The record-union., 1899-06-01
Agriculture
and
Horticulture,

The following news concerning mat
1ers OF interest in the great growing
regions of the Pacific Coast will prove
valuable to those who care to know
what is new in such matters:
vENTURA'S CANNERY.
Ventura Free Press: The people OF
this city and county begin to realize the
importance of the new cannery project.
In our writeup of the new industry last
week we mentioned the fact that Louis
3Gaume. the superintendent in charge,
wanted at least 400 women and chill
dren to work in the new cannery next
month, but inadvertently we failed to
mention that applicants should call at
the Anacapa Hotel, Ventura, and as a
result many persons have called at the
Free Press" office to inquire regard
ing the matter.
The reporter was at the new industry
yesterday and was pleased to note 2
big change in one short weeks tirae.
The building proper is up and the ma
chinery is being placed in position as
rapidly as possible. More machinery
is expected to arrive by rail and
steamer very SOON
superintendent Gaume informed US
that he had received many inquiries
from persons in search of employment,
as a result of our last weeks article,
and he thinks he will secure sufficient
help to handle the crop this year. He
expressed himself as being we'll pleased
with the progress of the work. The
General Manager at Sacramento has
notified Mr.. Gaume that the Ventura
plant would be expected to have at
least $4,000 cans output per day this
season. In order that there may be
no delay the management finds it nee
essary to employ few Cinnamon in
the cooking department, but Mr..
Gaume stated that their services would
be dispensed with just as soon as ex-
perienced white help could be obtain
ed.
He thinks that this years crop OF
aprlcots will exceed the first estimates
and that at least 800 tons will be ham
died. Next year the cannery will ham
die all kinds of products suitable for
canning, including peas, beans, toma-
toes, asparagus and the like, in a ldi-
ton to fruits of every description. One
feature of the employment offered is
that there will be a matron for the
female workers. The management is
already talking of erecting an immense
nreproof warehouse near the cannery.
BAD ORANGE GROVES.
j. H. Reed, in Riverside Enterprise:
After considerable study and observa-
ton, and some actual experience, am
persuaded that the best thing to be
done with improbable orange groves is
to convert them into apricot, peach,
har dc l.
districts the apple must be left out 7
am reminded that there are thousands
of acres of cheap lands that will raise
these fruits. It is possible for us even
at reduced valuation of our lends, to
compete with these lands that cost
little, if we add the expense of irri-
cation? The proftableness of farm
ing, especially of fruit farming, does
net depend so much upon the first cost
of lands as upon other conditions The
successful dairyman no longer keeps
three or four low priced cows to pro-
duce twelve or fifteen pounds of butter
per week. but has exchanged them,
even at an increase of first cost, for a
single COW that will produce the same
or a greater amount of better butter.
The Eastern wheat farmer found it
acres of low priced land to obtain 100
bushels of grain. BY adding to the cost
of his land and using better methods
he now obtains the same amount from
three or four acres and at a margin Of
profit. The California fruit farmer.
producing from twenty-five to fifty
pounds of inferior apricots per tree,
with frequent seasons of entire failure
M.
moisture, doubtless has good reason for
complaining that fruit growing does
not pay. But his neighbor, by the use
of water and best methods, prody cling
from five to ten times the amount OF
the same area, of better fruit, with
seldom, if ever, an off year, is quite
we'll satisfied with the returns from his
labor and investment. l speak with
special reference to Southern Califor-
MIA conditions, but I notice that even
at the north, where the earlier and
later rains are much more abundant
that some of the best fruit growers are
putting in expensive irrigation plants
in the belief that the added value to
their product will more than pay fol
the increased expense.
WE NEED FARMERS.
Oroville Mercury: Almost every one
who discusses the subject of Califor-
MAS future agricultural and horti-
cultural prosperity takes occasion tc
say that the big ranches must be sub
divided into small farms before the
State can develop; that the present
wide areas, controlled by a few indi-
viduals and worked by cheap laborers
and long mule teams, must give way
to small farms, which will dot the
great valleys of California with happy
homes. And they are right. These
things must come to pass before the
State can reach its fullest development
Where now are ranches covering hun
dreds of acres, unadorned with houses
except, perhaps, one mansion sur
rounded by cheap buildings. for n1er
and stock, there must be small farms
each with its neat home and each home
occupied by frugal and industrious
family. But the place to begin is moi
with the subdivision of the ranches
What will it profit US to subdivide the
ranches unless some one is willing tc
purchase the small farms thus formed
The big ranches will submit to subdi
vision very readily when subdividers
who mean business are on the grount
with coin to pay for what they, want
There are few, perhaps none. of the