WILLAMETTE FARMER.
3
Education In Oregon.
Helen's Hall and the Bishop Scott
Grammar School.
St.
Though ono of the youngest States in the
Union, Oregon is by no means behindhand in
the matter of education. Brgldes her sjsteui
of common schools, which is fast approaching
proportionately in completeness aud impor
tance that of the oldest and most populous
States, sho has Bonio of the finest private col
legiate institutions in the Union. Prominent
among them are those of (lie St. Helen's Hull
and Bishop Scott Grammar School both loca
ted in Portland, and belonging to tho Episco
pal denomination.
St. Helm's Hall
Is ono of tho finest educational institutions
north of San Francisco. It is on Fourth street,
between Madison aud Jefferson streets. The
buildings hnvo n frontage of 75 feet on Fourth
street by a depth of 120 feet, and n froutago of
30 feet on Madison street by n depth
of 70 feet, aro threo stories in bight,
ana havo a Mansard roof, llesides
the study ball, classrooms, etc., they
furnish accommodation for GO bo ir
elers mid -00 day scholars. They
aro well lighted and ventilated, and
nro furnished with gas, water, and
all the modern improvements. Tho
rooms set apart for boarders aro very
superiorly arranged and furnished.
Tho institution has flue coucho
logical and botanical collections, and
in tho latter special attention is mid
to tho botany of the coast. There
is a beautiful flower garden in con
nection with it, which is admirably
arranged with spacious walks, mill
tho plaj grounds are particularly urn
tdouud w ell-furnished.
Tho institution is entered from
Fourth street, ami tho lsilorisnt
onco ushered into a spacious hall,
which leads to tho first of tho largo
class-rooms. On tho right of tho
hall is it spacious parlor, furnished
in first class stj Id ami capible of
belug divided into two apartments
by menus of folding-doors. A door
on tho left leads into the rec
tor's study, whero a splendid li
brary invites tho studious to ex
ST.
plore its treasures of theological nud .secu
lar lore. Adjacent is a pleas int, woll-lighted
tuttlng-room, on tho left of which, forming a
kind of L, is tho teachers' room, tho iot from
which, looking out over tho broad, placid Nil
liauiette, tho youthful city, and tho fertile val-'
ley nine is uu iny seen io lose useii nmougsi
tho romantlo mountains of tho south, is pecu
jiariy granu ana imposing.
Tho faculty nro ns follows : Hector Tho
Right ltov. H. Wistar Morris; Principal Miss
Mary 1). Rodney; Assistant Toachors Miss
Lydia Bodnoy, Miss Lvdia II. Blacklcr,
Mrs. Mary II. Cloptou, Miss Cnthcrino 0.
11. liurton, .Miss S. 1.. llojd, Iu chargo or
tho Musical Department Miss Clementina
lloducy; Teacher of Musio Miss 0. A.
Ynrndlcy.
Bishop Scotl Grammar School.
Bishop Scott Grammar School is a board
ing and day-school for boys, nnd ns a pre
paratory institution for entering on a course
of professional studies is, in its way, uurl
vailed. It has been established only qiiilo
recently, iu 1870, but already gives promise
of n great nnd prosperous future. It com
menced on a small scale, but has 'now 100
pupils from allpirtsof tho Pacific Const;
G itifornln, Utah, Alaska nnd Ilritish Colum
bia beiug represented, ns well as Oregon
and Washington Territory. Tho build
ing, which has accommodation for a much
larger number of pupils, is n frame ono;
is threo stories in height with n mansard
roof, and has n frontage on the cast of 81
feet, on tho south of 01 feet, and on tho
north of CO feet. During the Inst j car a
new wing, 21 feet by CO, nud threo stor
ies high, which furnishes two additional
school rooms, a chapel nud n largo dormi
tory, has been erected. Tho grounds oc
cupy four blocks in the western portion of
tho city, 'noiitb the shadow of tho hills that
overhang tho valley of tho Willamette.
