Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-29
Farm AND ORCHARD.
STATE PROSPERITY DEPENDENT UPON
SMALL HOLDINGS.
Squirrels and Gophers-Eggs VS.. Oranges
-FoothilI Notes of General
Interest.

largely upon small holdings, where every
acre is turned to account and raised to the
highest degree of productive capacity.
More homes means more demand for the
various products of California, both at
home and abroad. To the wheat
raiser it means that as more of
his crop is to be consumed at
home and less exported, more remuner-
alive prices will be Obtained for it, and
less oft go to pay freights to foreign ship
owners, less money IS TO be expended TO
enrich the jute trusts, more bran and mid
dlings remain here to produce milk
and fatten stock, an additional in
come often resulting to him as he
can fit more stock for market an
nually. TO the manufacturer it means
increased demand tor his products, in
whatever line he may be engaged To the
makers and vendors of agricultural imple-
ments II means an extension of their sales
with scarcely limit, and to the hardware
and dry-gOods merchants the same result,
Moreover, it opens to the wage-earner,
whether mechanic, clerk, OF agricultural
laborer, many more avenues to employ
ment and comfort in mills, factories,
shops, stores, on buildings, farms
and in gardens. For nothing is surer than
that the day is fast approaching when the
splendid water-pOwer facilities of the
American river, and the rivers and streams
in the northern part Of the State and
along the coast will be utilized to their
fullest capacity, and factory villages and
towns dot every stream having fall enough
to furnish the necessary water-power.
When that day comes, California will sup
ply at least the greater part Of the arti-
Giles consumed within her borders, and as
she will be able to produce them more
cheapiy than We can bring them from
abroad, they will not only reduce the cost
OF living, but will keep more Of our money
IN circulation within our own borders
When concentration Of products on small
areas by means OF increased production
per acre has minimized their cost. our
raisins, figs, dried and green fruits, prunes
and wines will find a good market in the
East and in Europe, and bring millions of
dollars to the coast. Best Of all, these
crops being OF such a nature that much of
the work can be done be children, will fur
nish employment to thousands, and, while
helping, by the use of inexpensive labor,
10 reduce the cost Of the crop when ready
for market, and thus enable us to compete
with European products, viii go a long way
toward solving question, ''What are We
going 10 do with the generation which Is
growing up, and Is at present drifting 50
largely into hoodlUmiSm ?" The expert
ments of last year have partially answered
the question in a satisfactory manner, and
show how important, not only to the pres
ent but to the rising generation, is the
thorough development of our States agri-
cultural resources.
SQUIRRELS AND GoTHEEs.
1t may be Of service to farmers to know
OF a successful experiment lust made at
Arno farm. With the increase of fences,
Of improvements Of grain and alfalfa, there
has been large increase Of squirrels and
gophers. Mounds thirty to fifty yards in
diameter sown to grain did not produce
single blade. The squirrels lived there,
piliered the seed, and destroyed beside a
large margin Of the crop around. Within
the past ten days nine of the largest Of
these mounds having an average Of forty
squirrel holes were operated on Begin
ming ut the lower holes and ending with
'"N ''i '"V d "o,V "a ''i jon DiSu- Pu-"S
was poured a distance OF two to three
feet III each hele AND the hole then
closed with earth These Lively aD9des
nave become cities 81 the Dead Not
hole has been reopened not squirrel
mas oeen seen, not a shriI whistle has
been heard from the once lively enc
mes. Doubtless they are dead. The
work IS quickly done there Is no
danger Oh poisoning stocH; there IS no an
necessary cruelty, LOT the pests are NJ once
sauocaied there IS no EVIL from decompo-
slIGn, Tor the ANIMALS are buried. Ire
work IS clean ana cannot lnlaTe the
operator. Inc cost Is moderate, even when
the doses are as many ana as generous us
those given Ia tins lnstance.-t'at Ge-sHe.
EGGS vs.. ORANGES.
While ergs are often. th5urb y7!loarlv
called hen fruit. the raising Of hens has
never yet been classed as a branch Of horti-
culture 1t may not be amlsS, however,
since lne PHo.'c mind NM. IS SO m lI oent
upon the Su.JeIC Oh Huil' particularly cit
L la ,- n .''i ba "a ' . tl 'G.m cen
treas An o,a,ga doe. nor bear gor,,,a,.;
60, I'D, ~, o. - - g., f,,,-;;,,si,
value as food. and the market price of eggs
in San Francisco Is usually greater than
growers car. command for oranges. the hen
comes into bearing at the age Of six
months, without grating, while the orange
tree does not bear short of six or eight
years from the seed. The hen IS never IN
cured by the trosts, requires no irrigation,
no spray Tor insect pests, iiQurlshes
SI any o'- anu .'eel.S !lO 1u.sl' i''iG 81.
zone ol o'Iese S,'''ii9 are 70 pS Hale Ior
SnG oi""5e ~ 80 y ,le- w i1y AZ.
and finally sell for a GOOD y,r;ca as a
"snring chicken . lone before an ORANGE
tree i 5nvtbi1o buf an exnense n is
owner And vet the hen is Greatly neg
Cl:f.-: ..--l-4 = - 3,