Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-15

bunch of grapes, ard the impulse had to go
and find a country where they grow grapes in
big clusters.
THE LAND OF CANAAN.
And SO q few of us horticultural drea1ners
have come over the great fertile plains and
across the thirsty deserts, and have climbed
the gigantic walls which fortify you against in
vasion, to test Tor ourselves the climate and the
fruits of this earthly paradise. We think we
like the land and the fruits thereof, and shall
make good report of them to all the chosen
people OF Israel
My friends OF the land of Canaan, we are
glad that We glad to be with
you and to see the welcome which shines in all
your faces. We come as fruit growers, and
gardeners, and forest planters ana builders of
homes, to greet our brethren in land whose
conditions of culture we have long enyied. We
have come to- study these new conditions for
ourselves to gain new ideas which we may
apply whore our surroundings less favora-
bic to compare views to many questions re-
garding which we have common interest, and
to drink with you at the fountains of enthusi-
asm which have inspired you to many bril-
liant enterprises all along this golden coast.
Ine President also urged Congressional
leg islation to prevent wanton destruction Of
forests, and the discussion which ensued
showed strong sentiment in favor of such
course, and resolutions requesting legislation
we're adopted. paper from j. M. Smith, of
Wisconsin, favored fertilizing the SOIL but
the discussion which followed showed there
was no such necessity in California.
/, Mr. Wilcox said the soil of a great part of
Santa Clara County was inexhaustible. In
boring arteslan wells it had been found that
good garden soil extended to depth of over
five hundred feet Five crops of alfalfa
could be produced in one year without mate
rally diminishing the production. As much
as eighty-fve bushels Of wheat had been
raised to the acre. but small fruits, ETC., were
found to be more valuable, and people quit
raising wheat He had raised, he said 1000
pounds of onion seed from two acres
At various stages of the proceedings there
cir lar ta hon hiatt
labor and care required for the production of
fruitin the East was very much more than in
California, and the Californians, being on
their native heath, clinched their arguments
by citations and illustrations of practical ex-
perlence.
AT HORTICULTURAL HALL
The people of San Jose have erected a per-
manent building, 80 feet wide by 166 feet
long, in which to make the Citrus and Horti-
cultural exhibits. The proceedings of the
National Association were made especially In
teresting by having Citrus Fair IN progress
at Horticultural Hall at the same time.
Though held at the most unfavorable time
of the year the Eastern visitors were greatly
astonished at what they saw. Santa Clara
County does not make great pretensions to
being citrus region, because the people
frankly say they can make more money out
of less, perishable fruit, but the
exhibit here this week shows that
it is citrus region without as
Stunning to be. There are several canning
factories here, and SO while citrus fruits grow
in the county In considerable quantities, the
staples are prunes, aprlcOts, pears, peaches,
cherries, figs, olives, etc The exhibit of these
fruits, canned or dried, or both, was some
thing astonishing. Of the smaller fruits,
strawberries, raspberries ETC., the production
is large, and especially of strawberries. Nine
tenths of all the straw berries In the State are
grown in this county, two crops year being
secured, the market time ranging from May
to January.
There was also an exhibit of almonds, Eng
lish walnuts, pecans, and other varieties of
nuts, all produced in profusion in Santa Clara
Valley. A pyramid Of vegetables rising twenty
five feet high, and containing $50 to 200
pound squashes and 100-pound beets las
large in circumference a mans body, at
tracted good deal of attention from the
Eastern visitors To enumerate all the at
fractions of the exhibit would require vol
ume, but it was a happy tribute to place
before the National Horticultural Assooia-
ton
THE TEMPERATURE.
San Jose proposes to let her light shine, and
has an energetic Board of Trade, whose rooms
are constantly open to supply visitors with all
kinds of information relative to lands, prices,
products, ETC.
One of the most comprehensive little vol
unes I have seen is issued by this Board for
general circulation, descriptive of Santa Clara
County. In talking with the Secretary, Mr.
Edward B. Lewis, he showed me the follow
ing thermOmetrical record:
The highest temperature during 1886 was 81
degrees at IL o'clock, June s; and the lowest
was % degrees above zero on Jan. f. at q. M.
The highest for 1887 80 degrees at 80
p. m. June 10; and the lowest was % degrees
above zero Jan. IS, at a. ~.
They take their observations four times
day, and every day in the year, and these fig
ures are not the Average, but the actual high
est and lowest points reached during the years
named.
Mr.. Lewis told me that the price of land IN
the county ranged from $40 to $500 per acre,
according to location and amount Of improve
ment. There is, of course land held at lower
and also at higher figures, but [ give an aver
age range. To realize 10 per cent interest on
$1,000 from the products Of single acre is
quite moderate. and oftentimes double that
amount is produced. In facr, five acres, well
handled, will support family.
The Horticultural Association lid not con-
clude lis session here, but adjourned to meet
at Riverside, in the southern part of the
State, on February 6, and in the meantime
the delegates will roam about viewing other
wonders as well as the products of Santa
Clara Valley, though these have nearly filed
their capacity to the utmost limit
A Mad Bartender.