The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-13
PACIFIC COAST FARMS.
Review of Agricultural Condi-
tons in CALIFORNIA;
Counties.
FIELD, ORCHARD AND VINEYARD
Notes of Interest From Valley, Plain
and Foothill Homesteads and
Ranches.

The morning-glory is not regarded in the
light that its name would imply by the
orchardist and vineyardist, upon whose
land it has become a pest that is hard to
eradicate. Orchardists are now studying
methods of killing it off. Senator B. F.
Langford of Lodi advises the use of
weed-cutter. He says: 81 planted an or
chard seven years ago last spring and parts
of the land were covered with morning
glory. / ran my weed-cutter, over the
patches every Monday morning from six
to eight inches deep from the 1st of April
to November, which entirely killed it out.
The next year fresh seed, which was still
in the ground, sprouted and the pest
would have been equally bad had l not
started my weed-cutter. 1t does not
spread from the roots, but comes from the
seed, it being scattered by the plow."
A Chicago cattle-buyer being interviewed
by reporter OF the Pendleton East Orego-
MAN few days ago stated that the cattle
supply of this country was 375, 900 head
short. Prices of fed cattle are good dollar
higher than they were year ago. Continu-
ing, the buyer said: 81 would like to say
to the people of this section-raise cattle
and sheep and hogs. Raise lots of them.
Let every one help along the industry.
but raise grain to feed with the hay. You
people cannot raise too many cattle. If
grain prices are too low you can feed the
grain and drive it to market and get good
prices in the shape OF beef, mutton and
pork"
E. T. Kellner of Phoenix, Ariz., is the
largest grower of alfalfa in that Territory
and says: ITO show what the soil of the
valley will do when irrigated I will give an
example of my alfalfa patch. 1 have 1000
acres in q body, all sown to alfalfa, and
this pays me clean cash $4,000 year.
Fruit has its drawbacks in caring, packing,
shipping and dozen other vexatious de-
tails; but my alfalfa patch goes right along
without trouble, netting me more clean
cash than any other of my investments.
Strikes may come and go, markets may
t1uctuate, scale and pests may eat out
orchards, banks may burst and mines
peter out, but my alfalfa patch goes on
forever"
We stir up the soil often in the summer
that we may retard the evaporation of
moisture, but the amount of moisture
checked in this way is small compared
with that which is taken from the soil by
an ordinary growth of weeds. Therefore,
the killing of the weeds by the pillow is of
vastly more importance in conserving
moisture than is the mere stirring of the
soil.-American Agriculturist.
The country in and around Fallbrook. in
San Diego County, is rather typical
Southern California section, says the Los
Angeles Times. 1t embraces 10000 acres
1000 of which are vigorously cultivated.
There are 3072 stands of bees. This rich
agricultural district is operated by popu-
lation OF only &c.,
The Logan berry now ranks among the
successes in small fruit culture 1t is a
cross between the raspberry and wild
blackberry, is very large and is finely fla
vored. 1t bears more heavily and requires
less water than any other small fruit, and
certainly offers quite field in the way of
berry culture.
Colostrum, or the first milk after calving,
should not be sent to make either cheese
or butter. Not until the fifth day does the
milk become normal. Previous TO this it
contains high percentage of albumen,
which Is OF no use to either the cheese or
the butter maker, but it is decided him
drance.
Reports from the various fruit sections
of the State indicate that pear and apricot
crops are very light; apples, average crop;
olives, an abundant yield; prunes, so per
cent short; cherries, half a crop; citrus
fruits, outlook favorable; small fruits
abundant; grapes give splendid promise.
Women are suited to pouItry-raising,
but it is not beneath the attention of
strong men, if it is to be made business.
Cash is the stimulant ever behind it, and
the hens supply their daily quota, besides
having something coming in every day in
the future.
The size of the egg has something to do
with its value. but as rule it is not of so
much Importance to the buyer as is a
clean, pure she'll Every customer will in
preference take that which pleases his
eye; appearance will even create want.
Scientific analysis tells US that there is
as much nutriment in a new-laid egg as
in four-ounce mutton chop. 1t is I'M
wise, therefore, to neglect the fowls and
feed them nothing but worthless screen
ings. The birds must more than live.
The Missojen wheat is bearded and is
Hessian-fy proof. 1t is good variety,
and considering that the Hessian fly has
played havoc with wheat-felds in the East
it is well to know that wheat may be
grown that this pest cannot destroy.
Cassabana, a cucumber-like edible fruit,
req IN cOlOr, Is an lnulan plant tnat IS be-
ing grown as an experiment at the State
University farm. 1t is said to make an ex-
cellent table dish. The plant will flourish
in Southern California.
AS an early grain of fine quality the
Australian wheat takes a prime station.
1t ripens in advance of the varieties now
commonly sown in this State, and seed
from it is being sent to whatsoever may
apply for it.
Good Seed.
Comparatively few farmers seem to re-
alize the importance of carefully selected
and well-cleaned seeds, says Dwight Her
rick, in the New York Tribune. Espe-
cially is this so of the cereals-wheat oats
and rye. Usually the seed is sown just as
it came from the thresher, with its light
grain and noxiouS weed seeds. By run
ming through a fanning-mill the light
grain and most of the weed seed can be
separated from the better grain; this, at
least, should be done. But to improve a
variety of grain great care must be taken
to secure the best-formed heads, the
DlIlm nest kernels from the stiffest stra "