The record-union., 1899-10-02

planning, yet if nothing goes wrong
this year they will pull out.
"It is true that we are having great
difficulty in carrying the freight that
is being offered to us. 1t is the same
in the through as we'll as local freight
1t simply means a prosperous year,
and you can say that there is not
railroad west Of Chicago which is not
experiencing the same trouble. We
would gladly borrow cars from any of
our connections, but they are in the
same position as we are.
The freight has not piled up on us
so badly that we have been unable TO
move it. There is not a freight car idle
on our system, nor is there one likely
to be for a long time to come
WHEAT PROSPECTS.
San Jose Herald: Our Counsel at
Chemnitz, Germany, Mr.. Monaghan, IN
a. report to the State Department,
sounds a note of alarm as to the pros
pect of Siberia becoming a formidable
competitor of the United States in the
wheat markets of the world, on the
completion of the Transasiatic Ran
road. Mr.. Monaghan's station is a
long way from Siberia, and he PROB
ably writes from hearsay. John W..
Bookwalter of Ohio recently made
tour over the Siberian Railway, care
fully examined the country, people,
means of transportation, movements Oh
population, government projects 1or
improvements, etc. He found that the
Government is disposed to shield the
older districts of the empire from the
too violent competition of new Siberian
lands. which will restrain the rapidlty
of settlement and production. 1t Will
not be easy to dispossess the Tartars
who hold much of the steppes for
pastoral pursuits, and will resist agr1>
cultural settlement. The Russian race
is increasing at the rate of 2UO,OuU
year; the cultivable lands OF European
Russia. are pretty closely worked up,
and it will require an annual increase
of from 100000 to 100000 acres
to meet the advance in population. ne
therefore concludes that for many
years to come the Siberian wheat crop
can have no sensible effect upon prices
in the worlds markets. And to this
the fact that the rapid increase OF the
United States in urban population and
varied industries will from year 10
year enlarge the domestic grain mar
ket. and it may be safely predlcteo
that American wheat farmers need not
worry themselves much about the III
t1re of their industry, despite Consul
Monaghan's advices to the State de-
partment-
BEE KEEPING.
Yuba City Independent: During
conversation had with J. H. Erich OF
Nicolaus we were surprised to learn
of the extent of bee culture in this
county. Mr.. Erich says we have the
banner bee county this year and that
more honey is shipped to San Francisco
at present than from any other county
in the State. By way of showing US
the value of the output he told us that
at present there are 1000 stands OF
bees in the county and 400 more Will
soon be brought to Dry Creek. Nine
hundred stands were brought up from
Los Angeles and Bakersfield this year
on account of the past dry years. The
comb honey will net SO in the San
Francisco market and strained money
will bring 615 cents pound and twice
as much honey can be raised by using
the combs over again-the strained
honey being extracted by centrifugal
process which does not destroy the
comb. 1t can easily be seen that a
revenue of $4,000 or more will soon
be coming into Sutter County on ac-
count of this industry alone.
Mr.. Erich says bees can be raised Ill
along the Sacramento and Feather
Rivers and that the heretofore useless
tules are now a paradise for honey
men. The tules and the banks of the
rivers have of late years become, COW
cred with a species of wild clover
which Mr.. Erich calls carpet grass"
and the name is a good one as the lit
tie flowers cover the ground like a
carpet, and from this flower the finest
kind of honey is made, being clear as
crystal and Of good flavor. The Nico-
laus honey is known in the city mar
kets as carpet grass honey" and al
ready they are unable to supply the
demand.
The origin of this carpet grass is in
doubt, but it very likely came from the
mountains of Plumas and Butte Coun-
ties. being carried down by the waters
of Feather River and soon obtained g
foothold along the banks. After each
period of high water the surrounding
tule lands became covered with it and
as it is a very hardy plant and grows
vigorously that country is now almost
completely covered with these little
white flowers. Drouth does not seem to
injure it and even the sturdy Bermuda
grass is fast disappearing before the
encroachments of this honey plant.
Mr.. Erich has been in the honey busi-
ness for twent-five years, sixteen of
which he has spent in this county. He
has given the matter great attention
and is now a master of the art. At
present he has three apiaries and will
soon establish another and his income
is one which many a large farmer
might be proud of. We believe if ev-
cry farmer would add honey TO his
other sources of income, it would prove
very profitable.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.