The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-03-06
Sunny California.

SAN JOSE, February 3rd.-We reached
tins State nearly eight months ago, ant
after spending nearly one month iii visit
ing different parts If the State. settled
/ here on July 3rd, just seven months age
today. We saw the principal cities anc
districts, including Sacramento. Sar
Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, anC
at no place did we find the climate auG
surroundings so much to our liking as al
San Jose.
Situated as it is in the heart of rich
and beautiful valley, Astounding i'll al
most every kind of fruit imaginable and
with climate to suit the most fastidious,
1t certainly would I've hard to find more
pleasant place i'll which to live.
never intend to go back on "Old
Maryland, but must say that some
times, as sit on the front porch in this
winter sunshine, and read the accounts
i'll The -Egis, of your cold and change
able weather, with scarcity of coal, and
OF your roads and mud holes, and think
OF the contrast; there certainly seems to
be but few points i'll favor of MARYLAND.
We have not given up the idea of return
ing to our native State to live sometime;
but think if we do so. it will be because
our relatives, friends and acquaintance
arc there and will not come here.
San Jose is a city of nearly $4,000 in
hahltants, and is principally noted for its
fruits. Santa Clara Valley being among
the foremost producing sections of the
world for cherries, apricOts, peaches.
pruncS and pears.
These they pack either fresh, dried or
canned and ship to all principal markets
OF the world. and the perfection and
flavor of the fruit as we'll as the careful
manner i'll which they pack them, seems
to WIr them reputation in any market
they are introduced.
This year, though very heavy crop,
1t ali sold carly and at good prices, max
a good profit for the producer and pack
or as well as the middleman. saw one
cherry tree which is said to have pro-
duccd over 500 worth of fruit last sea-
son alone, this, al course, was an cxcep-
ton, bat lots of orchards turned out
from 500 to 5000 per acre, of course
this calls for work. They prunc annually,
and cultivate often, keeping as clean as a
HartGrd county corn-ield; most of them
irrigate some and it is work to gather
the trult, but the grower gets a good
compensation and no fertilizers to buy
Most OF the trees are said to produce
every year if cared for, but will vary
some in quality quantity and price. We
have all the small berries in abundance
also good many oranges and lemons,
but the latter only thrive i'll protected
places as frosts are too frequent here to
make business of growing them in
quantities. Almonds and English Wal
nuts are raised quite proftably.
| have never had much eXper-
lcnce i'll such matters, so had to con-
tent myself as my card indicates by deal
ing i'll Live Stock" supplying the needs
CT the Orchardists and others and thus
getting few of the sheckels, that grow
like apples on the trec) for them
had intended when left for the west
to engage in the packing of fruit, but
after studying the subject decided to
tackle something knew more about.
| will not crowd your time or space
further, except to say that things seem
to indicate that San Jose has a great
future. 1t now lies on the main railroad
line from San Francisco to Los Angeles
so that all travellers have chance to see
and hear of its attractions, and Just now
there seems to be quite serious agita-
ton in the State Legislature in favor of
removing the State Capitol from Sacra-
mento, here, owing principally to its
healthy and agreeable climate. If this
can be accomplished, which now seems
quite possible, it will insure a great
boom for the Garden City"
Jas. II. QUINBY.