The morning call., 1893-06-12
FLOWERS AND FRUIT.
The Market Value of Rose Leaves.
The Cherry Crop Near Niles.

L.
Any and every new industry added to
the many we already have. Is financial
gain to the State. We read of new fruits
or grains for our farmers. of new shrubs
or flowers for our florists. and are inter.
ested in their success. Not so many years
ago lady succeeded in growing near
Stockton large quantities of the plant from
which buhach is made, aud thousands
upon thousands of dollars were made from
it within the next few years. In ali of the
southern European countries roses are
grown in great quantities for the making
of perfumes, whole villages sometimes de-
pending upon their rose gardens for their
entire living.
From time to time it has been suggested
to and urged upon small landowners to
plant rose gardens tor the sake of the in
come possible from the sale of rose leaves.
But as there has seemed to be no market.
the matter has never been as fully con-
Sidered as il should be.
Rose leaves, however. can DE sold in San
Francisco at any time in small or large
12E2 to 81 y cents pound being paid for
the leaves when cured. The red roses as
rule, command the best prices, as they
contain more fragrance, the old Castilian
varieties being always the most desirable.
Doubtless every lady with any sized gar
den has dried her rose leaves for cher
ished rose pillow. and found the task
rather pleasant.
The leaves or petals should be picked
from fresh. not faded full-bIoom roses,
while the dew is upon them, or before sun
Use, as 1t is well-knOwn fact that the
heat Of the sun absorbs much of the fra
GRANGE. The petals should be dried in n
hnjp trJr mad
every day to prevent milidew. When
thoroughly dry they are ready to be
ground and mixed with other things and
sold as sachet powder. Violet, orange and
other pertaining powders are made in tho
same manner. When leaves are to be used
In making perfumes they should be picked,
sprInkled Immediately with a liberal
quantity of fine salt-as coarse salt cuts
and Injuries the leaves-and sent as soon
as possible To a chemist. where they are
washed carefully and then distilled.
1here are rose gardens enough in this
county to provide fragrnnce and perfume
enough for all of San Francisco, yet not
one pound has ever been sent to San Fran
cisco, where almost every chemist is ready
and willing to pay cash for rose leaves,
during any and all seasons OF the year.
Inc cherry crop this season Is fully up
10 inc average in quantity, but not in
quality. Large, full-siZed cherries are the
exception, not the rule this year. The gen.
tleman who has bought $4,000 worth or
more OF cherries in this neigh Dor hood is
quite disappointed in his bargain, as the
fruit as II ripens Is so very small. lie is
an old and experienced cherry grower and
dealer. and lays IL all TO the lack of water
Cherry trees have never been pruned as
other trees are, nor thinned. II there Is
scarcity of water the orchardist will find
u necessary to prune his cherry trees
hereafter to secure larger fruit.
A portion of our valley can be irrigated.
and since the taking Of the water by the
Spring Valley Water Company the owners
of the old ditch have reorganized and are
making use of the water; still that means
a vast amount OF work, and it is we'll
known fact that fruit that is irrigated does
not ship or can a we'll as unirrigated
fruit. Those orchardists in our valley
whose ranches are too high to allow them
10 resort TO irrigation, vii be compelled in
time to prune their cherry trees as care
fully as they do their peaches or apricots.
Inc men and girls who are picking ard
packing cherries here this season have
been brought from San Jose. The pickers
are paid 81 day and board, and the pack
ers by the box. The york will last but a
week or so. and as strangers have been
brought into town to do the work it cuts
out great many would-be workers in
town. When cherries are gone there will
be several weeks before other fruits ripen,
and. therefore, there seems to be little
chance for outside workers this season.
Just what the situation will be when
other fruits come on remains to be seen.
If farmers must handle their own crops
there Will lie demand for workers II
the fruits are sold on the trees there will
be little opportunity for anxious workers.
A praise service was given last Sunday
evening In the CONGREGATIONAL Church.
which was under the aus pices of the Choral
Society. 1t met with such approval that
services will De continued every alternate
Sunday evening hereafter.
Niles. June g. 1893. MRS. L. E. THANE.