The record-union., 1899-09-04
Agriculture
and
rticulture.

The following items pertain 10 "a
cific Coast agriculture and horticulture:
ORCHARDS AND WATER.
Biggs Argus: The Argus" received
some peaches this week grown on the
Rio Bonito Orchard Company's or
chard, in charge of Miss Sarah Bates,
on trees that have been systematically
irrigated this year which, compared
with other fruit of same variety grown
upon the same orchard without irriga-
ton, establishes the unrebuttable fact
that irrigation is invaluable in fruit
culture, in this country especially, in
comparatively dry years. The peaches
are unusually large, succulent and OF
excellent flavor, while the same variety
not irrigated are imperfect in size,
beauty and flavor The fruit is known
as the Susquehanna variety, of which
Miss Bates has shipped many carloads
this year, for which the price received
has been very satisfactory.
OREGON'S WHEAT.
Salem correspondent of Portland Ore
gonian: Marion County farmers are
greatly discouraged at the prospect for
this years grain crop, which grows
poorer every day, as result of the in
clement weather which has prevailed
for nearly two weeks. Both cut and
standing grain has been damaged, but
estimates as to the extent of the dam
age are conflicting. In some sections
a large proportion of the fields of
standing grain and oats has been beat
en- down. Comparatively few fields
have been threshed in this county,
while across the Willamette River, in
Polk County, considerable work has
been done by threshers. Grain has had
all the rain it can stand, some of it
more. 1t is probable though no cor
rect estimate can be made at this time,
that the recent rains have caused dam
age aggregating about 90 per cent. to
the grain and oat crops. Flour at the
Salem Touring mills advanced 20 cents
asbarrel yesterday, to $3.50, as result
of the wet weather, which will result
in a greatly decreased wheat crop. 1t
Is more than likely, some farmers say,
that considerable portion of the oats
already cut east of Salem, in the vi
cinity of and in the Waldo hills, will
never reach the market, as the crop has
been badly damaged.
Growers speak we'll of the condition
of hops. They say that if they have
ten days or two weeks of warm sun
shine just before picking time to kill
the lice that will get on the vines as
a result of the wet weather. compar-
atively little damage will be done the
crop by the rains. Lice have appeared
in some yards, but it is thought that
warm weather will come in time to
prevent serious damage.
A BOTANICAL LESSON.
Riverside Enterprise: Postal Clerk
Harry Dunbar is a regular genius. In
the rear of his home on Eighth street
he has constructed a miniature botan-
ical garden. The greater part of the
plot back of the house is covered by
trellis, and underneath this vineclad
lattice is a large rockery with its
mosses and ferns and tropic plants,
while about the grotto are little cosy
settees and swings. where Mr.. and Mrs.
Dunbar's children pass many happy
hours. With his own hands at odd
hours Mr.. Dunbar has constructed
close by a glass-inclosed hothouse, and
within this his genius seems to have
had its full bent, for with the skill of
an expert he has grated to one species
Of cactus the limbs OF another until
odd combinations have been attained
which are indeed remarkable While
he takes great pride in his achieve
ments, the effort is only made to graf
ify a natural taste and inclination-for
the results are obscured from all eyes
save those of the family. While Mr..
Dunbar may object to this publicity, he
will perhaps excuse it on the plea that
it is made simply to show what can be
attained on an obscure spot in the
genial atmosphere of a. climate which
is unequaled in the wide earth; and
that his pleasant pastime might well be
Initiated with profit to many homes,
for an invasion of these precincts is
like visit to mountain glens.
SMALL FARMS PAY.
Gait Gazette: Twenty acres used to
be looked upon as entirely too small
a farm for an average family to live
upon. That idea was exploded sew
eral years ago in this vicinity, and
small farms have proved more re-
munerative than large ranches. The
ten-acre farm will in the future be
come the most popular one. where irri
cation is practiced. Ten acres we'll
cared for will yield larger net return
than fifty acres indifferently farmed
or unirrigated. Five acres should be
devoted to grapes or one or two varie-
ties of standard fruit trees, such as
peaches, apricots, pears or prunes. The
remaining five acres, less the neces-