The herald., 1897-03-13
News and Com mment
exchanges

News and Comment
Some of our horticultural exchanges
are demanding that high tarin be
placed on bananas, alleging that they
come into direct competition with Call
tornia citrus and deciduous fruits. The
effect upon the local fruit market, 1t
seems to us, is too insignificant to war
rant serious consideration.
The silk-cotton tree is now being sent
out by the California experiment sta
tions for trial in some of the warmer
districts of the interior valleys. The
fiber known as silk-cotton Is the pro-
duct of the tree Eriodendron anfractuo-
sum. 1t is a native of India, and can be
expected to flourish only in sections that
are absolutely frostless.
1t is safe to say that there are more
cows in California which produce less
than 250 pounds of butter per annum
than there are that produce more. Yet
there are some which produce from 800
to 400 Jersey Signals Lily Flag. owned
in the east, produced 1045 pounds in one
year, while the Holstein cow Pauline
Paul produced 1853.
Two men have bought a 45-acre tract
near Santa Rosa in this state, with
view of converting II into poultry
farm. Financially speaking, the hen Is
mighty uncertain bird when raised In
large numbers, and the outcome OF the
watched with interest.
The California jackrabbit Is seldom
found at an elevation of more than 5000
feet. 1t avoids the dark, damp redwood
forests of the coast, and seldom invades
the cooler districts OF the mountains.
They breed from two to three times pei
annum and have from two to siv In q
litter. The period Of CESSATION Is about
thirty days.
1t is a well-known fact that Japanese
paper Is the best in the world for fine
engraving. The paper is made from the
bast of several plants. the three princi-
pal varieties Of which are the Mitsuma,
Koza and Gampi. All these grow on the
poorest soil and might be very properly
introduced upon the rocky portions OF
our California foothill lands.
Raisins sold last year In Fresno for
51a cents, Z. O. b. In Washington. d. c..
they command at retail 30 cents per
pound The difference between the two
figures represents more largely what
properly belongs to the producer than
the sum which should properly be con-
sumed In the payment OF frieght and
commissions.
The knowledge Of the fertilizing ele-
nent or elements to apply upon GER
tain field that the very best results
may be obtained at the least cost Is
greatly to be desired by every tiller OF
the soil. A chemical analysis Will not
always give the desired information. A
careful trial of the various fertilizing
elements is the only safe guide.
There should be law requiring that
every package Of flower or vegetable
seed offered for sale should be dated.
OF course nothing but government su-
pervision would insure the correctness
of such dates. but the abuses OF the
hour demand stringent measures.
The effect of the combination OF fruit
box makers is already noticeable IN
prices asked. An advance OF very rev
cents per box means an immense IN
crease in the aggregate profit OF the
dealers, which in many cases comes
from the pocket OF the packers.
The prune-pricking machines have
evidently come to stay. Although the
first machines were crude and slow, the
advantages gained were in excess or the
disadvantages, and economy Will no
doubt in the end cast the deciding vote
in favor of pricking.
There is no state east OF the Missis-
sippi, and very few west of 1t. where all
falfa thrives as 1t does In California.
1t Is one of our most valuable foods for
dairy ration, and in proper soil, with
irrigation, is always profitable.
1t has been stated that a soil that 10
SIS per cent pure sand is phylloxera-
proof. Vines In such soils. of course.
require heavy fertilization. and will
Yield crops Of an inferior quality.
The New York agricultural station at
Geneva has demonstrated that hens will
consume 20 per cent more food for the
same production when fed whole
grain instead Of ground grain.
There seems to be no good reason
why milk may not be frozen and sold
in brick form. There are but few lo-
calities, however, where such q course
il either necessary or profitable.
AS long as the raisin growers Of Eu-
rope can lay their product in New York
at a freight rate of So per ton, while
California growers must pay from $27
industry languish.
Select a hillside rather than a hollow
for an orchard every time, providing
the slope is not too great and the soil
has not been all washed away.
Apples will not thrive In soil that u
very dry and sandy. nor in one that %
very heavy and wet. They like high,
strong. we'll drained ground.
In 1888 the average yield Of sugar
beets in the Pajaro district was but
679 tons. In 1896 the average was
14.6 tons.
r. w. Blackmore, in the New York
Tribune, states that weevils will not
trouble cereals that have been soaked IN
strong salt water.
Concentration and control win do more
to insure good prices for fruit than In
dividuaI effort, however wise.
It seldom pays to rent an orchard 70
a white man. 1t never pays to rent one
to q Chinaman.
In roadmaking 1t always pays to have
the best.
At the the great Minnesota butter sheW
alfalfa butter took the prize.
To Cure Cold In 0ss Day
| Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets.
| All druggists refund the money Il It
| (.t1s N 0,1ra 2kc