The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-09
ALAMEDA NOTES.
The Need of Spring Rains
at This Time.
An Insect That Destroys the Buds.
Preparing for Alameda County
Day at the Fair.

NILES, April z, 1S94.-Take up almost
any of the many Eastern agricultural jour-
nails and you will find them full of the
advertisements of commission men. You
will find, too, that the reading matter con-
sists almost entirely of Information con-
corning their side of the business, of or
CARNATIONS for the protection OF their in
terests, or of produce exchanges, or fruit
trade unions. What for? All for the
purpose OF controlling prices or markets. so that
the real producer shall be compelled TO sell his
products at prices which are set for him.
The relation of supply and demand does not
enter largely in the buying prices which these
commission men endeavOr TO establish. but is
the great factor in fixing the selling prices. So
true Is this that it Is almost universal fact
that commission merchants, especially In GER
tain lines OF goods, are becoming buyers out
right, and it is to the advant age OF the farmer
as the matter now stands, that he Is. There
are so many "combi nes' that the farmer who
sells his dried frui for instance, for a lump
sum to a commissi0 n-house will do better than
II he sold upon commission.
It must not be suppost d, however, that grow
ers are idle. little leaven ieaveneih the whole.
and In almost every fruit center there are
"Fruit-g growers unions" or organizations of
some kind, some OF hem small ana weak, but
a working together for the good of the farmer.
governed exactly by the amount OF the supply
aud demand, less The legitimate commission.
Many growers contend that the prices should
also be governed by the value OF the land; false
argument, as the prices OF land are regulated
by the nearDess TO market and producta bIlity.
Farmers are re aliZng more and more the need
for mutual help, and are associatiDg themselves
together, not 10 corner the markets, because
from the very magnitude of the industry that
would be impossible, but to compel prices to
bear certain fair ratio to supply and demand.
The mornings have been very damp for he
last few days. doing almost as much good as a
slight shower. Every shower, however slight,
will be most welcome. Fruit Will hardly suffer
here. but grain will need more spring rains or
cattle will suffer and the hay crop be short
There Is every reason to believe, TOO, that there
will be very few spring aims, If any.
A glance al The records since 40 shows that
in all the years when February has been wet
and March dry as this season there have been
few or no spring rains. Hay has already ad-
yanced 10 Sill 90 per ton In this neighborhood,
and will reach very much higher price than
that. The few who have good crops will profit.
but everybody else Will pay for it.
New potatoes are selling now at cents, but
as soon as this crop Is gone 1t Is likely that
lost during the heavy rains, and the supply will
soon run out.
II is likely that within year Oakland will be
supplied with waller from the splendid artesian
wells al Alyarado. They were purchased some
time ago from Mr.. Granger, the original owner
and discOverer of the wells, by a company of
Oakland capitalists, and the contract has been
let for 16-me conduit. This new enter
prise will make things lively in That part Of the
county for some time.
II is almost 100 early to predict future crops
Still, peaches, cherries and prunes promise
we'll; apricots, the Moor park variety, which
are as large as beans, are dropping, as are the
earlier varieties of almonds. The walnut tassel
is also falling before the Dut-bud has been
polenized. aud there will probably be no wal
nuts.
With regard to certain varieties OF fruit,
notably apricots and almonds, which fail in
certain varieties year after year, bearing a
heavy crop but every fourth or fifth year. II is
foolish not 10 graft Immediately. Orcbardists
who have grated extensively for two or three
years past have noticed the loss Of quite per-
centage after the bud has well started. IL is
caused by tiny fly which lays its eggs next
the dormant bud; II matches into tiny gruD
which eating into he tender shoot destroys IT,
In some laTts OF the State the same insect has
attacked whole trees, doing a great deal Of
damage. SO far only almonds and peaches are
attacked here. The remedy Is to dust with
sulphur In The early morning while the dew is
SIN on the tree.
There is an unprecedented amount OF sick.
ness about. Measles and scarlet fever are both
In town, and several cases of diphtheria with
several deaths have occurred 10 the Mission
San Jose. SO far the dread disease has be n
confined TO the one town. wi b an isolated case
10 Newark. The stringent laws which enforce
quarantine have much TO do with the combining
OF the disease to one section. as they are Gu
forced most decidedly by our efficient health
officer, DIR. @. II. Allen OF CentrevIlle.
The members OF The baseball team OF our
township. q. Il. s. No. 2, are enthusiastic over
the prospect OF playing on the recreation
grounds at the MldWlnter Fair on Alameda