The record-union., 1899-10-26
Fair Oaks
Letter
Correspondence Record-Union.)

FAIR OAKS, Oct. 25.-The Farm
ers' Institute held here on the day and
evening of the 17th was a very in
teresting and profitable affair Pro-
fessor Fowler, always interesting, was
not less so before the audience which
had come to learn. The institute held
in the spring had made the fruit grow
ers of Fair Oaks eager to learn more
after having reviewed the lessons in
horticulture which We're taught them
at the first institute.
Professor Bioletti, in treating of the
topic assigned to him, was no less in
structive. One thing was to be regret
ted. The committee on local matters
| arranged to have grape culture a
topic for the benefit of Orangevale
growers. Two very interesting and
valuable lectures were given to the
vine, and only four persons from
| Orangevale came TO hear them. This
| institute was not so well attended as
| the one in the spring by farmers in
| the country and by the neighboring
communities. Fair Oaks, however, did
as well as she did last spring. They
| got great good, and some found out
some things which they would not
miss having for any reason.
! Another institute is asked for, to be
| held next spring.. Our Board of Re
| gents Of the University can do no bet
| ter than to send out among the pro-
| ducers of food their best instructors
This university extension is of ines
| timable Importance, and is fully appre-
| ciated by Fair Oaks. There. is no in
| dustry that requires a better judg-
ment nor a more careful examination
of the conditions of success and more
far-reaching planning for the future
than the fruit grower. Hence let the
State provide for the training in this
| line of work.
| The recent abundant rains have done
| much to help the people of this local
ity. Feed in a few days will be
| abundant; the soil is ready for hay and
grain, sowing and clearing land can
! begin at once. The season will be an
| unusually busy one. Plans are made
/ for planting many orange trees next
! spring, and many IN the East are anx-
| iously looking to this place for a home.
and viii be here just as soon as pend
! ing matters, such as the bridge, water,
mail service are determined
! Fair Oaks Grange at its last meet
| ing after the regular business had been
finished, closed its session and gave the
hall to the younger members of the
| grange, who had prepared an enter
| tainment. a pleasant evening was
| spent in a social manner. These social
| occasions are encouraged among all
! oranges and serve one Of the best pur-
poses of this order-namely, home en-
tertainments for the young. The work
| of the grange is now taking on mo: e
definite and useful direction. Matters
touching the welfare of the community
will be under consideration. The lee
| turer has several topics waiting for an
| opportunity to have them considered
and some will be reported on at the
next meeting. All members are ex-
pected to be at the next meeting on
Saturday for communication of in
terest to every citizen of Fair Oaks will
be read. This grange has the matter
rof future Farmer Institutes in charge
i. II. Watson, Deputy Grand Consul
of the Modern Woodmen, is occupied
most or his time in the duties of his
Office. His business takes him to Sac
ramento a good portion of his time.
Mrs. Belle Bowers came up from San
Francisco last week and attended the
institute. She ordered some improve
ments on her place. Her orange trees
are looking Well. She has planted sew
eral hundred trees this season, and to
the passer-by not tree appears to be
dead. So far as known, of trees brought
| into Fair Oaks in metallic forms. not
| over per cent. die. Certainly If is
possible to so handle trees with the
metallic form that not a tree will die
If in good condition when taken from
the nursery.
The work of the academy has become
full Of interest and is increasing every
week. Glasses have been at work in
the High School college preparatory,
giving instruction in Latin, physics.
normal classes both primary and gram
mar grade work, English literature
ETC. The class most alive is the class
in rapid calculation. Here is activity.
| concentration and speed. 1t is worth
| much trouble to visit the academy at
the morning hour and witness the work
done. Professor Dixon allows no slow
work under his shorthand and business
work. He is all business. Earl Wat
son is the last new member of this de-
partment.
| IF more knew of the value of physi-
cal culture under Miss Stott her classes