Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-28
THE RANCH.
REVIEW OF MATTERS HORTICULT.
URAL AND AGRICULTURAL.
Improve Your Fruit-New Process
of Grafting-Profit from Prunes
Raising Young Beeves.

/ The fact has developed that while Cali
fornlh has vast amount of fruit in the
aggregate, the proportion of first-class fruit
is comparatively small. Those who planted
orchards and vineyards in former years, in
some instances, did not pay sufficient at
tention to choosing only the choicest varie-
ties, and in others the varieties which have
since been found most desirable and profit
able had not become known, or could not
be obtained. AT all events, the fact is I'M
deniable that very large per cent. of the
trees and vines now bearing in this State,
produce such ordinary fruit that it is not
attractive nor salable, either for home
market or for shipping purposes. 1t is
| difficult for fruit-grower, who has trees
thus in full bearing, but not of best or most
saiable varieties, to turn back the dial, !"
and commence over again. 1t is the only
| way, however, to success. If the grower
has not the best varieties he cannot get the
best prices for his fruit, and as the market
Tor the great bulk of California fruit must
be at the East, and as only the best quality
Will pay tor shipment, or be in demand il
results that all classes of fruit not up to the
standard will be without market or re-
imperative value.
There are many orchards and vineyards,
however, which are capable of yielding
J first-class fruit, which by lack of proper
care and cultivation, pruning ETC., are at
| present below the standard In all such
cases intelligent husbandry must take the
| place of neglect and ignorance, and the re-
suit will be both prompt and profitable.
III the varieties must be improved then the
shortest road TO remunerative production
II the stock of trees or vines are healthy
Is by grating. There is already large
amount of this work being done. both in
trees and vines, but as the demand for only
first quality of fruit becomes constantly
more marked, very large portion of ex-
listing orchards and vineyards will be thus
treated. The subject as to the best methods
OF conducting this work is one receiving
much investigation and discussion. The
Pasadena valley Union thus speaks of a
new process of grating: Experience has
taught many valuable lessons. This fact
has been proved by DR.. o. II. Cougar, who,
In endeavoring to improve his vineyard,
has discovered process OF grating that
surpasses anything known to the science of
budding. He first conceived the idea of in
sorting the scion into the parent stock by a
method identical with that known to me-
chanics as the mortise and tenon To &C
complish this he invented a simple de-
| vice, which, after several improvements.
is now placed before the public as
the Universal Grating Device" DR..
Cougar has used this process on his
own and several other vineyards and
! orchards with marvellous results. He
| showed up this week a grape stock from
the vineyard OF l.. r. Vincend that was
grated on Muscat stump of eight years
growth. The scion was inserted less than
five months ago, and during that time had
grown 81 inches in circumference at the
/ base, with three main canes, each 3! inches
in circumference. These were heavily
loaded with grapes, and the branches and
foliage covered an area of eight feet An
apple branch of remarkable growth was
also shown. By this system of grating a
very close conformity to the natural
growth of the tree or vine is produced.
DR.. Cougar has over 500 vines grated by
this method that have made large and
healthy growth. 1t works equally well on
all kinds Of fruit trees. From what we
have seen of its working we feel fully iusti-
fed IN predicting that this device is to sup
plant all others, and will be found one of
the most useful aids our fruit growers can
avail themselves of. Some of its advantages
are thus noted:
/. A continuous and undertaking contact
of the "alburnum," or sap-carrying bark
OF the scion with the stock grated of nearly
II inches
2. Its applicability to all sizes and kinds
of stocks, excepting small nursery grating
3. Almost any intelligent person-boy OF
girl-can be instructed in a few minutes in
Its successful use.
4. No failure need result from its use i
care is exercised in bringing the alburnum
of the scion i'll contact with that of the
stock grated
8. The oldest vineyards are as easily con.
verted into new varieties as the youngest
q. Great economy in time by its use. Ar
old vine IS as quickly grated as a young
/ one; or, it is equally available for the old.
est tops of all deciduous fruit trees
Z. Double the number of scions can be
set with this device after little practice as
by any other known method, in a given
time.
8. Double and treble the growth will be
obtained in the first and second seasons
over those set by other methods.
y. No openings are left in the sawed of
stocks after the scion is in place, the scion
being formed by the device to fill the NOR
tise made in the stock. Wax is needed
only above ground, as in top grating No
clay need be used in grating the grape
root.
10. The sawed ends of the stocks grated
heal over quickly and do not decay as it is
not injured by splitting or bruising, there
being no exposed surfaces for water or sap
to accumulate as by other methods
II. A tirmness of scion is obtained when
set not known to other methods.
II. The union of the scion and stock
takes place by what is known in human
surgery rs by first Intention and is
thus secured by entirely excluding the air
and external moisture in the mechanical
nicely OF fitting one to the other.
YOUNG BEEvEs.
Every year, about fat-stocl- show time
the subject of the age at which beef ami
mails can be most profitably ripened. and
at which they produce the best beef, comes
| up for discussion; and every year there is
division on the question of whether that
age is reached at two years, or whether il
IS an impossible feat TO produce perfect
beeve at that time. One party descants on
the meanness of baby beef. while the other
ieers at the idea of wasting grain on a four
year-old steer. Both parties have ground
for their positions, while between the two
is a golden mean which the intelligent
feeder will find both satisfactory and profit
able. Early maturity is a great desidera-
AbA'f NNt ~ IL iNdcpbdB4N tCitdlu tIldl Inc
average feeder Will not produce a good
beeve at two years. However, it viii not do
to say that nobody can do this. Prof Brown,
of the Ontario experiment farm, claims
that 1t Is possible TO make good beeves,
weighing over 400 pounds, fit for ex-
! portation at twenty-one months. OF the
idea OF forcing maturity at the earliest pc
Rod possible he says +" 1t is sound ration
ally, because it means greater progress,
more enterprise, more rapid circulation of
money, and a general well-doing; and it
| plies better system, more scientific
knowledge, greater returns and the invest
ment of more capital in the business.
Unquestionably il has some Objectionable
features, but they are of immeasurably
minor Importance The professor thinks
/ we are coming to just such production.
! All Will agree that the tendency of the