Tho grammar school has attained' to
uuch perfection that tho scholars can now
bo tulviiuccd ns far iutheii studies as they
could bo in tho second or third years of u
collegiate course. i
The officers of tho school aro: lltuht lie v.
B. Wistnr Morris, Doctor of Divinity,
Kpiscop il Bishop of Oregon nnd Washing
ton, Bettor; K. W. Laiug, M. A., L. L. D.,
Blend Master; ltov. D'Estning Jenuing,
M. A., Senior Master; W. M Baker, B.
A. Junior Muster; M I. A. Buss, Precep
tress ; Edward T. (oleta n, Drtwing Mister;
lucnnrd T. iarudley, alu-io Master; it. 11 An-'
ilerson. Drill Master: ltv. IVr.t iln r .T.m. i
nings, M. A. Chaplain; Miss Maria Emery,
Matron.
Th T ifittlliit'flni
The Two Institutons..
These two institutions nre representative in
their chiractor nnd nro so tlllcieutly conducted
nnd so complete in their every department, as
to cause some wonder, th it a single religious
denomination should bu ublo to support them,
nnd in so joung a State, even though it be the
Mgorous and go ahead ono of Oregon. Wo
hao already tlvielt sumcieutly on tho adv.iu-
tages olfered by the St. Helen's Hall Institte
tlon for girls, and ns totuo Jiiitiop Seott Grnm
war School wo doubt whether it could be beat
by nuy of the more pretentious private institu
tions nmong-t ourselves. One of the most
commendiblo features is the military nrginizi
tion, known ns the Ilishop Scott Cadets in
which tho young gentleman prepirmj for nu
nctivo business life or n profession may not
only learn to Ixar nnns iu the defence of his
country, but iu which the rigulnr drill supply
the waut of much needed extrcise and makes
the thews nnd smews strong while the mind is
being cultivated. Other feat cms of these ex
cellent institutions we might dilate on had we
the space, kufllco it to My the couiplttents
nud itlicieniy of both institutions steak will
for the interest taken iu educational mutters
by the people of Oregon.
Fronx tU S. F. Pacific Ilural Vrtsa,
Crapes Best Varieties.
From the llriuL huu
Editocs Piiias: Iu your last issue we no
ticed un article uuder head of "Orape Cuttings,"
asking information as to tho best varieties of
grapes for raisins, aud the brut early and Ute
grapes for market. We prefer the. White Mus
cat nud Black Morocco. The Muscat is the
very best for all purposes. Take cuttings 18
inches lorn?, plant deep, jut one eve ubove
grouud. When tranplnted they should be
irrigated. Plant five lert apart, each way, so
that the fruit will be well covered, and encour
age all orchard grass potsibleto prevent scotch.
iug. Trim to one stem from 11 to 18 inches
high. A good and liberal supply of water is
the only fertilizer uecrsssry iu any of our
gravelly soil. BUck Morocco should U
planted right fett each way. Keep thc-m clean,
bach is our experience, and we have been
shipping good unit to yonr markn for the
last ten years. Pi.-ai.iKD B so.
TljE 3lfEE pOLD.
The Poetic and Prosaic Sides of Sheep
Husbandry.
(From the IUcirio Kuril Fnzu.
Editohs Press. Tho wool growers of Los
Angeles propose to deal directly with the
wool manufacturer. Who that has read tho
Bnchollcs of Virgil, has not toon charmed
by the glimpses he gives us of a shepherd's
lifel The very first sentence presents a picture
of Arcadian beauty and repjse. Hear it
"Tityrus. you. recumbeut beneath tho shade
of a spreading beech, meditate your rustic
muse on n sleuder pipe; we abandon tho boun
daries of our country, and pleasaut fields; w e fly
our country; jou ,0 Tityrus, at ease in the
shade, teach the woods to resound fair Atun
ryllii." Then tho poet after paiutiug this pan.
