The record-union., 1899-06-01

great ranches Of California but are
mortgaged, and few owners but would
sell to a buyer or an army of buyers
were an occasion to present itself
This being the case, it is time to stop
cussing the big rancher, who, by the
way has served a very useful purpose
in California, and look about US for
men to till the small farms into which
we would divide their holdings. 1t IS
noticeable that when any colonizing
scheme is on hand, the east or Europe
Is expected to furni Sh the colOn1Sts.
Our own people gravitate to the cities,
and it must be said that while there
is in California to-day need for small
farms, there is no great demand for
them by California people who want
to farm them. Our people are not look
ing for farms to buy; they are looking
for means Of gaining a livelihood away
from farms, and some method should
be discovered of changing the current
so it will no longer flow in a steady
and constantly swelling stream from
country to city. Get the people back
upon the land,'' says a leading irriga-
zionist, and this is what must be done.
Until the people desire to own and
will not be subdivided, and abundant
evidence exists that the time is not
yet, in the fact that there is still large
tracts of good land open to purchase
in tracts to suit the purchaser and at
prices that cannot fail to be satisfac-
tory to a practical farmer. Create in
the people a desire to own and cult
vate small farms, a frugal and indus
trious spirit, and the big ranches will
not stand in their way. California can
provide the farms to-day; what she
needs is the farmers
FLOWERS AS DISINFECTANTS.
New York Tribune: The power Of
plants in absorbing all decaying ami
NAL and vegetable matter, which would
otherwise infect the atmosphere, need
not be dwelt upon. Frost and sun
shine both assist to the same end, but
without abundant plant growth they
would be powerless to render the at
mosphere fit to breathe. Every blade
of grass that grows by the doorway,
even the sprays of the humble door
weed that spring up in otherwise bar
rem places, where even grass will not
grow, and all yerdure in its degree
serve the purpose of purifying the air
and converting the unwholesome things
which may be a menace to life into
health and beauty. 1t is only short
time since plants have been generally
cultivated for their flowers. A few
gorgeous plants have been grown in
the vicinity of palaces and royal dwell
ing places from unknown time, but the
democracy of flowers which levels pal
ace and cottage is of modern date. The
poor man had no briar rose Chamber
ing over his cottage, unless it grew
there spontaneously, and when it did
there was no precedent for him to
preserve it.
The abundance. of the trees. vines
and plants cultivated in the vicinity
of cottages in Europe not only brings
its reward in fruit and vegetable food,
but actually makes the air more
wholesome to breathe and protects the
cottage from the otherwise scorching
rays of the sun. Cultivate the blooming
vines and flowers of all kinds around
tbs kitchen door, because they are
wholesome as we'll as beautiful A neat
housekeeper can be recognized more
certainly by the neat appearance of
the back door than by any ornate front
door with shining knobs and escutch-
cons.