
taking the live weights Of two lots Of