HELEN'S HALL, CORNER FOURTH
tnrnl sceno, spreads boforo us tho bill of fare,
wuiou is ho uullKo tnu o( the Calltorula shop
bird, that we must quoto It.
"Hjre, novortholess, you can rest this night
with mn unoti tho verdant leaves. These nre
to us mellow apples, soft chestnuts aud plenty
oi pressed mint.
Iu only on 'I lino does tho noct hint that the
life of a shepherd is not ono of rural quiet and
dreamy repose. Ho docs say that " sheep aro
always au unhappy flock."
How iu my pcrso'ushnv o forme 1 their ideals of
BISHOP SOOTT ORAMMAR
the shepherd's life from the pastorals of Virgil 1
Ill
vto remomuer jears ago, to nava sat ueneai
tho tall nonlirs of our boyhood's home, with
copy of Virgil Iu baud, while in the distance
lambs gambolled over tho green, and all Niture,
iu her holiday attire, stemed to cflervisce
i poetry. We nro not certalu that iu those
I dreamy day of our life, wo did not at times,
like Virgil's shepherd Corydon, throw nwsy to
l,Uo wriuUius aud woods our b.vo songs to
some fair Alexis over the hills. This was the
poetio side of sheep husbandry, and it is the
only side over eceu by those who haie not
, learnod from actual experienco that there is a
dark, very d irk b ickgrouud to this picture.
' Tho life of a real shepherd Is one of loiioli-
uess aud toil. It is n mistaken idea that n
Iizy man can make a sueplierd. Io lie, good
shepherd he must be all activity nud life; ho
must turn nis nacic ou society ami iivowiinin
himself ; he must follow his flock amid the
suows of winter or the burning heat of sum
mer When night comes, no voice of wife or
prattling children greets his return from tho
fold. Hishorizouof thought is bounded by him
self; his mind, removed from contact with the
world, soou begins to prey upon Itself, till, nt
last, in many instances, he has lost his reason,
and finds a home iu the iuuiie nsyluiu. lie
cannot recline under the "spreading Ixech "
It tie did, ins llock would liu scan, red, or, per
iiy!trffifiB8WlBBBMiiflwif''l'-'','tfi iiSmmm f MaN
jj5SJHMS3jjyiiijS
ssssssssssssssiB-PassssHiaAtes4tHSJBk''i "issssssa LVuSHX4BSSMHHiSkkKjt'ksaBssssspaBSSsssl
EsLsiiiiiMHiiiiiiiifltK.kr ,E3" iiiHiLiiiHLiiiHrlniiiw
chuuee, be corrulled bysome small fatiuer, whucirciiuistaucis. But that eauuot bo the cause
thinks he can make more by c diluting a herd
like the ordiuurv laborer, have uu occuiuii
bolidiy, nor euu he quit his tiock ou the hab.
uaiu, luougn nemigiil ue ueur euougn io near
the villege church Ull calling him to ihe hou.e
of God. T'he.o are some oi the troubles of Ihe
..,. I. I
suiieuerei me. lei, wuu nu eut-mi sni net i
nuis, there is a fleece more golden thin that
of Colchis to every one who briugs to the!
hiuiutss energ), prudence and judi-iueut.
iubwooi growers ol 1)-. Angeles conniy
met ou tne ioiu, to orgenize u vv ool urowers
Protective Association. A temporary org mi
z.illon wa etlictcd, aud a ceimuilltie v up
pointeil to draft a c nstitmlou, preparatory t"
n permanent organization on lu 29ih iut
Tho-'eouveution was largely ultended nnd
much interest was mauikottd in the objecl
uud uims of the meeting.
One ol the untiu objects of this association
is to do asay w.lh so mny middlemen be
tween the wool grower aud tbu manufacturer.
