Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-29

Total for season to August Slst $50 81
The shipments for the month of Septem-
Der, up to yesterday morning amounted to
1,716,000 pounds, or a total for the season
to that date of 6, 9,4e2, 81 pounds.
THE LOCAL MARKET.
The producer here is fortunate in being
able to dispose of all of his fruit at home,
for cash, and the Newcastle market is the
best market in California, for it pays the
highest price for its local fruits. Statistics
show that Placer county peaches sell
throughout the season for at least 25 cents
per box more than the average price OBJ
tain from other sections of the State.
This is corroborated by statement
made by leading Sacramento fruit
shipper, that peaches from the Placer
county foothills were worth to ship East.
% cents more per box than peaches that
come into Sacramento from any other
source"
There was paid in cash for fruit at the
four shipping houses during the month of
August, over $4,000.
SOIL VARIETY.
The soils of this wonderfully fertile and
prolific region, and in which all the pro-
ducts of the temperate and semi-t-opical
zones grow in profusion, are of two classes, one
slate, the other granite, the latter being
much greater in extent. Both kinds have
admirers. Those living upon the former
claim that the insterstices in the rock
hold and supply naturally great amount
OF moisture to vegetation. The granite
soils which are generally of a reddish
| color, are composed largely of clay, sand,
soda, potash, lime, phosphorus, iron and
| magnesia. The constant decomposition
that Is going on in this soil appears to be
| OF nearly endless duration and of such a
nature as to render the soil almost mex
| haustible. Artificial fertilization. owing
to the natural course through which the
soil is passing, viii be unnecessary for a
long time.
THE COUNTRY AROUND NEWCASTLE
Is generally rolling with small valleys in
teryening between the hills The leading
pursuit is the raising of fruits for the
Eastern and local market. There is still
some mining going on, principally in a low
grade quartz, but the golden-hued fruits,
from the top of the soil, far exceeds in
value the yield from the rocks below.
1 IhE CLIMATE.
The climate is good, the seasons being
the same as is general throughout the
State-that is, a wet and a dry season
| The dry season usually begins in Nav
and with varying and increasing tempera.
ture continues until about the last of Au.
| gust. From that time on the heat grow.
less as the days shorten. There is no time
during the summer when outdoor work
| may not be carried on, as owing to the
| dryness of the atmosphere one suffers nc
| depression such as is common to the Easi
owing to the presence of great humidity
The nights are generally cool and sleep il
easy and refreshing. The rainy season be-
| gins sometimes with shower about the
! middle of September, but after that it is
/ generally dry until November or Decem-
Der; and from that time until the end OF
February the greater part of the rainfall
comes. Through March and April alss
| frequently occur some heavy showers
Snow Is such stranger as to be welcomed
as novelty by all. The winter cold never
| stops outdoor work, and such need not al
| any time be discontinued unless FOR the
discomfort of working in the rain. Biz
| yards, tornaGoes and hurricanes are I'M
| known.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
For many years such water supply for
fruit-growing as was furnished by the old
mining bitches proved amply sufficient,
but an increased acreage of large extent
rendered an increase in the supply neces-
sary. and on the lst of October last force
of 500 men commenced the work of en-
larging the carrying capacity of the
bitches. The result was an ample supply
for all that is now needed, or may be for
years TO come The supply from the snow
capped mountains to the east is mex
haustible and beyond the extreme limit
Of any possible demand that can ever be
made upon i. Here there can be nc