The morning call., 1893-04-24
POTATOES AND POEMS.
Subjects Which Interest the Good
PeOUIe Of Niles

Correspondence Of THE MORNING CALL
The first potatoes that were grown extern
sively for the San Francisco markets we're
planted and grown within half mile OF
the town Of Niles as far back as the year
1876. The seed was brought from the
Sandwich Islands. Fortunes were made in
selling them, dollar a pound being moth
ing unusual to ask of the city merchants,
who sent their soops mp from San Fran
cisco TO buy vegetables and fruit at the
Mission. When the stream o miners began
to flow out from San Francisco. they were
charged more than the dollar a pound, and
paid ii gladly too.
The rich bottom land on either side of
the Alameda Creek in the neighborhood of
Alvarado grows the best potatoes sent
into the markets from any of the bay
counties. The land is plowed and planted
late, and ricn midsummer potato is
raised; the land Is so wet aud subject 10
overflow that early potatoes cannot be
raised.
Potatoes are now being dug in the valley
lands which lie close to the hills, but late
potatoes cannot be grown there, as they
Will become wOrmy.
The money made now in potatoes is made
by the Portuguese, who raise this most
necessary tuber upon the most inaccessible
hillsides; in very favorable years they are
able to dig them quite soon after the holi-
days; this year they began digging the
middle of March.
There is a small crop, and upon some {
the sleeper northern slopes the crop is a
failure Several renters Will do well to get
enough to eat. The long continued spring
storms rotted thousands of pounds that
were planted, or washed them out of the
ground, necessitatiug a second planting
Peas have been shipped for more than q
month; the crop is good
The LanguedOc almonds are dropping
badly, there will be a short crop this
season.
The MoOrpark aprfcots are a slack crop.
as usual, but the Blen helm and Royal varie-
ties are fair crop. The prices promise To
be up. and the returns will be-, no doubt, up
to the average, with less work and expense
In harvesting.
About 1000 acres will be put into sugar
bests this coming season, and the land is
now being put into condition.
Farmers have had more trouble this wear
than Tor ten years In getting their land into
good condition. Some pieces have had to
be plowed third time, narrowed, sledded.
cultivated, etc, time after time, and yet the
work Is not done, as every shower will
make more work.
Mrs. Il. A. Mayhem gave delightful
luncheon last Saturday afternoon in bopor
of Mrs. Albert Fischer (nee MOrtimer(
The parlors were decorated with EXQUISITE
taste by Mrs. G. B. Overacker Seventy
guests were present. and all were seated
at Greek, Roman or French tables, and be.
came Tor the time characters from Grecian.
Shakespearian or other plays. After lunch
curious or rare treasures were displayed by
each guest, who had been requested to give
description OF the article which she tuok.
the lady giving the best description of the
most curious thing to receive a prize.
Mrs. Edward Clarke won the first prize.
she had piece OF Scotch heather n niece
oil silver ere from an Irish nine and a curl
Gus Irish harp made of black oak. Her
description of the articles and the places
where she obtained them was very fine. She
closed with a selection from Tom Noore's
Meeting of the Waters"
Music and singing filled the afternoon.
Among the curious things were n sword
from the war of 1872, tattered flag carried
at the battle OF Gettysburg, a seal taken
from the garments of n mummy exhumnd
from the catacombs of Nuremberg. and a
copy OF the nrst newspaper ever published
in America.
Four delegates from Niles-Rey. f. II.
Maar and the Misses Amy Kerren Nav
Lamb and Nellie SweeU-are in attendance
at the State S. c. h. convention now being
held in Fresno.
The Odd Fellows of this valley are antici-
patlng delightful picnic next Wednesday.
the 10Th. at the picnic grounds in the
canyon.
Our storekeeper and postmaster w. T.
Dickey, has sold his business to Murphy 81
Brlsco, the new firm in town, and expects
10 leave for the East. We shall no dOpbt
have new postmaster very soon.
MRS l.. L. THANE
Niles, April q. 1893.