Uuder the present system, San Frsmisc-o gets
the richest part of evety tierce. The wo.d pro
ducer pays his merchant iu San Francisco V
commiaiou, und Iroui IJ; to 1, per cent, p.i
month for any advances iuad upui hi wool.
This heavy tax can b obviated, by shipidnu
direct to New York or Boston, where the wool
baa eventually Io no, aud where less ttun two
per cent, commissions aro paid and only Boven
per cent, interest is charged ou advances. This
item alone, is worth annually many thouauds
ol dollars to the wool producer. When this
association is organized, every question which
pertains to sheep husbaudry will be discussed,
a report of which will be submitted to your
reader by your correspondent.
We are now having a flno ralu, aud the
farming prospects were never more flattering iu
this county. John SiitntAY Wam.
Los Angeles, Jan. 17th, 1874.
Angora Goats
in Oregon Information
Wanted.
l.oiTons Fnrss: As I annnoso Ibern are
more of the Augora goats and their grades in
uaiiiornia man nuy otuor Biate in tUe Union,
1 propose, through your paper, to ask the
breeders what is the matter with my goats and
what is the remedv
In bept., 18iJ, I purchnsed of Thomas
AND MADISON STS., PORTLAND,
OREGON.
Bitttcrflold .t Son, of California, thirty graded
ewes and ono thoroughbred buck. From
twenty-nliio ewes, last spring, I raised thirty
eight kids, saved over kid that came, had no
trouble with them at nil, only to hao the bos
watch them ono week to keep them from going
ofT into tho brush to brouso their kids there.
Etcry goat owned her young and they nil pros
lered Uutly, with the exception of two of the
old ones, which the dogs KilUd soon nftor ihey
had their kids. Tho kids began to como on
tho 9th of March last while gnus was abundant.
SOHOOL, PORTLAND, OREGON.
TbU year they U.g.n to como on tho Slslofu
n'or,horiid:.;ie,ca "side ol the
i neck, of various sizes from that of n largo
bean to nearly tha size of a goose egg. By
holding the Hwulllng portion between the
tliumt) ami turner, and cutting Die skill wltli n
knife, it will slip out. It hardly appears to Iw
uttachid to tho neck. Thorn that have the
swilling from tho size of a quail's tgg up, die
very soon utter being dropped, and tlio.o In
which tho swellings ure uot so large1, live.
From the reading of Randall's Practical
Shepherd 1 tako tho rnraplaiiit to bo what ho
calls goitre in lambs; but he appears to think
that tho cntise of goitro in lambs is owing to
tho close confine mail of the ewes during
Iireguaiicy and the exclusive use ol dry food.
Int thai cannot b tho cuse with my gnats as,
Ihey have had the rango of over !I,(K)(I arrt s,
and have never been confined since their kidds
uot large enough to run with them, Inst spring,
until they commenced to have kids this
winter. They have not even to b kiptup
over night. Agiiu, some of the ewes drop
their kids aud pay no attention to tin in ut
ull, while the eume goats lastjtur took grtat
earn of their young. The old ones running oil
uud leaving tin ir kids tnu) be fur want ol
more grass to make thM nlve milk, us I know
that shup will sometimes do so under such
'of the swelling ou the kids. Tho latter I in
i remeilv uv uoi In
so early In the season
But I do not know
whut to do for the Unit.
IJ f tl .1
ii nu ui juur iuiiu".uuiioiu inn euruwuiij
light upon the subject it will bo very thank
fully received.
iirunm wtnie utnii ui iuu i airoris oi
Husbandry in this county. Umpqiu Grange,
located ut lloshary, of which I uln a uiemlxr,
bus about sixty members nnd is progressing
I uuuy. I uos. dmitii.
Wilbur, Oregon. Feb. 12 1871
Fj'ih the ti F Ilural Prttt.
