The record-union., 1899-08-18
Fair Oaks
Letter.
Correspondence Record-Union,)

falr Oaks, August IL, 1853.
While for one week no letter came
from this place, Fair Oaks has been full
OF activity making arrangement for
something more than happens in the or
ulnary run of this live community
Many for the first time areA gathering
the fruits of the land, the first fruits.
Trees grown on such soil will, of course,
yield fruit of extraordinary size and
OF first quality. Many in anticipation
of canning the choice fruit, purchased
the necessary fruit jars, and with
commendable pride were looking for
ward to the pleasure they would nave
OF sending to their Eastern friends
samples of fruit gathered from their
own fruit trees scarcely three years
old, but great was the disappointment
to find the usual Mason fruit jar was
too small for even the plums. Mrs.
Londonberg had two trees of the Wix-
en- plum from which she gathered fruit
that it was impossible to can whole,
and Mr.. Londonberg declares he mas
the largest and finest peaches in the
State, but every owner of land sees IN
his own fruit superior to that OF ms
neighborS. But here come some hg-
ures and figures talk and discount
nothing. Mr.. and Mrs. A. c. Chap
man, who live not far from the Four
Gables and own one Of the most at
tractive places in Fair Oaks, have laid
upon the desk of your correspondent q
good sample of their first fruits OF the
land, plucked from trees with less than
three years of good growth. This dis
play tells where the fruit grows.
Ten peaches, a fair sample OF the
civ md -lxalf
pounds, one of the ten measuring eleven
and one-half inches in circumference.
Two of these peaches peeled and sliced
made a generous dish Of most delicious
fruit for three persons. Three apples
weighed two pounds and three ounces,
one measuring in circumference twelve
and one-eighth inches. One dozen of
Japanese plums weighed one pound and
fourteen ounces. The tree that bore
these peaches measures seventeen and
three-fourths inches in circumference
and is fourteen and a half feet high,
and bore this season over five bushels
of such fruit as the above described
peaches. From six trees Mrs. Chap
man will secure 100 pounds peeled dried
fruit. Mr.. Chapman is now gathering
his almonds and estimates that after
.
all they claim, to have for himself 300
pounds.
1t will interest any one to visit this
locality and see what this summer has
done for the fruit and the trees, in
place four years ago covered with
large oaks. John Leonard's pomelo
tree is becoming famous. One gentle
man visited it recently and declared
that it was worth going twenty miles
to see. This tree has had plucked
from it 100 pomelos, and is now carry
ing 100 as fine specimens of this fruit
as ever grew, all Of one size, while the
tree is sending out long shoots of green
leaves which wave like shining plumes
above the clustered fruit below. This
tree is only two years from planting
and four from the bud. But Mr.. Leon
ard has more than one tree Of similar
record. No man who has visited this
lot of trees has ever seen it's equal
George Z. Kings tract presents TO
the view a picture Of rare interest.
While his trees are not all of the same
age and differ much in size, one can
not see a vacant place for a tree, and
the fresh growth makes an effect that
is a genuine delight TO %ny lover of the
beautiful Here one sees what trans
formation four months will make with
trees on good soil.
In respect to size Of tract and uni
formity of growth Mr. O'Nen has un-
questionably a tract of citrus and de-
ciduous trees not equaIed in Fair Oaks.
Such has been the work of this sea-
son in trees and fruit growing that the
question of a larger water main to
Il,
for next year is now the only question
before this community. A committee
met the Water Supply Company last
week and the conference was very sat
isfactory In the next letter readers
viii have full report of what will
be done Just as soon as that pro-
vision for water for all time is made,
thousands of dollars will go into build
ing fine residences.
The transportation question presses
upon the heels of the water question.
Let no one think that there is a water
famine here. Water in abundance is
waiting to come, and the residents are
anxious to pay for a liberal use OF It.
so some way will be found to bring
the two appropriate ends together. But
next and almost Immediately, the
bridge question viii have to be settled
and some means Of quick and easy pas
sage TO and from Sacramento made.
Mr. Phelan, a man of push and direct
ness, who is looking eagerly to Fair
Oaks for his home evidently reads the
Record Union" and takes stock in the
''fancies" which become realities to
Fair Oaks dwellers, writes as follows;
Il am so confident of the early use and
practicability of the automobile that
do not care a rap for the failure TO
secure an interest in the electric road.
1t is the coming thing and will put
out any other form of transits because
of the convenience and cheapness. 1t
requires nothing but a good or even
fair road and in this case bridge.
The Fair oaks Grange is to have a
special meeting the coming Saturday
evening, when a large number Of younS
people. and most of them ladies. Will
take the first and second degrees. 1t
IS the purpose to have very large
class ready for the next Saturday fol-
lowing. to take the third and fourth