The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
NOTES FROn NILES.
Importance of the Prune Industry.
Celebration of Forefathers' Day.

Correspondence of THE MORNING CALI.
The fact that a fruit must be well known
to command market is eXemplifed in the
dried prune. Twenty years ago there was
a steady demand for all imported prunes in
eastern markets, and even in our own mar
kets, but as our crops have been harvested
they have driven all imported prunes from
our own markets and are fast taking pre-
eedence over the imported fruit in eastern
cities. Not a single pound yet grown in
California has had to go a-begging. In 1885
100000 pounds were grown, in 1890 IA. $780,
000 pounds. That means quarter of
pounds year for the 10000. 600 people we
have. Ii Is safe 10 say that in another five
years the product will be doubled. and yet
in all probability the demand will remain
as great. 1t is easily transported and is
most palatable as well as nutritious and
medicinal and is almost a staple winter
conserve on the tables Of the middle class
in certain sections. 1t is TO California what
the dried apple is to Easterners-a staple
fruit for market
As for the grower, he finds the prune one
one of the easiest fruits to grow and han
die and one yielding the largest returns per
acre.
An acre OF prunes four years old will
yield never less than five tons of fresh fruit
and often the crop is twice that. Five
ions will produce one and half tons of
GEicts WHICH, n y CcUtS tltSl scdSOH pIlce)
would make $40, one acres returns. The
cost Of harvesting and eultiyating is $50,
which leaves profit of S23J an acre.
4 farmer with ten acres Of pruncs has
the best paying crop il is possible to have
IN fruit line. No pests have as yet at
tackled the prune. 1t needs very little
pruning after the first year or so. 1t begins
to bear at three years and at four has a
full crop, and the crops are good average
year in and year out.
These reports are from actual figures, not
Tor an exceptional season, but are the
lowest figures for term of years from an
orchard near Niles; and what can be done
hero can be done in almost any fruit section
in California.
Last Sunday being FOrefathers' day an in
teresting service was given in the First
congregational Church. A portion of the
programme was as follows: How the
Pilgrims Sailed From Delft Haven" an ex-
tract from +. Winslow, read by Oliver
Ellsworth; /" The Maylower." by E.
Everett read by Miss Ida Curtis; The
Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers" by Mrs.
Hemans. Teeited by Florence Mayhem
vocal solo, The Pilgrim Fathers" by Mrs.
Thane; an extract from X. G. Winthrop,
The Great Procession of American His
tory" by James Clarke; and an original
poem 10 The Children of the Pilgrim
Fathers" by Melicent Shinn, read by Mrs.
Mar. The exercises as whole were
especially noteworthy. as most OF those
taxing part, and indeed more than dozen
in the audience. were lineal descendants of
the sturdy Pilgrim fathers.
a Sanday-sehool praise service will be
given New Years day at IL o'clock A. NJ.
lie Deum will be sung by the Choral So
| ciety. The regular quarterly praise services
are becoming quite feature in the Niles
Sunday-sch0Ol work.
The ChautauQua Circle met as usual last
| Monday evening. The circle does not hesi-
tate 10 handle ia debate some pretty heavy
| subjects. The subject last evening was
Has the purchase of Alaska been justified
| by The financial income so faT?"
The Tuesday Evening Whist Club met
| last week, with Mrs. f. B. Sharpe. The in
| terest IN the club meetings does not sbaie
| The body of the Alameda stream has
| swung over toward the north bank, and the
old bed has filed up very much. Another
| storm is ia progress, and people living along
| the banks are preparing for a flood. The
| land is full of water aud all that falls vii
| doubtless flow down stream.
| A very merry Christmas TO all my readers
| Mrs. l.. 4. THANE