KuirriMi JUiii.tr East Over one hundred
car-luads of buley heve beeu s Ipped overland
fur the Milwaukee), Wis.. Brewery. This pur
chase is an experiment, but It is believed that
the barley can lie transported to Milwaukee ut
less co. I than it could ti obtained tbe rn of the
same quslity The people of this State ure
heqwful that the experiment will prove success
ful.
Willi Wall. A correspondent wants us
give hlui Ihu prices of farm stock iu California,
a he propo.es moving from Wastiltistou io
this Sute aud bringing stock, II it will p
We ha To no ruealis of golliug at prices lha
would beat all satisfactory loourcorresjioudeut
Flax.
(rum tlie Picirio IIciul raass
Tho rains this season have been abundant
too much so, it would seem, in certain locali
ties. Hero and there we learn of farmers who
have felt unwilling to put iu wheat, on account
of tho sodden condition of the ground, which,
it is feared, would rot the seed planted, and
thus disappoint expectations of a good, o? oven
moderate stand.
We havo before alluded to flai as n remark
ably surocrop, and even at this lato hour repeat
tho suggestion that it is liMy to do well on
lauds which are made by the wenthcr ununited
to wheat growing, or where the result Is .lulii.
mis
in spite ol tlie mauy well known diffl
onltla nn.l i.nnilm.a.if Miin....i .....i..ii
, wheat crop, this is still undoubtedly tho leadino
article of produce iu tho State. We. as Call.
fomians, have over taken prldo In tho full
t plump grains of our great cereal, nud its recoil
(nixed superioilty nbroad has been a source of
' great profit in years past nud probably will be
lorytnrs iu come, dm, we must not
loso night of tho danger nnd disad
vantage of depending so largely up
Oil a singlo staple. Even where the
grouud is in favorable condition for
putting iu wlient, there ts nlwny an
open citiestion as to tho comnura-
tho superiority of somo ono other
crop, aud llax is certain to bo n
strong competitor for tho favor of
iiioiarmers. lucre are many minus,
which should not bo neglected; but,
just now, tlax appears to occupy a
prominent position.
It has long been urged, not only
iu California but wherever agricul
ture is made n maitor of study and
systematic calculation, that where
tlie soil, other conditions being
imllar, is tqually adapted to the
growing of many products, as great
it t Uriel v should bo raised as pos
sible. Thus if, (mm nny miforHccn
cause, ono crop should fall, others
may succeed; or if it happens that
tho world's market for ono staple
is over supplied, others may bring
fair returns.
Now ns to llax. It is cortnln (hat
there will luii constant and steady
dematid for llax seed, if not for the
llbe r, for some time to come. Tho
manufacturers iu this ellv urn wlllinrr
Oil
to contract iu advance for ns much as tho far-
mera of the State nro likely to rulso this vear.
1 litis, nut only on account of tho relative im
munity of tho Heed from rotting, but nlso lie
cause of the promise of a certain market, llax
is well worthy the attention ol (a, mera.
Ramio.
Tho nursery of Mr. Finch nt: Haywood,
AU ncda county, proves the complete adjusta
bility of our climnto to tho growth of ramie.
ilio plants nro now 7 feet high, In Fibril
nry, and It Is the niostHeverowiiiterwolimo
hul. On Twilehel Islan 1 in the Han Joa
iimn river Is a 1 1 nitatiou of 20 nores, which
list ear sleldultwo cuttings. 'I ho weight
of stocks to a cutting is astonishing; not
less than 10 tons to the ncre, salable nt f 5
I orton. Two cuttings therefore brltg f UK),
llut If tho itilks ho passed through n brake
(now in u.o), whin talon green from the
Held, the raw fller commands ,10 cents n
pound. I). II. Craig of New York offers to
buy nil tho raw liber our State ran supply,
at u contract prioo to be lUed for 5 jears.
Hifwlll set up a machine wherever wanted,
by which ho retlues tho raw liber, so that
what ho buys nt UO cents bi comes valued nt
91 ptr pound. This process rcdiic.K one
ton of HO rent liber, to 80 pounds superfine.
