The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-20


New York, Chicago and ST. Louis Railroad.
1t has been feared that this order would
interfere seriously with the green fruit
shipments from California, and some of the
local merchants expressed the belief yester
day that the California Fruit-grOwers'
Union, which comprehends most of the
fruit shippers of the Sacramento Valley,
was rather badly frightened over the news.
But this is wrong, entirely wrong.
esterday afternoon i. w. Buck, preSi-
dent OF the California Fruit-growers'
Union, was called up by telephone from
The CALL Office and asked as to the stua-
ton with regard to the shipment of green
fruits.
Mr.. Buck answered readily and en-
phatlcally:
''No. the blockade at Buffalo does not
effect Us.
Il have just received a telegram from
Chicago informing me that our fruit arrives
there all right and will reach New York
without delay.
"Our fruit does not 90 by way Of Buffalo.
u lie strike does not affect US al all.
Yes; l believe this is true Of ali fruits in
Northern California"
Mr.. Buck is in a position to know whereof
he speaks and his statements must be taken
as authoritative.
1t is certain, then, that II the Buffalo
strike spreads no further than il is at pres
ent, the fruit interests of California will not
suffer by reason of it,
OF course, southern fruit-shippers send
their product by theyoutheTn lines and
disturbances.
So, then, California is In luck again, and
her great fruit crop this year, from the
present outlook, will be harvested aud sent
70 the Eastern markets without hitch or
halt.
Mr.. Maslin of the State Board of Trade is
authority Tor the statement that the fruit
crop THIS year will be far In excess of what
most people have any idea of, that there
have been bigger shipments so far this wear
than last year, and that 1918 fruit crop
will not be in Il with that of 1892.
And the ngureS seem TO bear him out.
THROUGH THE GREAT FRUIT BELT.
gentleman of this city few DAYS ago
took pedestrian trip through the great
fruit belt In Yolo County. He is an ardent
student Of horticulture and took extensive
notes OF the condition of the crops. In
almost every orchard visited by him il was
found that the toughs of the peach trees
are laden beyond their power to support the
fruit. In some cases the number of props
used TO support them made almost a COM
piete fence about each tree This means a
good Yield. but there are two contingencies,
he says, which may operate TO lessen the
fruit yield. These are the ravages of in
sects and continuance of extreme heat for
long period. Nearly every orchard showed
signs Of something affecting the foliage.
lie late variety OF peach exhibited less Of
tins than the other varir ties and also less
trees were as yellow as II 4 breath or
autumn frost had swept over them. and in
many orchards the pears hung pendant
from branches almost denuded OF leaves.
the fruit burning beneath the hot beams OF
the sun.
Every apricot orchard was a striking ex-
ceptiOn, as one could pick out these all over
the landscape by their brilliant green mant-
ling. That the yield Of pears will be about
up 10 the average crop in size there seems
10 reasonable doubt, as those orchards
where the fruit was scanty on the boughs
were the exception. Even after they had
been gone over once or twice TO supply
Eastern markets, there yet remained good
promise for the later gathering, although,
perhaps. the fruit may be little smaller in
size than it has been for some years.
ABOUT PRIMES.
About the only variety of prupes raised in
this section is the Petit prune, and nearly
every ranch has some Of these. In most
cases the trees are heavily laden. but the
fruit is small in size, with the chances
against its filling out and probability that
much of it will fall of, as almost ali of the
trees are half stripped OF leaves.
Figs are part or the yield or this belt,
but not in enough quantity to greatly affect
the market Some of the fig trees are of
magnificent proportion, in several eases
being 30 or 30 feet high, with girth Of SIX
or eight feet. Their foliage is luxuriant.
a siesta on hot day.
One fg-growpr asserted that the first crop
was their largest yield this season, and an
other maintains that the second crop will
be larger than the first, but all concede that
the yield Is smaller than usual, and the
meageI showing on the bOughs will sustain
the opinion that the crop will not be heavy
one
AS to the yield of the vineyards the grapes
are somewhat short and smaller than ought
10 tod fIFr1- Ill
done better than the Muscats, Missions,
etc, but the grapes as crop will be found
to be small with regard to both size and
number Of lunches and fruit.
Most of the fruit-Erowers Of this belt have
made the best use of their product this year.
the shipment from Vacaville and Winters
having for time averaged 10 cars per day,
and the prices in many cases averaging
$500 per ear. Indeed, many of the growers
say that with smaller crop they have
cleared more money than other years with
larger crops.
The dried fruit prospects are good. and
agents from Eastern houses have been in
the field purchasing stocks Of the previous
year. 1t is probable that there will be an
unusually large crop OF dried fruit this fall.
as in some cases the rancbers have cut their
entire yield of nectarines and peaches on
account OF the fruit being too small OF i'm
perfect for the Eastern markets. But this
does not seem to operate prejqdicially TO
the interest of the growers, as the markets
demand all that is produced. The prices
given at Winters and Vacaville are now
and 10 cents per pound for unpeeled and
about 18 CENTS for peeled peaches.
As TO the causes that have led TO the de-
cline in the yield this year OF fruit and vine
there is quite diversity of opinion among
the growers, but it is quite evident that
heat has played an important part in the re-
ductioD, as the fruiters say the bloom and
setting was fine this spring, and only one or
two state that this was marred by late
cold SPELL Two or three claim the earth
quake shook loose the earth from the root
let's Of trees, and prevented their drawing
sufficient moisture from the soil. Some say
the rain was not sufficient or at the right
time during last winter
Nextyear tits expected the Chicago Worlds
Fair Will operate to increase the demand for
California fruit to an extraordinary degree
hence the fruit-gr0wers are already canvass
ing as to the indications of their orchards
The apricots have taken on splendid second
growth and the ranchers on the ground say
the buildings Indicate a fine crop OF this
Irnlt next year. As TO the peach crop for
opinion as rule, although occasionally n
rancher says the buildings of the peaches
already show for large field. They admit.
however, that this promise may be literally
"nipped In the bud" as should tho fall ha
hot and dry the buds for next year would
shrlvel and die in many cases. In fact,
| some attribute the lessened peach weld this
| year to the heated period Of June. 1891. The
| ravages OF q microscopic spider, It is alleged
| In some cases has injured both the pear and
| plum trees. but more particularly the prune
| trees OF some sections.
|
Rraisted tho Omcars-