Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-08
FARM AND ORCHARD.
SLIPSROD METHODS OF EARLY
DAYS MUST GO.
The Little Farm Well Tilled-The
Olive in California-Care
OF Milk-Etc.

A Sacramento county farmer writes as
follows in regard to the past and future
methods of farming in this State:
Slowly, but surely, the time is approach
ing when the farmer in this State, who
wishes 10 succeed IN wrestling a living or
competency from the soil must realize that
the old wasteful and slipshod methods of
"earlv DAYS" must be abandoned, and the
careful, economical methods of systemat-
iZing work that necessity and Competi-
tion, together with an increased value of
lands, have forced upon the agriculturists
of the older States and those of Europe,
must be adopted. Steadily the conviction
Is growing in the minds Of thoughtful
men that the little farm we'll titled is
to be the basis of California's future pros
perity, and that large ranches poorly
cultivated and supporting few transient
iabOrers, must give way to smaller hold
ings with thorough cultivation and atten-
tiou paid to the recuperation Of the soil.
To the ''old timer, who has been accus-
toned to "cut and cover his one or two
hundred acres with an old gang plow,
which left his field in ridges and insured
the growth of plentiful crop of weeds
and wild oats to make his grain foul and
sap the substance from the soil, which
should have given him long heads of
plump wheat, the change will seem an in
novation productive of little good, but to
the rising generation Of young farmers,
which IS to take his place, the necessity
must be speedily apparent
In the days when land could be had at
from 81 p to 50 per acre, with labor COM
"a
afford 10 do slipshod work and receive fair
returns Tor his work and the use Of his
land; but those conditions no longer ex-
ist. With land ranging from $50 to $300per
acre, and with, IN mos. instances a poor
mans plaster upon it, the interest ac-
count speedily eats up the proceeds of
careless farming and leaves the owner, ia
many eases, steadily sinking deeper into the
quicksand Of debt. The example of Eng
land furnishes Us q criterion for Judging
on this point There the careful farmer,
whether he owns his small holding or pays
rent for il, generally earns q living which
gives him the comforts and even the lux
uries OF life From this class we find only
a small emigration, and that mainly from
those who are ambitious to become land
owners instead OF continuing as tenants.
In France We have q still more striking
instance of the advantages of small farms
well cultivated. When, after the rash
war into which Louis Napoleon precipi-
tated her with Germany, the burden Of so
many miIliards of francs was laid upon
her, as an indemnity, that it seemed impos-
sibe that the next generation wolld be
able to pay, by dividing the land into
small holdings the people were
enabled TO pay it all off
within j time far shorter than
the specified limit And the fact that the
prosperity Of a country depends largely
on It's agricultural interests was most striEl-
ingly exemplifed in this case, for before
the indemnity was fairly paid, most of it
had been returned to France in exchange
for her silks, yelyets, wines and other
products.
The increase of small farms means also
the increase Of independence in our people.
the increase of our population, the in
creased home consumption OF various arti-
cles that will be prodtably manufactured
here III the near future, increased activity
In various channels of trade and the dimi-
mutton, il not the abolition,of the blanket
brigade" in every community there will
he found settled permanently men who,
although lacking capital necessary to en-
able them TO become landowners, will
earn comfortable living for themselves
and their families by labor on the farms
of Others. Such men are necessary ad-
Junct OF prosperous farming community
and In the East form Il useful and desirable
portion Of every neighborhood, being self
respecting and reliable and far preferable
to a transient element which possesses no
interest il the welfare of any particular
community.
THE OLIVE N CALIFORNIA.
At the Fruit-Growers' Convention in
National City, the following essay was
read by President EIlwood Coo. e., of Santa
Barbara
This sUbiect was very fully discussed at
the Chico Convention, but so far as the
varieties were concerned the conclusions
were rathe- unsatisfactory. The numerous
discouragiE- reports upon the Picholine
have dishearted those who have planted
this vari5rv, and left thousands Of the
young tree, IN the nurseries unstable.
The demand for the Mission cannot be
supplied. lew varieties are being i'm
ported both :or oil and for pickles. New
planters cannot be too careful about the
selection. The Mission is the only variety
that has been tested in California, through
number Of consecutive years, for the quality
and quantity that can be produced from a
given number OF pounds of ripe fruit For
picking, the demand is almost wholly for
the Spanish Queen, the preference given
on account Of It's size and beauty 1t is
my opinion that the pickles made from the
Mission olive, once properly put upon the
market, viii, when their superior quality
Is known, ,upplant the Spanish Queen.
The Mission being an oil olive, Is richer,
more delicate in flavor, and as a matter Of
die, far superior; consequently the growers
OF the Spanish Queen may find, after many
years of waiting, that they have made a
mistake Oll-making will become general
throughout the State. The picker of the
Mission vii! find ready sale for his surplus.
and such berries that are not salable for
picking; while the Spanish Queen cannot
be used for oil-making Ii is not an oil
olive. The Mission olive, if carefully
handled, will retain in the pickle all the
oil. 1t Is rich in liie-giving substance. 1t
IS 4 freestone, leaves the seed readily and
has more pulp than a Spanish Queen of
twice the size.
There are several different theories on
ahe number Of trees to plant on an acre.
In the essay Of Charles Dondero read at
the Chico Convention, 10 feet were given
as the proper distance, and the distance ad-
yocated by the Italians, and therefore
worthy OF the greatest respect, being the
experience Of generations. We were rec
mended TO plan; vines vegetables or some
thing else between the rows. 4 great deal
of our land Is not suitable for either.
therefore Is il not more profitable to plant
olives, or, in other words. to plant 20 feet
each way, and in twelve 10 fifteen years.
when the orchards become crowded. re-
move every other diagonal row? This
AEnnlA --lA-a m -r..L.--l ..-:ah IL, 49,