There remains n very large proportion for
w hlcli uses aro loliig found. After cordage,
liigwing, rope, etc., paper auggests a menus
of clearing up tho remainder. The outer
bark uuiki-H n beautiful llxid green Ay, if
ono may Jndgo by tho impression on the
bands of tho workmen. Tho pith of the
stalk contains a salad oil of ptcullarly
pleasant llaior; cirtalnly those who have
tiled It i ronoiinee it superior to olivo oil,
nud predict for it a great demand. Further
experience may modify this report.
The leaves of rumln ninkn n groat ton
nage, nud probnbly they maw make paper-
?i1iwk " "1,,y "" ",fl l"n'l"y w'H '"''
likily resimblo Japanese paper in touuli
uess and in silky texture.
Tin re is yet n valuable nnd very interes
ting iirodiict, tho first wblelillio plantjiclds
in the earliest Hiirilic-tini- Tho oninr
dVilcioim table iVlable
sprouts of ramie will vio with asparagus, ns
.tfraM
the consideration of
coast, ltules for cultivation nro usually found
win ro the plants lire for sale.
Itiseas) to keen n fluid of rntnlo iu order,
wheuoucoistabllsliid. After tho flrst ytur,
the ground is su covered with the sprnid, thut
little utti ntlou is needed, 'lliet plant is pereii
Dial If the soil has not n moist bottom, wnlm.
... .vt.l.llll.lin.'. 11,1 mill
agino that irrigation will be Indispensable after
cutiiiig, to give the sicond growth a fair start.
TheackiMiwIidgiil necessity for alternation
of crops, will Induce our farmers to examine tin
claims of this textile plant iits-m their attention.
Void Uie8 l Jtitiul 1'riM,
Wivn-MiM.H and Huh.sk-'ciwiVis. One of the
best evidences of lh growing deinaml abroad
for articles of California tiiauulaetiire, is ex
hlbllld iu the fact that recent shipments of
wind mills havo bein made from ono establish
ment iu this city to Costa lticu, Central Ami r
lea, to tho Sandwich Islands, unel to Australia.
At the same factory there is also in pre ciss of
construction u large wind-mill, ele.Hilnod fur
some place In Mi xleci, while but a short time
since wind-mills ami horse-powers were for
ward! d from the samii place in tho opposite
direction tn Oregon and In PugetSniinel, sliow
mg u wiilu rungg of territory looking to our
imthaiiiiM for supplies. Mr. W. I, Tustin
ihe builder of these mills, is no novice in this
line, having pursue el tliei bii.iniss here nud in
inisviciuiiy upwards ol twenty years
Ilia
faclnrv. nt Mia rnni. r tl it..,,!.. ,.,.! lf..-C...
sin els, presi lits n lively unel business. like lip.
Ipeurnuce, nud is tilted up with ample facilities
I lor finishing the work uniler his ituuiiillute
I .- ........ ... ...,., . ..,lb
supervision, haviuu for the purpose the necm.
sary machinery ol his own. S, F, Jlural 1'rtss.
MiNrs cm Goat Island. A Wnshlngton
skciuI hay. "A vry singular petition has
been presented in the Senate i.y M.O. Spragile,
und referred. Il was sinid by E. 0. Curtis,
Mis, Bvbru, A. J.ockwoud, uud Hatlln J.
French, 'I hey pray for permission to excavate
io the depth ol twenty feet, more or less, on
Gout Island, Iu Sau Francisco bay, belonging
ihe Government, for the purposei of making
miueralogicul und geological investigations, und
-to use the liriguage of iiiemorlaliats to re
move therefrom some mineral-: supposed to be
there deposited, of which we possess a lie.
srriptlon, to do this without molestation or out
side iutliience, on condition that tho earth
therefrom n moved shall ull ha again replaced
The Island will be left as found, and no damage
be re-ally commuted. Mr. hcjckwuod is an at
torney al law in this city, but the names of
ibe other two petitioners do uot appear iu the
Washington Directory,"
Tree Ferns from Sandwich Islands.
