The morning call., 1893-09-18
PROFITABLE CROPS.
Tomatoes and Beets Near Niies-The
Cork Tree.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL

CORK Tree.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALI.
Among the very many successful crops
grown in this county the tomato crop
should not be overlooked Fully 1000
acres are i'll tomatoes this year on the bay
side of the hills. They are just now being
harvested, and are selling for 30 and 90
cents forty-pound box From 200 to 800
boxes, according to the season. can be
grown to the acre, and the net returns are
extremely satisfactory. The most of the
work IS done by Chinese or Portuguese.
The vines are never irrigated, but the
ground requires good deal of cultivation
and as the vines spread the last one or
two cultivatings must be done by hand.
Most OF the great tomato fields are near the
bay, beyond, in fact, che line of good fruit
land, and along the borders of the creek,
on good rich river bottom land. 1t would
be hard matter for our grandparents to
recognize in the great smooth glowing
luscious tomato of to-day the small taste
less "lOve apple" of the fower-gardens of
their childhood days. From an ornamental
annual of fifty years ago it has come to be
one of the most widely used vegetables.
and lends itself to a greater variety Of
methods of preparation for the table than
any other vegetable.
Sugar beets are being dug and the crop
promises TO be very good. The amount
grown to the acre varies decidedly in the
section in which it is grown, five tons to
the acre being the smallest amount. twelve
tons being a large crop. Over $500 acres
are in sugar beetS this year in this county,
about 200 being over in the Livermore
Valley.
Every new industry added to country
enricheS it. The idea has never been
suggested, / believe, of growing cork trees
for commerce in this State There seems
to be 10 good reason why they would not
prove of great commercial value. Some
where In the southern part of the State
few trees have been planted and are doing
remarkably well. They do not require
such rich soil or an unusual amount of
care, only water in plenty. In Spain,
wnere they are grown principally, they
prove splendid source of revenue not
only to their owners but 10 the Govern
ment. They are grown under Government
protection, as it were, the time of cutting
and amount cut being regulated by law,
and a certain percentage of the amount
cut reverts TO the Government. The nrst
cutting takes place when the trees are
three years old, ana the older the tree the
better the quality of cork. The tree lives
TO very great age. No known substance
can take the place of the genuine cork,
and the very many uses 10 which it is put
would surprise the casual reader. The
trees are as rule grown beside streams.
Peaches. apricOts. silver and German
prunes are finished and out of the way,
but French prunes are still being dried.
The season has been so very cool and dull
that farmers are glad indeed to have their
work safely over. Large quantities of late
peaches are grown in this valley, and the
prices have advanced so much in the mar
kets during the past week that tie most OF
them are being sent in. Being of fine
quality they realize good prices-from 80
to 20 cents box.
Almost all the dried fruit in this section
has been sold. Royal apricots sold for SO
cents, Moorpark for 10 cents, unpealed
peaches for cents aud pealed for II
cents. Those who are able or willing To
hold their dried fruit few weeks longer
will doubtless receive better prices. No
prunes have yet been sold; prices. how
ever. range FROM AZ cents for French
prunes, 3b cents for German prunes and
cents for silver prunes. Farmers prefer
to sell to BUYERS who come around. pro-
vided prices are as good as if they sell in
bulk. There is little chance of complaint.
as there may be after they have sacked
and shipped them in.
Sept. 10. 1893. Mrs. j. E. THANE.