The record-union., 1899-06-16

been 90 great that all the stock obtain
able in any part Of the United States
has been shipped into Los Angeles.
Much of this stock that has been sent
in was the refuse sold by those who
pretended to be fanciers or breeders.
Most of this has been represented to
be thoroughbred and priceless, although
doubtless many good animals have ar
rived here. A large proportion, how
ever, must be improved upon before
purchasers can realize the profits that
can be derived from choice specimens.
This was to be expected, as in every
new industry.
AS an offset to this disadvantage in
the present situation, there have been
a few importations which have cer-
tainly contained some very fine hares.
The prices for these have ranged from
$50 to 500 for a single hare To cap the
climax, w. c. Harris of Commonwealth
avenue, in the west part of town, who
has entered into the hare industry on
q large SCALE has secured from II. A.
Stearns Of Salt Lake City, some very
fancy stock The most conspicuous
animals are Lord Britain ard Beauty
of England, for which Mr. Harris paid
respectively, $3.50 and $50. Mr.. Stearns
who imported these hares from EE-
gland, is doubtless the boidest as we'll
as the most successful of all the breed
ers in the United States Early in the
present year he paid the largest sun.
for five hares ever sent to England
from America. The TWO above men
toned were a part of this importa-
ton. They went through the hands Of
p. E. Crabtree of Denver, Secretary Of
the National Belgian Hare Club, the
most competent judge of Relgians in
this country. He rated Lord Britain
at 95b points out Of possible 100, and
Beauty Of England at 95, and stated
that these are the finest hares that
have ever reached America Two hun
dred and fifty dollars may seem fab
ulous price for a hare, but without
doubt the investment will prove ex-
ceedingly profitableaCne party offers to
breed one hundred. does at $40 each
This will leave handsome profit to the
purchaser, but this sum is less than
one-half the probable annual income
from the buck. 49,.
AS TO FIGS.
Bakersfield Echo: &. NJ. s,eropian of
Seropian Bros, fruit packers Of Fresno,
and who make a specially Of packing
figs, was visitor to town recently Mr..
Seropian came here to see what this
people had in the way Of figs His firm,
he says, has so far this season con-
tracted for $4,000 worth of figs. They
are paying from to 5l1a cents a pound.
In view of the fact that the fig indus
try in this county is small, he did not
find any to contract for, but expects
to return here in short time and Sc
cure, if possible, what there is TO go
on the market.
Mr.. Seropian considers the fig the
most profitable fruit of all for the
California orchardists. He says there
IS good money in them for the grower
even at ~ cents a pound. to say
nothing of the price heeis paying. And
as to the market, he says it is uihim-
tied. --s-s
The great drawback with the figs
grown in California, says Mr. Sere-
plan, has been their tough skin, which
would not permit them, after being
packed, to sugar on the outside and
in consequence the sugar would fer
ment and the fruit become sour. His
firm uses dipping process which en-
tirely obviates this difficulty. OF course
they have their own way of directing
how, the fruit shall be gathered and
dried This information is impaired to
the growers whom the firm patronizes.i
The firm, says Mr.. Seropian, has
great faith in the fig industry, and in
consequence has given much atten-
ton to the study of how to handle the
fig that the American product might
be equal to any in the world They
have sent men to Smyrna to acquire
knowledge how the fruit is handled
there, from whence comes the finest
figs on the market. The white fig is
preferred by the Fresno firm.