Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-16
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I firearms or explosives of some kind While
they were friendly enough on the outside,
they We're active as business rivals. Well.
the day for the decision on the award
came. and had no difficulty in telling, by
the way these men-they had opposite
rooms on the same hall-went to bed,
which got the contract. The way they
handled their shoes. on retiring. explained
the whole business to me. and 1T was con-
fIrmed by what one of them told clerk
| down at the office the next morning. The
same week we had three young fellows
who were here after employment in the
volunteer army as officers. They were all
from the same state. and each backed prac-
tically by the same kind of state political
influence. But one could be selected, and I
told who the fortunate one was by the way
they handled their shoes that night
X X
Although olives are now quite extensive
ly grown in southern California, the bulk
of the edible fruit comes from Spain, from
which country there about 5000 casks
of olives annually imported into the United
States,'' said large importer of olives in
New York to writer for The Star recent
". THE fruit varies in size from 20 to the
nielo, which is 2 10 pounds. up to olives
as large 30 or 20 to the nielo. Very few
olives are nowadays shipped here In bot
ties. They come in casks and are repacked
by the importers in kegs or fancy jars and
bottles for distribution to the retail trade
The olive is very profitable fruit to
grow, inasmuch an orchard of well-de
veloped trees practically requires little or
no care. Its fruit can be gathered and
cared for by the most simple and primitive
means and the oil and pickles easily kept
and transported. 1t is not known how long
a good olive tree will continue to bear fruit
in profitable quantities, but there are to-
day in Spain. Italy and France trees bear
ing beautifully at the age of $50 years. The
olive tree bears equally well in the valley
or on the mountain sides, but those on the
lower ground furnish the finest fruit and
richest oil. The trees yield a large crop
once In two years In the month Of Sep
TENDER the fruit begins to turn blush
black. but 1t is not fully coiored and ripe
till October. 1t is often attacked by small
maggots, such as are found In cherries, and
then 1t falls from the trees; but, though the
olives are partially spoiled, they are picked
off the ground and an inferior kind of Oil
is made from them.
THE consumption of olive oil in this
country amounts to about 100000 gallons
yearly. OF that quantity nearly 100000 gal
Ions Is the product of California and the
remaining $4,000 gallons come from Spain.
Italy and France. Thousands of gallons of
olive oil are adulterated with peanut, cot
ton seed and poppy oil, and the article Is
sold throughout the United States a
cheap substitute for the genuine OIL.
X X X X
There is an enormous crop Of sugar
beets in San Benito county. Cal, this year"
said gentleman who is largely interested
in that product in California to the writer
recently. THE average yield is about
twelve tons acre. which will net $3.50
per ton. AS Illustration of the big
profits that there are in this crop l have
only to refer to three brothers who arrived
in San Benito county early last spring from
Sweden. and as an experiment, rented a
n for =
as the rent. They have raised not less than
eighteen and probably twenty tons of beets
to the acre. The work of cultivation has
been done by the three brothers, with the
assistance of one hired man, and it is esti-
mated that they will make $1,000 this year
above all expenses"