Editors Pbrss: In reference to a notics
published in the Paotrio Bubal Put as a short
time since, on tho treo ferns and other useful
and ornamental trees nnd plants, imported by
us from tho S mdwlch Islands in large num.
born, it may iuterest tho readers of the Bonn,
to learn some interesting particulars in regard
to tho various plants, indigenous to those
islands nnd adapted to our own country.
Tho tree forns, which nro found on tho
Mauds, consist chiefly of threo varieties of
pnlu.feriis, tho botanical names of which nro
C'lopfliini gfiiucum, V. Ctamlnsol nnd (7. Ji
itfrli. Iu general sppeumnco they are not un
like tho popular DlcX-soaln, to which they nre
closoly iillied. Tho pulu-fern furnishes tho
commercial puln, a substance consisting of
silky, fibrous hairs, growing about tho base of
the frond (leaf) stalks of the'so ferus, and is
nocel for stoning mattresses. Soveral tons of
this puln nro annually exported from the isl
ands, at n fair remuneration. Thi se ferns grow
upon slilohllls nt nn elevation of about ouo
thousand feet nbovo tho level of tho sea, nnd
they are hardy in our California climate. For
ornament, nothing could bo introduced into
our gardens with a more pleasing effect; nnd
if planted lu quantities, thoy would nlso bo
come useful lu furnishing the pulu. Tho
(leaves) fronds measure from 10 to 12 feet iu
length, and form n most striking object of
benuty nnd grace. Tho pulu-fern trees,
which wo have received, are in size from six
Inchi a to four feel high, nud nro now develop
ing their new fronds rapidly. All are doing
well.
Soveral other treo-feru varieties nro found
upon the islands, such ns .INopnUet cfccMirrris,
CytMta mtilulhrti nnd Jrjxiriei prtieYfrrei, nil of
which are most desirable decorative plants nud
well ndapted to our illmate.
Three varieties of Skrew palms (jxiMiiVuitu)
are found on Ihe Islands, also wild glum r.V'nni
(CeJoeMiin fvciiuifii), tho roots of which furnish
all excellent fond lor tho inhabitants, while tho
leaves are used as u vegetable; this Trei could
be grown w lib good success iu our low- lauds,
particularly along our rivers, creeks and
springs;the Malign, "N itive Apple" (socnlled),
the Solomon Vine, Ihu l'n o Violet, tho llanaun,
nil are found in great luxuriance and contribute
largely to tho comfort nud to tho wauls of tho
inhabitants.
It is our intention to Introduco nil tho mnro
desirable) plants, trees nud shrubs of these is.
lauds, comparatively Utile known to us, into
California, nud wo aro thoroughly votivlucoel
that somo permanent good will c line from uur
various Importations. More of this heroaflor.
Mn.i.Kii .t HikVhiiri, Nurserymen.
7Vem theti. F. Ilural 1'rrn.
More Alfalfa Experience.
IFi-omtliel'clrio Itursl Prrx.)
Epitouk Piikhs: Although but n receut sub
scriber to jour valuable paper, on reading nn
article In your Issuu of February 7th, by "0.0.
A.," I felt as though I would like to say n
word to him and others nn alfalfa. Somo may
think tho question Is being "run into tho
ground." 1 wish it were so in fact; for small
farmers there is nothing like It, especially thoso
that have means of irrigating.
