The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26

are true in all respects as applied to
Alameda county:
whatever can be grown in any part
of the world not exposed to extremes
of climate can be grown here The
earth is being secured by experts for
the discovery of trees and plants to be
added to the constantly increasing
varieties Even new fruits are made
to order, as it were, by that wonder
full wizard of Santa Rosa, Luther Bur-
bank. Siberia and India, Italy and
Brazil, Norway and Africa are drawn
upon for fruits. grains and plants that
add to the comfort, pleasure and riches
of man."
Agriculture and horticulture in Ala
media county are in the fortunate posi-
ton of existing in the Immediate neigh
borhood of the University of Califor-
MIA, where a stan of competent experts
observe. advise, remedy defects and
apply skill and learning to promote
the lot of the man of fields and
orchards. The Alameda county dwell
ers are also strongly favored by being
in daily contact with the San Francisco
offices Of the horticultural commits
sioner of California, at which much
valuable Information and practical as
sistance are always available. Amid
the multitude of advantages and the
multiplicity of sources of wealth that
are possessed by Alameda county the
significance of this nearness to sources
OF scientific aid is obvious. In the last
annual report of the California state
board of trade an article was published
under the name of President Benjamin
Ide Wheeler of the University of Cali
fornia, in which the scope of the col
lege of agriculture at Berkeley a part
of the University of California, was
described. That article shows the ca
pacity of the state university. in its
relations with Alameda county. A por-
tion Of the statements made by Presi-
dent Wheeler follows:
The college of agriculture is show
ing rapid development The expendi-
ture of this department in instruction
and research will during the coming
year reach S12o, 900. A university farm
OF 500 acres, recently purchased by
the state at the expense of $4,000, is
being equipped, and an appropriation
was made during the last session of our
legislature amounting to more than
$4,000. A part of the equipment will
provide for the elementary practice of
education in the arts of agriculture.
Boys Will be taken straight from the
grade schools into this farm school and
be taught. in the most immediate and
practical manner the practices of the
farm. BY the will of Theodore Kearney
hood OF Fresno, containing over 5000
acres Of the richest land in California,
has just now come into the possession of
the university. Here will be estab-
hshed an institution for agricultural
research. and not unlikely. In time, an
other farm school as well. This farm
OF itself produces an income av-
eraging at present not less than $780,
600 a. year. 1t will, therefore, support
its own agricultural institution. A
grant Of $4,000, made by the last
Legislature, enabled the university to
establish in southern California an in
stitution for the study and correction
of plant diseases. and the propagation
and culture Of fruit trees. The present
legislature has made a supplementary
appropriation for the equipment and
maintenance Of this station, which is
now located at Riverside, with a labor
atory connected with IT at whittier.
Fruit culture has been carried ON
largely in Alameda county during half
a century. Many years ago it passed