Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-19
TIE FRUIT-GROWERS.
HOW THEY PROPOSE TO DISPOSE
OF THEIR FRUIT EAST.

Interesting Essays on the Fig, the
Prune, the Apple, ard the Re
sources of Colusa County.
The California Fruit Growers Conven-
ton which assembled in this city Monday
and will continue until tomorrow even
ing, is one of the most important gather
ings of fruit men that has ever assembled
in the State. Over one hundred growers
are in attendance, and have been all week.
They are representative, intelligent, ex-
perienced men, whose lives in many in
stances have been devoted TO horticultural
pursuits. An interchange of ideas, the re-
lating of years of experience, their expert
ments with different varieties of fruits,
their manner of preparing the soil, prun-
ing trees, and curing fruits, are interesting
and instructive to all. California, unlike
any other section of the Union, owing to
her climate, produces all the fruits that are
produced in any other portion of our coun-
try, therefore, their experience gathers
within its scope all the fruits CT the tenn
perate zone. and many that are termed
semi-tropical.
The two most important subjects that so
far has engaged their attention is the de-
struction of fruit pests and the best man
ner of packing and shipping fruit East and
its disposition on the other side of the con-
tinent
The first subject was disposed of Tues
day, while the latter is still under con-
sideration.
With CALIFORNIA; soil and climate, her
fruit interest must become the greatest of
her resources, . barring the bugs"
Yesterdays PROCEEDINGS.
The Fruit-Growers' Convention resumed
its daily sessions in the Supreme Court
room of the State Capitol at A. NJ yes
terday
The President read the following:
SAN FRANCISCO. November II, 1856.
TO EdwGrd Cooper, President OF the State Board
Of Horticulture, Sacramento. In consequence of
pressing business engagements am unable to
accept your kind invitation to be present at your
convention. LELAND STANFORD.
The Chairman announced the following
committee to agree upon and recommend
a uniform size of fruit packages: Tomp-
kins of Alameda, Blowers of Yolo and
Buck of Solano.
THE APPLE AND ITS CULTURE
James Shinn of Niles, Alameda county,
read lengthy essay on the apple, fruit
which he says was known and highly
esteemed almost from time imme-
mortal. More than twenty varieties of
apple were known and described
in the days of the Caesars. The
apple is indigenous to most of Europe
and is found growing wild from Siberia to
the Mediterranean. The present important
varieties were probably propagated by slow
degrees from the wild crab apples. The
early settlers of the American colonies
brought apple-seed from Germany and
Holland, and some brought few trees. As
the first grown trees bore fruit the seed of
the best varieties were selected and
planted, and so large number of varie-
ties were produced and scattered far and
wide until the number or varieties is al
most without number The best varieties
were perpetuated by grating, and nurseries
were established for this purpose.
THE WILD OR CRAB APPLE
Is found in all parts of this continent, but
no effort has been made, so far as is known.
to improve upon them. The apple has
ever held a high rank among the cultivated
fruits, not because it is the highest favored
or more delicious to the taste than that of
other fruits, for it is not; vet when its
many good qualities are considered, it NAV
safely be given the very front rank. 1t is
a fruit grown almost everywhere through
out the temperate zone. 1t is not especially
fastidious with respect to soils, but it will
give fair returns in a great variety. The
trees are healthy and long-lived, often bear
ing fruit for fifty years, and sometimes for
q full century. This fruit is an excellent
keeper, and with proper regard for varie-
ties, they may be had for domestic use
throughout the year.
THE SOIL TO WHICH IT Is ADAPTED.
The soil in which the apple most de-
lights is one composed of strong, deep cal
careous loan, with more or less potash-a
soil not as heavy and tough as to be diff
cult to pulverize. nor so light as to be lack
ing in the power of moisture in dry sea-
sons. Alluyial soil, as found on the banks
OF rivers and streams, when not composed
too largely of vegetable matter, has been
found suitable for the apple. Any good
wheat soil may safely be planted 10 the
apple. The general characteristics of the
soil most suitable for the apple may be seen
by an analysis of the ashes of the wood of
the tree, which consist largely of lime
potash and phosphate of lime. These con-
stitute about one-half of the whole matter.
Carbonic acid another fourth. This ana
lyss not only shows the kind of soil re-
quired, but indicates the kind of manures
that should be used. Lime. ground bones,
wood ashes, charcoal, are all indicated as
proner manures for apple orchards.
The essayist gave his views upon prun-
ing, and also referred to those of Others
VALUABLE HINTS.
He recommended that the soils in or
chards be kept clean, cultivated and mel
low. The least Objectionable plants to be
grown in an orchard would probably be
vines, squash or pumpkins. These derive
much of their support from the atmos-
phere, and the broad leaves of these plants
would afford some protection against the
effects of hot weather upon the stems of
young trees.
Certain varieties succeed in one section,
but not so well in another. 1t has been
observed that apples as rule succeed best
in the places where originated. For ex-
ample, the Baldwin and Roxbury Russet are
nowhere so good as in Massachusetts. The
Spitzenberg and Northen Spy grow and
mature best in New York They lose
more or less in quality when carried from
the place of their nativity. The Yellow
Bell Fleur, however, which originated on
the sandy soil of New Jersey, seems
capable of adapting itself to all light soils
throughout the country.
PLANT But FEW VARIETIES.
The planter of a small orchard for
domestic use only will of course select
hne of varieties with special reference to
this object-early summer, fall apples and
late keepers. He who plants with view
to profit has need of good judgment in the
selection of varieties. The essayist recon-
mended the planting of few varie-
ties. There is every reason TO expect
good prices for good apples. as
many as can be produced for
a long time to come, and when it is consid- |
cred that good apple orchard, well cared
for, may last and bear fruit for fifty years
or more, and that some trees may bear,
and do bear, fifty or more bushels of fruit
in single season, 1t must be apparent
that apple-growing in this State will be
profitable, if we can grow good apples. We
can grow good apples, provided we can
FIND an eifectual remedy against the Goblin
moth. The same thing is true of pear
culture.
THEY HAVE THEM IN THE EAST.
In searching the history of the ravages
of the apple worm on the eastern
side of the continent, we find that it is
everywhere considered a great evil. and