My experience in ns follows: On the 12th of
March, 1872, I sowed one and a half tieres on
ground which for elghte-en years hail been seed
ed to wheat. The surface soil Is light loam.
sub-Hoil adobe, surface water 20 to 21 feet. A
good plant came, uud not having it fenced, stock
fid it to the ground, then horses "went" for
the roots ami paweel to n depth of four Inches,
which treatment killed about half Ihe plants
and left my patch looking like a young hog
wallow. Tho following spring I went over It
with a harrow to level the hillocks. I el Id not
so any hi eel, as I should havo done, on tho
bare places. In tho latter pitst of April, '73,
I cut two tons of hay from Ihu patch, notwith
standing tho gophers harvested rather morn
than their share. During Hummer anil full, I
kept two cows ou it, but it seeslid well this
winter, ami 1 llud a good portion of the baro
spots well planted. Some of thu ohlest roots,
cut oil by gophers, seem to have tho vitality of
tho dock or horso radish. '1 hough thu gophers
havo been very bad, 1 expect to double tho
quantity of hay, und pasture a cow or two a
month longer.
Many farmers In this valley object to alfalfa
because it draws gophers umi makes tho land
hard to plow. To thu tlrst I would say, uso
good cats and water. Thu second objecliou is
idle, for after a Held of alfalfa is well set, it
would bo hci profitable that no farmer would
havo It plowed up, especially am4Harniers,
who I cousldur hIiouM dlvcuify their opera
tions by Mug nblei to product) prolllably row
cows, calves, sheep, hogs, poultry ulul hay,
which I believe can bu cioiio by having small
fields of alfalfa.
"CO A." "wishes It wero possible to cot
clean scud." There is plenty of III I would
refer him to D Furubam, of Woodbind, Yolo
county, who will guaranty good ami pure seed.
Afti r reading " ll.igar' on Chines,. Labor, I
would ask, why not havo our Gruugis take up
thu question, nnd import houso help from tho
Eastern and Southern hiatus, whero It Is said
there is plenty of it to bo had. willing to work
lu California at from Sit to flfi per month? Iu
that way it would improve their condition,
help the Chinese qiKHtioii, anil best elf ull,
would save thu Id alili nud life of many of tho
bist women in California. A. 11. W.
Santa Clara, Feb. Ulh, 187 1.
The New Era in Farming.
Tho good old days, of whleli we hear so
mill h, have passed away. It is questionable
whether they aro tube regreted; mom than cer
tain that Ihey are lint, su far us fariiilui! is con-
ceroid. Thu good old el tys of emu-horse, hap.
py-gii-iucay uxricuiiuro are uuii'isi over. Micro
wus ii time win ii tho motto would s. em Io be,
to do us (inn's father had done, until by repeat
ed experiment und multiplied failures ouo
le urue el belli r; to receive ou no account nuy
Information whatever, nnd to keep to nuesulf,
us much ns possihlo, nuy discovery Hindu.
The teiideiii-y now Is quite opposite, uud as
liberal und far-sighlesl lu policy us Iho other
was narrow-uiiuileel ami retrogressive. It is
Ihe great ubjoet with farmer to facilitate in
tercommuiiicatiou uud exchange of useful
knowledge, ruther thuu to Hhut out Ihe now
aud ke e pat home, tho improvements. Nu sen
sible farmer fears thai by announcing to hi
neighbors methods ol gelling uvurcerlniii dilli
cullies or of accomplishing t-vriuiri ends, ho is
thus i ucGurugiiig u set ol men, put upon his
own plane, to compete with nud injure him.
lie knows that for every single hint given out
by him, in return he resieives mauy; und that
us he is benefited by others it is only fair to re-clproc-ate
so far us he is able, The truth is,
that there is no class of men so cordially wll
ling to Impart Information, so mutually help.
ful. so i.tl'AtWy, us the farmers.
This statu ol lee-ling is iu turn Iho causa and
the result nl tie agricultural papers, tho books,
ihe Farmers' Clube and tho Granges. With
out the geueruus instinct these Instruments of
progress could not exist, and it i Juell fos
tered, finally, by its own offeprln.
--From Uu S. F. Jlural Prm.