The morning call., 1891-07-19

the year round. not depending on the
rainfall, as that seldom exceeds four
Inches for the season. The system of
canals and bitches Is complete. The
sandy soil absorbs the water readily, as
though it were .greedily drinking in what it
had been years waiting for. The vivid
green OF the alfalfa fields adds much to the
landscape, and after being cut, quickly
reaches growth of three feet. thus yield
ing five crops of hay per year. The number
Of cattle that can feed on fifty or seventy
five acres of alfalfa is almost incredible.
Once sown, it rema ms for years, and if
weeds of any sort get in with it, when dry
they can readily be burned without !njuring
1t. Stock require little care, remaining out
all the time. Kern County is among the
first in the State for cattle. MANY of its fine
horses are sent TO San Francisco, where a
ready market awaits them. Great care is
taken with them when breaking them to n
harness, and no rou gh handling is allowed.
HypnOtism is used, aud with great success.
In half hour or so hey succumb TO the
trainer, who has studied the subject care
fully.
The town of Bakersfield Id was burned
about year ago, but ha ne arly all been
rebuilt. There are many fine brick build
ingS, and the Courthouse W ould be credit
to a town double its size. 1t has several
fine hotels. The town is lig hted by electric
lights and gas. The drinking water is good,
the supply also being abundant. Many
blocks have cement sidewalks, giving the
place citited appearance. There are but
few adobe houses remaining, the town hay
ing been rebuilt with brick. The railroad
station is at Sumner, one mile beyond Ba-
kersheld, horse-cars connecting the two
places.
Several colonies have recently been es-
tablished near by, the largest Of which is
Rosedale, devoted entirely TO raisin culture.
The vines are locking well, and To one not
acquainted with the soil they seem two in
stead OF one year old. Comfortable houses
and barns are scattered on each side of the
road; some settlers having 100 or 100 acres,
others owning larger tracts Near by there
has lately been erected school building,
the architecture Of which would a. once
cause one TO form favorable impression
regarding the adjacent community.
The fruit and vegetables are among the
first in the market and not tasteless, as Is
often the case with that from other sections.
Peaches were ripe the last of Aprl, black
berries. plums, apples and pears in May.
Apricots ripen early and are delicious. The
dried fruit is beautiful to look at, being
almost transparent and not at all shriyeied.
The trees yield more than in any other fruit
section, and il is a wonder they live as long
as they do. Fruit pests have not appeared
as yet, probably because the trees are Young
Canneries will be opened next year, which
will be great advantage. Now fruit
is shipped TO San Francisco to be
canned. One cannery has contracted for
peaches at $40 per ton, no peach to measure
less than AZ inches. Bartlett pears, plums,
grapes and peaches grow lnarvelousiy large.
AT drugstore there is a jar of peaches
containing three, each of Which weighs one
pound. The man who grew them says he
expects to exceed these this year. The
Bartlett pear is said to retain its delicate
flavor even though growing so tremendously
large Little attention as yet has been paid
to orange and lemon culture. That they
will grow and ibear is beyond doubt, as
there are trees with fruit on in the neigh
b0rhood. Tropical plants, fan palms, b.
mana trees. pomegranates in full bloom, all
adapted especially to the soil Hedges
all along the railroad are made of the pome-
granate trees. and the glimpse first of the
shiny green leaves and now and then deem
scarlet blossom is wonderfully pleasing. l
noticed one particularly near Fresno.