The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-29

flower of California, but when the bill is
passed by the legislators decreeing it such
let be under the simple understandable
name wild poppy" The ugly name
eschscholtzia was the cause of Governor
Budd's pocketing the late sessions bill on
the subject, but it is with the fair valley of
Livermore that this article deals.
About an hours ride from the Oakland
mole through picturesque Niles Canyon
which is always filled with campers and
tourists during the summer months-past
lovely Sunol and the travel emerges into
Livermore Valley. The first town OF this
district is appropriately named Pleasan-
ton. The air is clear, the heavens blue, no
salt sea winds can pass through the Coast
Range of mountains that lie off to the west
and separate Livermore Valley, thirty-five
miles from the shores of San Francisco
Bay,with its great metropolis and thriving
sister city, Oakland, on either side.
Pleasanton, with its 1000 or more inhab-
itants, is a pretty town, with streets Dor
dered with shade trees. But the glory of
California is the country. The country
about Pleasanton has a moist soil that is
very fertile. Grain, hops. sugar beets, veg
etables, are especially adapted to this soil,
which is an alluvial sediment. Fruit and
vines are wonderful success on the roll
ing ground and the foothills. Sunshine
and the absence of rough winds bring the
grapes to perfection. Some of the best
wine made in this State is from the vine
yards of the Livermore country. Ruby
Hill vineyard, owned by the Crellin fam
lily, is the largest in the immediate vicinity
of Pleasanton. There are 225 acres planted
in choice vines. There is a winecellar, a
substantial three-story brick building, with
a capacity of 300, 600 gallons. A distilIery
is connected with the vineyard, where all
wine not up to the highest test is made
into brandy.
They bottle and label their own wines as
a rule. During last season their sales
amounted to 10000 gallons of wine and
1000 gallons of brandy.
The acreage planted in sugar beets in
creases each year, and well it may, as the
beets grown in the soil of this locality con-
tain very large percentage of sugar and
are consequently in demand at the nearest
refinery, Alvarado.
During 1894, LII, 120 tons were shipped
from the Pleasanton Station. The price
paid for the beats was 81 ton when
loaded on the cars, or So when delivered at
Alvarado. When it is considered that the
average yield per acre is from IS to 80 tons,
the conclusion is that sugar-beets can be
proftably grown in the rich bottom lands
near town. As the United States is as yet
unable to produce more than a small frac-
ton of the sugar consumed within its
boundaries, there is no fear of oyer-pro-
duction in the sugar-beet line.
The raising of hops is an important in
dustry in this locality, the soil and eli
mate being peculiarly well adapted. There
are no failures in crops as in Washington,
Oregon, and in the English hop-felds OF
Kent.
The Pleasanton Hop Company, of which
P. H. Lilienthal of San Francisco is the
president, has $50 acres planted in hops.
They have adopted the system OF treIlising,
the poles being IS feet high. TIE system
surpasses, and Is now superseding all 9th
ers, SO says Mr.. Davis, the intelligent and