The morning call., 1891-05-12
LETTER FROM NILES.
Something About the Flowers of
That Section Of Country.

The State Floral Fair. which has been in ses-
siOn IN the Academy Of science In san Fran
CISCO has been OF more than usual interest TO
NilesItes. The California Nursery Company
competed for three prizes and received The first
prize for each, having PA roses, 20 pelargoni-
ums aud ID clematls displayed. The exhibit
was under the care of Mrs. &. B. OyeGacker OF
Niles and several assistants, who found 1t no
small task 10 arrange tastefully the fresh asSOrt
ment OF blossoms which were sent each morn
ing. The space occupied was four by eighteen
feet, more than any other single display. All
the cut palms and bamboo, hundreds in num-
Der, which were used in decorating all Of tie
hall, were also from their grounds. AS has been
said before. Niles is especially adapted TO roses
the soil and climate are both kind, and every va
rety is grown out OF doors, OF course.
While the facilities for travel are very good
there Is still vast room for improvement and as
travel increases changes for the better will be
made, no doubt. The number OF commuters on
the liue from Niles down 10 the city is becoming
larger day by day, as the knowledge OF the ac-
feasibility OF country homes on this road be-
comes better known. The run ION Niles 10
the San Francisco slip is made In one hour and
twenty minutes, and 1t could easily be reduced
TO one hour. ] he train service has been more
than doubled in the past seven years, trains now
running nearly every hour and half all day,
and Niles people confidently expect that tralns
will be running hourly, perhaps less, within the
next very few years.
There is one thing that should be done I'M
mediately. The comment hardly fluids place
here, yet IL Is matter OF interest to hundreds of
travellers daily. A suitable statiOn-house should
be built and maintained at the corner OF Broad
way and First street In Oakland.
new pest has made It's appearance In sew
eTal orchards, The peaeh-borer. 1t has been
found on certain trees It's much like the cur
Tant-bOIeT, only smaller, being ouly about half
an inch long. They md their way under the
oulcr bark Of the tree, just below the surface Of
the ground and work upward, eating away the
true bark as they work. They seldom girdle The
tree, but work up into he branches. The outer
bark remains taut over the tree, and IL needs
close inspection 10 discover that II Is split lougi
tudinay and that underneath IL Is hollow. When
once found slight tap on Tie bark gives out
hollow sound Wherever they have worked hey
also lind their way under the bark from the
croches oil the tree so the places 10 looN when
examining the tree are Just about the cToiches or
beneath the soil an Inch or more. Experm .nts
are now In order TO destroy them. Il-ts reuOrted
that the cuw0fm has made Its appearance In
San Jose orchards aud is doing much damage,
A tiny green worm Is found in the orchards heIe
every year, but has never done any damage. So,
too, few caterpillars are always found, but
never as yet In any numbers.
Two new birds have been seen In the orchards
this season, both clever singers; one a shy fell
low with merry song, much liae the California
canary, but shorter aud louder. Hell quite yell
low, about as large the oriole, but not like
him, though he may claim knshIp. The other
Is smaller. slender brown bird, with dark
blue metal nued head aud light breast. lie lifts
d QOteS.
Then feS quickly 10 another tree, Swimming aud
dipping as be flies.
There Is little doubt but that the birds are use
ful IN The orchards; bu small part OF The fruit
Is ever Injured by them, except cherries, aud as
there are no large cherry orchards the few scat.
tered lots are easily protected
The Spare Minute Circle met Saturday ayenIng
last, with j. &. Shinn in the chair. Every mem.
Der was present, as the quarterly Boomerang was
read. The editorial chief was Mrs. W. H. Ford,
aud her assistant Miss Grace ChishoIm The
articles were even more spicy and clever than
usual tho foreign topic and the story told in let
tels being especially worthy OF MENTION
Mr.. and Mrs. homas Bedard gave an enjoy.
aele euchTe party last Tuesday evening.
Twenty-eight players Joined IN the game the
prizes ing won by Mrs. Jarvis and Mr.. Ii. Ty-
ments were especially fine. Ii has often been
matter OF comment In neighboIing towns that
enchre parties every winter for the past four
winters, and there has never arisen difficulty.
simple rule was early agreed upon ana obeyed