The record-union., 1899-08-28
Agriculture
and
Horticulture.

The following news concerns hortl-
culture and agriculture as they are
seen in the Pacific Coast States:
TO AID NATURE.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat: Luther
Burbank, the wizard of horticulture,
who is known all over the world Tor MS
grand achievements in the evolution or
plant life, has undertaken an import
ant branch of work. which may mean
a complete revolution in the world OF
sugar culture
In the Sandwich Islands at the pres
ent time there are two favored varle-
ties of sugar cane, large and small
variety The small variety grows from
six to eight feet tall. 1t is about one
inch in diameter and contains from 20
to 30 per cent. sugar. The large cane
is about two inches in diameter and
grows to a height of twenty-five or
thirty feet 1t contains only about 10
per cent. of sugar.
The island planters are desrous of
securing a large cane which will con-
tain as much sugar as the small one
referred to above. And Luther Bur-
bank will strive to give them their
hearts desire.
In September some seeds will be sent
him, and these will be sown and prop
agated in tropical heat. He is now
making arrangements to have placed in
one of his green houses at his expert
mental grounds a large boiler and ap-
appliances which will produce tropical
heat during the winter. Next summer
he expects to visit the islands.
Mr.. Burbank has received equally as
good propositions from the coffee plant
eFs in different parts of the world to
produce if possible a plant that will
yield a coffee of richer quality. AT no
distant date he may take trip to
Vera Cruz and Central America to Sc
lect the seeds he requires.
SCIENCE AND SOIL.
Los Angeles Times: This is an age
of scientific farming. The time has
gone by when any one who had made
a failure at every other occupation was
considered good enough for a farmer.
Nowadays, TO succeed in the culture of
the soil, man must have not only
practical, but also a good theoretical
training. Science is not only throw
ing light upon the occupation of the
farmer, but is elevating his occupation
in the eyes of the people. In the early
days Of the worlds history the cultiya
tion of the soil was considered the most
honorable business that man could be
engaged in, and before long we may
again come to a similar point of view,
which is quite reasonable, when we
consider how everything ultimately de-
pends upon those who till the soil.
Among the helpful and uplifting
agencies in this country which have
been of great assistance to the tiller
of the soil is the Department of Ag
riculture whose chief was lately in
California. The bulletins issued by
the Department of Agriculture have
been growing more practical from year
to year, and are better appreciated by
those for whom they are prepared. An
other valuable feature of farm educa-
ton is that furnished by the agricul
tural colleges connected with univer-
sites scattered over the country, with
classes ranging from 200 to 900 in
number and aggregating 100000 The
full course in agriculture in one of
these colleges covers four years, and
graduates are being turned out at the
rate of 5000 a year. From this source
we may expect to see some remark
ing the next few years.
There is no section of the Union in
which science can be of more practical
value to the tiller of the soil than in
Southern California. where the prod
ucts that may be profitably raised are
so wonderfully varied. Southern Cali
fornia should take the lead in appre-
ciating and spreading the development
of science as applied 70 the cultivation
of the soil.
POULTRY POINTERS.
Poultry Times: Some of the poultry
people are showing bad management
that will yield a crop of disappoint-
ments later on. People buy eggs every
year that don't do we'll I shall give
some of the most common reasons, and
try to show where bad management
comes in. If hens are allowed to be-
come fat, a large per cent. of the eggs
will not be fertile.
Feeding three times a day of fat-pro-
ducing foods, failing to provide plenty
of exercise in the way of straw or
leaves for scratching, is bad manage
ment.
Running an egg ranch for market is
a different thing, for in case if the eggs
are not fertile so much the better. The
high-pressure methods so much in
vogue are very largely responsible for
the poor matches so often obtained.
Another frequent cause of poor
matches is allowing too many hens to
one cockrel. Rather than use over ten
I would use only eight. I mate ten
hens to one cockrel in Plymouth Rocks,
and twelve hens to one cockrel in Leg
horns, with excellent results, by giving
the cockrel extra feed. I pick him up
and allow him to eat from the bucket
of feed while 1 am gathering and mar
keting the eggs from different yards,
he afterward eating with the hens when
/ feed them.
If the cocBrel is neglected and al
lowed to become reduced in vitality, a
large per cent. of the chicks will not
be able TO get out of the shell, and
many others after they get out will not
live-just die from lack of energy
These are the ones that stand around
and peep and sleep till they die.
The terrible doctrine of heredity is