Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-31
FARM AND FRUIT.
INFORMATION UPON TOPICS OF
THE SEASON.
How to Plant Vines-Fig Culture
Mixed Husbandry-AIn
as Fertilizer-Etc.

California has tried almost every klhd
of fruit suitable to its climate; there have
been periods for every kind, according to
the demand of home markets, canning and
shipping. There are very few more to
trv. but among them are some of the great
est value. While having grown peaches,
pears and apricots with VARYING success,
we at last awaken to the fact that we have
the country for figs and olives. The figs
hitherto grown and introduced i'll Califor-
MIA have been of little or no value. Indeed
it seems that the poorest varieties have
been selected for us, and undoubtedly i'm
porters of fig trees have until lately been
imposed upon by the fig growers in the old
countries who feared competition and sent
us the worst they had The fact is, until
lately no good dry figs have been produced
in California, for the simple reason that we
did not have the varieties producing them;
another reason is that the trees have not
been planted in the localities where they
would do the best. Figs should not be
grown on wet soil; the trees grow well
enough there, but the figs produced there
and tough-skinned. The trees that pro-
duce the fig of commerce grow on dry, or
at least not low land, where they can re-
ceive abundance of water in the spring and
early summer, but in the later months
be dried off and hardened. In California,
until lately, the Mission fig was all we had.
1t is passing away like the Mission grape.
Why the fathers planted it in preference
to better kinds is a mystery. Los Angeles
has made a success of fig culture with poor
white Celeste or Izchia-not in drying,
but in preparing candied fruit. At 40
cents a pound for such fruit 1t pays enor-
mously, every tree, when old, bearing 1000
pounds With the introduction of the
true fig of commerce, the white Adriatic,
new era seems to have begun. This fig
is said to be very different from the So
called true Smyrna" which never proved
true at all. 1t produces crop the second
year of magnificent, very thin-skinned
fruit, with pulp like transparent honey,
and when dried has proved equal to the
imported, selling at % cents to 10 cents u
pound, and so great is the demand that
l0,000-acre orchard of this fig would not
nearly supply the market. There are
several reasons why we should plant FIGS,
viz: Fig trees need no pruning; fig trees
have no insect enemies; fig trees bear
enormous crops; fig trees live for a thou
sand years figs need very little handling
in curing and packing-much less than
any other fruit known; and finally, tig
trees do not ripen their crop all at once,
but all through long season Fresno
Expositor.
MINED HUSBANDRY.
While mixed husbandry is the true pol
lev for the average farmer, there is such a
thing as having it too much mixed Hav-
ing so many different kinds of crops that
it is impossible to give each the attention
it needs at the proper time, either in cult
ivation or harvest. The farmer who should
include strawberry growing in his opera
tons, and finds big crop ready for pick
ing at the same time that his broad clover
meadows needed cutting, would, unless an
extraordinary man, and having unusual
facilities for obtaining help be apt to
neglect one or the other, and at a loss,
while both clover and strawberries are
profitable crops when they can be properly
cared for There is sound wisdom in the
old maxim about everyone sticking TO
his trade The farmers trade, so far as
raising crops is concerned, lies in having
such a variety as naturally fit into or fol-
low each other, giving him ample time to
do full justice TO each without being hur-
ried or worried over his work. Too
many irons in the fire. is another wise
saying. While the farmer should avoid
having so many that some of them are
liable to be spoiled before he can get
around to handle them, he should have
enough to proftably employ his whole
time. The reverse Of this idea Is shown in
another wise saying about having " all the
eggs in one basket II Is better to divide
them so that if one basket comes to grief
the Others NAV be saved. An Ohio CORE
spondent of the Country Gentleman, becom-
ing disguised with having so many things
claiming his attention on the farm, has
given up nearly everything except grow
ing potatoes; sold oft his COWS, hogs and
poultry, given up growing grain, and de-
votes almost his whole farm to potatoes.
According to his showing he has made
financial success, and is saved lots of worry
and hard work. But his eggs are all in
one basket, AID are liable to be smashed
any year by the rot or prices below cost Of
production. His example Is scarcely wor-
thy Of imitation Farmers Review.
OUR FUTURE ORANGE CROP.
The Santa Ana Herald, in contemplate
ing the future Of the California orange
groves, says: We predict that within the
next ten years it will be very difficult to
buy any desirable lands with water suita-
bic for orange growing in southern Cali
fornia for less than $1,000 per acre. Many
persons think that the irrigable fruit lands
of the Santa Ana valley are high now, but
iii much less than ten years from now they
viii see a vast enhancement in price Look
al prices of orchard lands in Florida, from
81 ,000 10 $4,000 per acre, and that in
climate that bears no comparison to ours
for hcalthfulncss. There are no swamps in .
our favored section, from which the deadly F!
miasma is constantly arising poIluting the /
air and being inhaled into the lungs Of our
people as IS undoubtedly the case in Flori- /
da. We have a section unsurpassed for /
healthlulncSS, and its adapt3bility for the 7.
production of fruits of all kinds. that at
tempts have been made to cultivate, has |
been sufficiently demonstrated. We can
raise better oranges than the Florida pro- |
duct, and our soil Will produce the finest /
grapes, making raisius equal. if not su- /
perior, to the MalagaS, and wine OF BODY |
and flavor, with age, that cannot be ex-
eelled, and which is free from adulteration. /
Our valley produces as large. fine apples as
can be seen in any country. apricots, pears, |
peaches, prunes, figs and other fruits in per-
fiction The English walnut does well
here, yielding profitable crops upon reach
ing the proper age. With our climatic adj
vantagcs and unequaled soil productions it
would be strange, indeed, if lands m this
valley did not appreciate wonderfully.
HOW To PLANT VINES.
This is question which L. J. Rose an
swers thus in the Rafci Californian: The
crowbar is used by me because it is cheaper,
and, if care is exercised, it is as good as a
spade. The great secret Of success lies in !