The morning call., 1893-02-20
NOTES FROM NILES.
Interesting Information About the
Apricot -SoCial Items.
Correspondence OF THE MORNING CALL.

Correspondence OF The MORNING CALL.
Aprlcots have been table deicacy since
the time of Alexander the Great They are
a native of Persia, Armenia, Japan aud
China, but have been grown in England
since early in the sixteenth century. They
are so fragile that they have been neglected
as an article Of commerce. Still as dried
fruit they have been known to the Persians
and Italians for fully century, and it is
very strange that as such they have not
found their way into the markets of the
world until introduced BY California. Now
dried apricots form more than one-seventh
of ali the exported dried fruit product Of
California. and that proportion will not be
maintained long; it is bound to overtoD all
dried fruits but prunes, and that before very
long.
The tree is hardy, but will not fruit in too
cold climates. 1t requires more care than
any other fruit tree, but as 1t Is heavy and
regular bearer in proper climates II is one
of the most valuable fruit trees to plant.
1t takes years to discover, however, the
best varieties for certain sections. OF the
twenty-five varieties grown IN this State
but seven fruit well in Alameda County
the Montgamet, Bienheim, Hemskirk,
peach, Royal. ST. Am brolse and MOOrpark-
and all of these do not do equally well in all
places. The Blenhem, Royal and peach
arc HaSl hubCkGu ny IIOSb VI CiliDdLlC
changes and do well all through this valley;
the others need more sheltered places close
to the hills or in the midst Of orchards, shell
tered from the prevailing winds.
1t needs more pruning, and more careful
pruning, than any other tree except per-
haps, the peach. No disease has vet
attacked the tree to injure it, but the scale
pest. which attacks all trees more or less.
has done an immense amount of damage
within the last four years.
The apricot has a very lovely foliage,
dark green glossy leaves, slightly bent and
pointed, with every new shoot cOlOred
brilliant red, every twig bent to the west
ward here. or always toward the prevail
ing winds. In blossom, too, IL Is beautiful,
being a perfect ball of white without
single leaf Without its foliage it is rough
scraggly and ugly. Filled with It's golden
fruit 1t is the most beautiful tree In the
orchards
1t is slow grower, and likes warm, moist
rich soils. in climates having no sudden
variations OF temperature. Ii lives to very
great age, and bears fruit so long as it lives
Trees eight years old should bear from nine
TO fourteen tons 10 the acre annually
according to location.
1t Is said that the Spaniards brought a few
trees into San Diego when they established
that mission, and few trees are found In
New Mexico which were old when first seen
fifty years ago by Americans; but II tn ere
ever were any al the old missions they were
all gone then. The oldest known trees in
the State are found in one or two orchards
in Calayefas County. They are nearly fifty
years old, and where cared for are still
yielding regularly large crops.
Old oTchardists say this is good graft
ing year, aud certainly there seems TO be
perfect epidemic OF grating.
Several young men in town celebrated
local atbor day last Saturday by planting
the palms and shrubs donated to the church
nd IN OBJ .loV, Lodi
painted numbers of small plants.
On "Wednesday next Miss Florence Morti-
mer and Albert E. Fisher Of HaywardS are
TO be married in the Congregational Church
Miss Mortimer has always been a favorite
daughter of Niles, and will be greatly
missed. She has had entire charge of all
church decorations for the last three years.
and not q Sunday has passed without
flowers. Some of her special day decora-
tons have been exceedingly fine. Her
young friends, under the skllful guidance
of Mrs. c. Il. OveTacker. are already busy
preparing elaborate decorations for the GER
emOny.
The boys of the Union High School have
organized a football team and the young
girls have organized a basket football team.
! Both teams practice regularly and Will soon
| be ready for match games with other teams.
| The new building will be ready for oceu-
| pancy within three weeks, much to the de-
| light OF both teachers and pupils
Ri ISIS Laura Ihane was given a surprise
| whist party last Saturday evening by her
parents. Forty guests were presents and
very enjoyable evening was spent. Miss
! Mabel Crothers and c. L. Tilden won the
fayors for the evenings play. Music and
| dancing closed the evenings merriment.
| Oliver Ellsworth. as attorney for Manuel
| Dumenici, has settled satisfactorily with
| the rair Dad in the recent accident in which
| the D0menici children were injured A
| petition signed by a very large number of
| people has been presented TO the Board of
| Supervisors by Julian Jacobus, asking that
| the railroad crossing where the accident oc-
| Cured shall be made safer for those using
| the roadway MRS. l.. r. THANE.
Niles, Feb Il, 1893.