The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-04
SONOMA COUNTY.
Gossip About Fruit, Improve.
ments and Social Matters.


with ID. Is. Weir. authority on farming mat
ters here, some interesting facts concerning
1fuit-drying were obtained. He does not
approve Of artifcially dried fruits, claiming
tnat sun-dried fruit, fairly ripe when cut,
is the best for food; it is also the cheapest.
Inc day of artifcialiy dried and bleached
peaches will soon end, and the high prices
now paid for them will hasten that end.
Ihey are neither good nor wholesome. Yet
IL pays to evaporate and bleach, and it may
Dc mat so much of the good fruit will be
Sulpnur-bieached that the people will not
get enough prime sun-dried fruit TO know
now superior it is. Many of the small dry
ers now In use turn out a nice article at
proht to the grower and dryer. These can
% seen over large portion OF this Coast
ana OF finer quality at one-third the cost
OF the same in the East. Experience has
proved that sun-dried peaches and aprcots
are very much better than evaporated. This
opinion IS held also by all the prominent
oIcnaIdists here. II good sun-dried fruit is
sent the people OF the prairie States will buy
IL IN unlimited quantities. 1t is better to
sell frult that costs 8 cents pound for 10
cents than to sell that at 20 cents which costs
10 cents. Drying fruit by artificial heat, or
making evap0rated fruit. is a trade OF itself.
AT present there is a demand for SIN al, cheap
plants, which can be run by the orclardist
hlmself or neighboring plants. Peaches,
prunes, plums, grapes and figs require no
great skill to dry them we'll. Apples and
pears are more difficult to dry. If the latter
are little off in color and packing they will
sell at as low price as sliced-dried fruit.
Blackberries and raspberries are easily
eyaporated.
1t has been suggested. inasmuch as
Lhere are IN every town owners OF a few
fruit trees who, though as DESTROYS of get
ting as much frult = DOSelhlp 10 not feel
warranted in buying spraying pumps for
such small number of trees, even If they
mad the time and knowledge TO put them to
good use, that there should be men who
make business of spraying during the
summer season. Such men should be con-
Yersant with the compromising and use of
the insecticides and with the habits of the
pests they have to combat. The numerous
demands which such men would receive for
their services and the remuneration would
certainly make it profitable investment.
Ii IS practical idea and will bear testing.
Messrs. Burton Bros. enterprising ranch
erS Just north of town, sent to one OF our
Irult-stores some sample cherries from their
ranch, which are remarkable for size and
luScinuSness Each cherry ranged from 81
to 32 inches in circumference. Messrs.
Burton say that these cherries, OF the Royal
Anne variety, owe their unusual size, fla
vor and color to a plentiful use OF iron Ill
lngs. About three years ago they procured
about the roots of their cherry trees. Each
year since that time the cherries are of pro-
dlglous size. brilliant color and remarkable
flavor.
The farmers and residents along the road
from Petaluma to the WaShoe House, as far
as John Merritt's ranch. about four miles
from this city. are trying to organize an i'm
provement company. The object OF the COM
pany will be to place and keep the road mcn-
TONED III good condition. They propose to
MN mol fhAFr g.
week or two to haul the necessary gravel or
macadam to properly macadamize the road.
those who cannot furnish teams are to help
with men or money, according to benefits
received. After theiroad is in first-cass con-
dtion they propose to give yearly subscrip-
lions toward Keeping the road sprinkled and
in good order.
The Petaluma grain market during the
past week has been almost at a standstill.
Both wheat and barley are dull and prices
easy, although not much lower than the
week previous. The harvesting through
this section is in full blast and few mare
days Will see new grain offered plentfully
on the streets. The new barley coming in
from Two Rock district and over near the
coast seems to be considerably culored
owing to the last late rain, which was much
heavier in that locality than around Peta-
luna.
NJ. F. Redmond. Superintendent of Con-
struction at the Predetermined Home, near
Glen Ellen, was in town few days ago.
tie gave several Interesting items concern
ing the construction of the new building.
The McEiroy contract is nearly finished.
SIX contracts on the new building were let
last Monday, the aggregate amount being
$4,000. Mccain was awarded the con-
tract on the masonry, SCI, 600; Fletcher on
the carpenter work. $4,000, and G. NJ.
Bambaugh on the painting. All the ma
chnery for the main building is on the
ground and 1t is expected that the engine
and the machinery connected with the
laundry apparatus.
The large building for Guibbini & Oslini,
In Tomales, has been completed. There is
also force Of men at work on another new
building. The new AMI handsome hotel of
p. Mulvenay is nearly flushed, and will be
an adornment to T0males.
The Cinnabar School opened Monday,
with Professor }. W. Hamilton as teacher.
As the result of an effort on the part Of the
residents of this district the school this
term will be graded. Professor Hamilton
has the reputation of being an able in
structor.
The Vine Hill horticultural Club met
recently at George B. McClrlland's.
constitution and bylaws we've adopted. fol-
and marketing fruit. The next meeting
will be held at Griffiths Oak Grove in Au-
gust
a Postoffice has been granted the people
oil GTeeH faliey, TO De located at the resi-
dence of III. Lapum, near the Methodist
Church, and to be known as Peachland.
Mrs. Ii. Lapum has been appointed Post
mistress. Mails will leave Sebastopol on
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for
Peachland.
The necessary steps for the establishment
of PostCfice at Carrger's Switch. on the
Guerneville branch from Niles from Fulton,
have been taken, and Thomas McMurty
has been nominated Postmaster. The office
will be named Mount Ollyet
Quite number of farmers in the vicinity
of Valley Ford are contracting their hay
for 50 and 50 90 per ton.
A pleasant impromptu whist party was
enjoyed at the residence of DR.. NJ. E.
TrenhOltz Wednesday evening by a few
friends of the family.
w. p. Edwards and family, who were at
Olema enjoying summer outing returned
Monday. They report that quite number
of people are still camping along the coast.
1t is estimated that over eighty people from
Petaluma were at Bolinas and Olema on
Sunday lust.
Mr.. Mcpherson of Grand Rapids, Mich,
was in Petaluma Sunday. He came out to
see the NJ. j. Clark place, adjoining town,
and was very much pleased, not only with
the place, but with our State. 1t is ex-
pected that Mr.. Mcpherson will decide to
settle here.
Mr. Robert Crooks and Mrs. Marion
Ke0gh were united in MARI iage in Occi-
dental on Friday, the Rev. Mr. Johns Off
ciatng MU. A. t.
Petdi,tud, dug. 3, 1891