The herald., 1897-06-14

!: POSSIBILITIES IN CALIFORNIA F;


Soon after my arrival on the coast I
was sitting one evening in the lobby of
well-known hotel chatting with circle
of new acquaintance. Our conversa-
ton. quite naturally. drifited on the prod
ucts of California and the great resources
of the state.
l had just remarked about my disap-
pointment in seeing SO little in the way
of fruit and vegetables that were really
above the ordinary size; my expectations
in this direction had been rather large.
A venerable looking gentleman, who
had been sitting near US, drew his chair
closer. and after apologizing for his in
trusion, he said: Having overheard
your remarks about seeing nothing bu,
small fruit and vegetables 1 felt that you
would pardon me If related few facts
about what has been grown in this part
of the country, for don't like to see new
corners deceived or disappointed by any
false reports.
I'm earlier days only the most favor
able localities were cultivated, and some
of the enthusiasts who had come out
here from the cold and barren east
rushed things so hard that they pro-
duced products that were of no use to
anybody. With a better understanding
of the surrounding conditions they have
now reduced the size and improved the
quality.
when I first came here I saw many
things that were astonishing. They say
that in Dakota, for instance, they can
not raise squash, because the vines grow
| kha och O nf
dragging 1t over the ground. Here the
squash grows SO fast that the vines
couldn't drag 1t. The result would be
that the vine would coil up around the
squash and choke it to death or spoil it
from too much shade. The only way
they could raise any was to have man
go around twice day and pull the vines
into position or cut them whenever nee
essary. With pumpkins and melons
there was the same trouble.
Some attempted to raise beets, but un-
less the soil was very firm they had 10
stay them with guy ropes to keep them
from turning over. On one small ranch
I saw some of them used as wind
break, but that experiment proved a
failure, for one night when the wind was
blowing hard, several Of them broke
their moorings and crushed large num-
ber of sheep that had sought refuge ba-
hind them. One Of the largest beets
saw was near an old stage station,
where they had it arranged in such a
way that they used 1t for watch-tower.
Any of the travellers over that road
could tell you about Beet station, as 1t
was called. But the jackrabbits finally
got the best of this place, for they gnaw-
ed about the roots so much that they de-
stroyed it, The station agent frequently
killed as many as 100 in one night, but he
had to give up the unequal contest and
let his lookout go.
"One Of the most unique ranches ever
saw was in a little valley of about ten
acres, entirely surrounded by the noun
tains, where the soil was exceedingly
rich and water plentiful, but situated
| as it was, it was almost impossible to get
lumber into it, and the thrifty German
who lived there with his little family
was obliged to depend upon nature to
supply most of his needs. Thinking the
possibilities of the soil unlimited, he had
made efforts, in certain directions, to
see what he could do. Under the shade
of some large trees he had hauled thres
pumpkins close together and secured
them by a suitable foundation. These
he had carefully followed out leaving
comparatively thin shell which the
dry, warm air had rendered as hard as
boards.
zone Of these they used for their Sleep
ing rooms. properly partitioned. An
other was formed into sitting room
and dining room, while the third formed
their kitchen and storeroom, the smoke
from their stove finding exit through the
center Of the dried stem. Near the house
I saw the dog coming out Of peculiar
looking kennel, and was more than as
tonished to find that it was the shell of a
potato. In replying to inquiries my hos.
told me that what they wanted for their
own use in the way of these supplies they
had to gather when they were suitable
size, and what they wanted for buildings
they gave longer time and especial cul-
tivation. He said he had tried to raise
peaches, but that the fruit grew so large
and rapidly that 1t usually fell out OF it's
skin, and the result did not pay for the
trouble.
'"Finding that the sun was getting low
we went for my burro and found that he
had satisfied his voracious appetite on
what I was told was a single kernel of
corn. After I had bid my host and his
family farewell and started toward my
destina ton could but wonder what the
possibilities were for the asriculturist
in California
"You will find, sir, that although the
methods and products have changed
some in character that it is still one
of the most wonderful states in
| the world that truth Is stranger than
fiction But it is getting late now and I
will bid you good evening.
you investigate the country thor
oughly, and before you locate anywhere
be sure and get your information from
reliable sources" M. G. j.
| FIREPROoF BUILDING WOOD