The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-31
NOTES FROM NILES.
The Fruit Raisers and Gamers.
About Song Birds.


appcared in THE CALL last week about the
Gamers syndicate. which. it seems, was and
still is under discussion, from which the
following is quoted: The combination will
be able to purchase fruit on better terms
and prevent TuinouS prices being exacted
by the farmers at times when fruit is
scarce" Again: g The farmer neej look
with no suspicion on the trust" And again:
"It will be to the interest of the canneries
to have as large a number OF orchards to
draw from as possible, and they will be
obliged in self-protection, to make fruit
growing profitable"
First and foremost the aim of each and
every corporation is for the benefit of each
and every member of that corporation ana
not for any other person or persons
The farmer does not look with suspicion
upon Gamers or middlemen as rule, feel
ing that they are a necessity; but when it
happens in any business, as it does in fruit
raising that the buyer sets the price it
would seem very astonishing if the farmer
did not raise his voice to protest, especially
when he knows that these trusts aim more
than ever at keeping prices down and limit
ing the market. When there Is a large crOp
the farmer must hunt the Gamers up and
make the best bargain he can, or send to
market, where the Gamer sets the prices
again by being the largest buyer. and 1t has
happened not one year, but many such
years, that fruit has been dumped into the
bay. Now the Gamers VIII not buy and
stock up while the fruit is plentiful a nd
cheap thereby using all the crop. and SO
the cry the next season, when fruit Is scarce,
is, How can we prevent the rulnouS prices
eXacted by the farmers when fruit is
Scaree? To say tie least, turn about Il
fair play. A new canneTy Is being estab-
lished at First and Myrtle streets, Oakland !;
another is talked of near San Jose, and
| still another IN one of the more northern
/ counties, and it is hardly PROBABLE that peo-
| pie viii continue to Invest IN Sueh proper
| ties unless profitable. As regards the ruin
Gus prices eXacted by the farmer, ne but
! does rs any nan Of any business capacity
whatever would Go-he stands out for the
| best price the Gamer offers, and does
! not accept quietly the very hrst
| offer; this Gamer must have all fruit GER
! tain specified size, neither too ripe nor too
] green. without rust OF dust OF smut, the
| farmer must 90 q double PICK on sunday,
I because he eanhOt pick and sap on caIur-
! day. as the Gamers do not Work sunday,
| must provide his own bCS6s-to ind 81 the
end OF the season only about halt leit--and
! must lose aa.fruit that may De DELAYED or
! become oYerrlpe, en- route The matter oil
boxes rs an important subject, Gamers
! do not return the boxes immediately.
/ thereby compelling tile farmer to have
| twice the number necessary on hand; boxes
| carefully marked are not sent to the right
! owners, OF II shipped straight are tossed OF
| at the wrong station perhaps, or covers are
! lost or boxes broken, and when it is remem-
| bered that it takes between $500 and $500
worth of boxes to handle a mixed lot of fruit
| on ten acres, when sold TO the Gamers. and ut
| least half the boxes need to be renewed
| each year. it is time complaint was made.
! Rumor has 1t from time to time that can
| merry is 10 be started in Niles; arrangements
| were made last year to establish one, but
because Of the high price and scarcity of
! fruit the scheme fell through. With such a
fine territory to buy fruit in. such railroad
and water facilities, it is very strange that
| there has not been cannery before now.
| 1t is often urged by correspondents to i'm
| port song birds into California; birds should
| not be brought in unless their habits are
well known and those that would disturb
the fruit or buds of trees should be care
| fully excluded. no matter how beautiful
| their song. California has one favOIite
| SongSter, her sturdy meadOw-lark, whose
| glad full song amply atones for his plain
! coat, and many merrier chattererS, among
| them the many species of iinnets or brown
| birds. The first is known and loved every
! where, but so many of the others are saucy
| thieYes-whole flocks Swooping down upon
| an orchard in bloom, nipplng off the buds
| by thousands some seasons - keeping the
| farmer busy with bis shotguns. for they
| have no fear OF ScarecrOwS. So let the
| song-birds come, they are most welcome;
| but be very careful that none shall come to
| harm us.
SO many times the question is asked:
I" How do You cook dried fruitSY that
neighbOr's recipe. an exceedingly good one,
is worth giving here: Wash the fruit care
fully, say twice, in plenty OF water put to
soak in warm or cold water for two or three
hours then set on to boil in that water;
when nearly done add sugar, and boil until
| just tender and not broken. Dried peaches,
with skins on, may be taken out after being
soaked, skinned quickly and easily, replaced
| in the water, and cooked thus being even
! bitter than the bought peeled peach, as the
best flavor is next the skin, and at much
| less cost.
Two cents has already been offered for ap-
ricots. the limit to 5e two and quarter
| inches in diameter. The fruit crop promises
to be exceptionally fine every variety hangs
| full, and unless cold long rain or heavy
frosts should come the yield will be assured.
The weather has been showery the past
week, Friday night rain fell in the valley,
snow on the peak, and Saturday was clear
and cold, the thermometer registering 90
at 3 o'clock in the afternoon
Edward Everett Hale spent a portion Of
last Tuesday with the family of James
Shinn. About thirty of the school children,
members and officers of the Kings Daugh-
tiers, were at the station with armsful OF
flowers to greet him, for which he thanked
them, speaking a few pleasant words and
| DOMINIC his cross as he chatted.
The spare Minute Circle have appointed
Mrs. W. II. Ford as editor for the next
Boomerang, and Miss Grace Chisholm assist
ant editor
The showers are just right for the farmer
to continue his work, and hundreds OF young
trees have been set out the past six weeks
Potatoes are plentiful and cheap. Peas are
selling for So a sack in town.
The Niles Alliance met last Monday even
ing, every member being present
Letters were read from the State Secre-
tary approving OF the work done by the club.
a very able paper was read upon the silver
question, followed by a general discussion
of the subject. THE Different Methods of
Handling and Shipping Fruits" will be the
subject for the next meeting.
The Kings Daughters sent large box of
assorted flowers on Saturday last to the
Old Peoples Home for Easter decorations.
Mics, March rs, 1891 MRS L. E. THANE.
EnWARD EYEp Elrr IL ALE