The record-union., 1899-10-17
Agriculture
and
Horticulture.

THE following agricultural and horti-
cultural news will doubtless De Iouno
of general interest:
MILLIONS FOR FRUIT
San Jose Herald: According TO the
opinion Of two experts the orchardists
and vineyardists of California are reap
ing a harvest of gold coin this year.
The two gentlemen referred to- say that
these growers will receive about $lo,-
1000 this year for their crops, which
is about S3, 100000 greater than the
sum received last year.
d. H. Porter of Porter Brothers
makes an estimate of the States dried
fruit output at SS390.000. Superin-
tendent Fontana of the California Fruit
Gamers Association estimated the can
ned fruit output at $6,500,00 The
story of the year. as told by these gem
tlemen, makes good reading for the
farmers and for all others interested
in the prosperity of California.
There has not been an average crop
of peaches" said Mr.. Porter, but
prices have advanced. Dried peaches,
for instance. are - per cent. higher
than they were and the Eastern buyer
who expected to get them at his own
figure is in the lurch. At the begin
ming of the season the report was sent
out that the peach crop would be very
large The peaches will not exceed
1,2O0 to 1.300 cars, as against an early
estimate of 1000 carloads. The raisin
association has put UP the price for
raisins to almost double the figures of
last year and yet the goods are moved
as fast as they are ready. An advance
has just been made in the prices of
two grades of raisins. Three crown
standard loose muscatels have gone up
one-fourth of a cent per pound. These
prices are netting the growers nearly
double what they realized from the
prices last year.
My estimate is that the seasons
output will be 200 carloads of peaches
at 81, 200 per car; 1000 carloads of
prunes at $7O0 per car; $50 carloads Of
apricots, for which $1,000 would be
low average: $500 carloads of raisins,
averaging 81, 200 at least; pears, plums
and nectarines and that sort of fruit,
$50 carloads, averaging 81 800 per car.
THE advance over last years re-
ceipts for dried fruits will be nearly
s., OO0,0O0. This is due in part to the
advanced prices for raisins. Then,
again, prunes are large and are netting
more. The European market for Cali
fornia goods is widening; the Atlantic
Coast demand is increasing; the Orien-
tai trade and increased consumption at
home are also factors"
superintendent Fontana of the Cali
fornia Fruit Gamers Association made
these figures as his estimate: Tho
canned fruit output will be, approx
mately. about $500. 900 in value, and
about 100000 cases in amount Last
year the pack was worth about 5,000,-
600 and the output about 100000
cases. One reason for the increase is
the general prosperity of the world at
large; the other is the lack of supplies,
the market having been cleared up,
and that gave an opening for large
supplies this year."
DIXON BEETS.
Vacaville Reporter: The interest in
the success of raising sugar beets is not
confined to the townships of Solano
County, where the cultivation of or
chards and vineyards is less general
than in Vacaville. Anything which af-
fects the new industry is worthy of
consideration for much is hoped from
In fact, we regard it as distinct a sign
post in agricultural progress; as was
the introduction of the present meth
Cd of summer following lands devoted
TO wheat. For several months past. as
the Dixon Tribune" says, it was ap-
parent that the best crop of that place
would fall short by several thousand
tons of realizing the crop expected
versity of California was sent for and
he made an examination of the cOndi-
tions which seemed TO be prejudicial
to the sugar beet. He finds the land
admirably suited to raise beet crops.
and says that Solano fields of saccha-
riferOus vegetable are free from fun
gus or archaeological pests. They have
been, however. affected by a worm
whose sesquipedalian cognomen the
farmer probably would not recognize,
but which is denominated by the non
collegiate as cabbage worm. Well this
year the plain ordinary cabbage worm,
despite the weight of his scientific no.
menclature, got in his work on the
beet fields of Dixon. BY reason of the
dry season the plants were not all able
to withstand his attacks and hence
the lessening of the crops expected ag-
gregate.
EXPORTING PRUNES.
San Jose Mercury: That the Eastern
dealers in dried fruits are not yet fully
satisfied that the early estimates of
the prune crop in California were ex-
aggerated is evidenced by their pres
ent disinclination to forward orders at
ruling prices. There are probably $500
large dealers in the Eastern and Mid
die States, and when they begin to
buy, as they viii have to soon if they
desire to do business and make profits.
the effect viii be to stimulate the mar
ket and make it better for the grower
and seller. At present ii is simply
waiting game for the producer. He
holds the goods and so soon as the buy
ers are convinced that the quantity is
limited and that the market is at bed
rock they viii hustle for prunes.
In the meanwhile, orders from Eng
land, France, Germany and minor
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