The morning call., 1890-12-15
LETTERS FROM
INTERIOR TOWNS.
What Has Been Going On in the
County Of Alameda.
Items of Interest From Miles, Irwin gton and
Observation-Disclosures Of Hillside Farm.
ing-The Rainfall.

iHo idlHldll tnlS past storm mas Deen l.b4
inches, and for the season 2.15 inches.
Last year at this date the rainfall had been
1.94 inches. However, the ground has been
molstened enough to set the plows at work.
The hills to the east OF town look like a
mighty bit of patchwork in browns, clump
of trees occasionally, with their soft green
tintS blending into the browns. Of the 200
acres on these perpendicular hills about
1ifty were cultivated last year, and few
more may be found available fer cultivation
this season. Peas and potatoes were the
crops planted, and the net returns we're over
500 an acre. For many years Niles gar
deners have sent the earliest peas and pola-
toes TO market, usually at holiday time but
they did not last year, because the heavy
rains washed away their first seeding, and
ON account Of the long-continued rains they
could not plant again until late. and they
will not this year. because the amount of
rainfall has not been enough to start the
seeds, which are only beginning to sprout
now. The Portuguese, who are among
the best gardeners in the world, are
the only people who work the hiIlsides,
usually on shares for the American owner
They plow before the rains and begin 10
plant upon the first Indication OF rain. and
manage 10 make the crops come in one alter
the other all winter. Hammond and Trum-
bull " Beebe are busy digging their nur-
Sery stock and getting it in shape at their
depOtS near the station. These firms buy
their stock # the nurseries, dig up and bind
the trees into bundles about foot in dame
ter, and heel them IN at their grounds,
that is open trenches, deep enough to hold the
roots and cover them with soil When they
are sold it is an easy matter to dig up these
labeled packages, bind them in tules and
send them off. At one of the nurseries
near town more than fifty teams ana $50
men are buslly employed. 1t Is quite inter-
esting to notice tie fashion (as it were in
trees; one year pears Will be in such de-
mand that prices Will 20 way up, and the
next year not pear can be sold About
three years ago French prunes were SO dull
they could not be sold, ana were dug up by
nurserymen and burned to make room for
other stock. This year they are in such
demand that prune trees one year old are
selling this early IN the season for so cents a
tree, and dormant buds from 10 10 10 cents
Unprecedented prices.
The tules used to wrap trees in for ship
ping form quite source OF income to farm
ers who live on the edge of the lagoon, where
they grow in abundance. They are cut
half dried, bound into bundles about fifteen
feet long and two feet in diameter and are
sold readily to the different nurseries here
and in Oakland.
BY mistake of the writer last week, in
considering the cost OF different materials to
be used III spraying fruit trees, the sentence
read: That the cost OF using the potash and
soda, or insecticide wash, was the same
from to 10 cents a tree-aSide from the
labor" 1t should have read: Including
the labor-as the cost OF the material is only
from to cents a tree, and the labor nee
essary usually as much again"
The ladies of the Guild, young and old,
are as busy as can be, preparing for their
bazaar, which will be given, Friday even
goods and candies Will be presided
over by the young ladies in dainty costumes,
genuine New England dinner will be
served by old-fashioned people, and a
musical and dramatic entertainment will
follow later in the evening.
The portieres which were stolen from the
church last week have been recovered.
Rev. +. 81. Maar had an attack of the
prevailing influenza last week, and Rev. j.
IL. Hendry OF Riverside officated Sunday
in his stead.
The foundation for the parsonage has
been laid.
The thermometer is kept pretty busy
these days, dancing up and down from 36o
or 81 at O'clock in the morning to about
90 at noon, and again TO the smaller figure
at ) o'clock in the afternoon.
The Spare Minute Circle gave Mr.. Ed
ward Ellsworth, who has just returned
from the East, surprise on last Saturday
evening The evening was spent with
songs, games and recitations. Refreshments
were served at IL clock, and the guests de-
parted for home.
Several new orchards are to be planted
in this vicinity this winter.
The school term closed Friday afternoon
with interesting exercises by the pupils of
both rooms. The next term opens January
9Th. Mr.. Loree and Miss Baker will both
return as teachers. Within five years the
number of children attending school has
more than doubled the number in attend
ance then being 81. the number now SO: the
number Of children of school age in the dis
trict then was Sc, now 115
The roads are now in most perfect con-
dition.
Loring Pickering and family have returned
to San Francisco for the winter.
Lorin Hunt. brother of our townsman, r.
Il. Hunt, won the medal at the University
feld.day for throwing the shot.
Tie San Joaquin marsh is a favorite re-
sort, for all of our famous goose or duck
hunters, Messrs. John, Joe, Eph and Henry
Tyson, Judge Ogden of Oak. and Masters
Harry Greene aud Robbie Tyson have re-
turned, and despite the couple of days of
rain brought back big bags of game and re-
port having had a glorious time.
Dee. 70. 1890. Mrs. L. E. THANE