Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1875)
WILLAMETTE FARMED ffllSCELLEOdS, California Condensed. Its Appearance in February. While the people of Iowa were shivering over their coal fires, trying often in Tain to keep oat the terrible cold of this, to be, memorable winter, here in California the favored Inhabi tants were enj ying very different condition. I say enjoying advisedly, for what else conld thev do wiih rones in bloom, the trees covered with foliage, and the hills green with toft new grass? While reading the JovmaTs accounts of the storms and snowblookades, I have often done so with the window open, and no suspi cion of a fire in the grate, which for a week or more had not been lighted. A stroll through Oakland, which lies just across the bay from San Francisco, shows the roses, carnations heliotropes, geraniums, fuchias, and a multi tude of other well known plants in b'oom, in the opt-n air. ADd such roses! Not the puny things the hot-house man forces into unnatural bloom in less favored countries, but large, full, ruddy ones, which look as it they had sucktd up from the earth, instead of water, some of the rich, red wines of the warm valleys. Arjd then the geraniums! What shall weeny of them? Growing often six to seven leet in bight, heliotropes ten feet high, runningup the walU, and covered with hundreds of delight fully fragrant flowers. ,..... Go out of the city a few miles in the San Leandro valley, and what a sea of whiteness is to be seen in the tens of thousands of almond trees covered with their fragrant white flowers. Here and there the pink tints tell us that the peach trees are also in fall bloom. Now and then a round topped tree may be seen bearing half hidden in the glossy foliage, large, yel low, and luscious looking oranges. The grain fields are green with wheat and barley, the former iully half a foot in hight. while the pasture laDds are in places covered with rank herbage a foot or more high in which the catile and sheep revel with delight as they fill themselves almost to bursting. The Climate. California can not properly be said to have a climate, it has many. A good map of the State shows it to have next the ocean a narrow strip of land which is nearly level; then comes the billy and mountainous strip made up of the Coiist Eange mountains; next the great in terior basin, called at the noith the Sacramento valley, and at the sou h the San Joaqnin val ley; next to this still further toward the inte rior the region of the foothills; and lastly the mountainous region of the Sierras. Eachstiip or region specified above has its peculiar cli mate, and often in a ride of one hour one can pass from the chilliness of March to the warmth and mildness of June. The ocean maintains a constant temperature of fifty-two degress Fahrenheit, both summer and winter, so that within its immediate influet ce the sum mers are cold and the winters waim, so warm that snow never falls and frosts raiely occur. In the Coast Range district all kinds of cli mate may be found, though snows are of rare occurrence in the vicinity of San Francisco. In the great central valley the summers are hot and the winters mild, no snow occurring ex cept in the north portion. In the foothills the climate gradually becomes more severe in win ter, until it finally passes into the snows and frosts of the topmost Sierras. The emigrant mav here choose his climate, and may be sure it will vary but little from a v. ell known uver- Bgliains fall from November to March, this period of lime constituting the wet season, wnue iruiu o.m ... ..-. -- -j . of rain tioubles the larmer. This dry season is the most unpleasant part of the year, in fact , it is the real winter, for during tne utter pari of it vegetation is as completely at rest bb it is in the cold months in other climates. It might be suppo-ed that that this long suspension of rainfall would make farming a difficult matter, but on the contrary it makes it much easier than in districts where rains come at irregular times throughout the year. Here thefurmer watches Ms rain gauge) wuub mo uiun u.o falling; if it shows a precipitation of twelve inches, ho knows that he may plant certain crops which dtinand the least amount of moist ure; if fifteen or eighteen inches have fallen, he . may plant almost anything; whilo if the gsuge I shows twenty intbt s or more, he plants of , ii.inn in ahumiAnrn lcnnwint? that there is moisture enough in the soil to mature any crop. This absence of raiu is an excellent thing in harvest time, for then the firmer is not obligt d to hurty up his hauling and stack ing, in fact, the latttr he need not do at all. Wheat when ripe maybe allowed to stand for weeks bi fore cutting, as there is but little loss by shelling as long as the rains hold off, and after cutiing it may lay on the ground for weeks again without damage; evpn after threshing it is often allowed to lie in bigs in the field MithoUt a shelter for a long time with out the slightest injury. Crops. The crops are as varied as the clima'e. The great inteiior basin is the granary of the State, producing anuualW millions of bushels of wheat and barley, I should have said millions of centals, for that is the measure we use here. (A cental is a weight of one hundred pounds.) In the coast range and the shore region froiis of all sor.s are largely grown. Among such maybe mentioned almond, peaches, plums, prunes, currants, strawberries for the San Francisco latitude, with the addition of olives, oranp.es, lemons, limes and figs further to the south. In the region of the foot-hills the grape grows to perfection, as also the apple and the peach. All these, including the grain, have a peculiarly fine appeuance, no doubt due to the favoring climate. The California wheats are famed the woild over for their whiteness and plumpness, especially the vaiieties kuown as the 'Australian" and "Chili." I may mention right here as an item of interest to your reaners. that I have purchased sufficient quantities of these two varieties for trial at the College this year. I am curious to see what effect our Iowa climate will have upon the color and size of the gTsins. Timber. All along the Coast Range are found immense groves cf redwood trees, which farnish an abundance of a fine red colored wood, which Is in many particulars very nearly like white pine, beinK. however, much more durable when ex posed to the weather. This is the timber tree of California. Next in value ia a fir. known as Oregon fir, or eironeously Oregon pine, which ia found in northern California, and also In Oregon. Then also eogar pine, yellow pine, cedar and spruce from the Sierras are exten sively used for msny purposes. The hard wood tree are mostly small, and in many cases of inferior quality. The oakj are just now coming into use, though most of the species are too brittle to be profitably uaett There are no hickories, no elms, no beeches; there ia but one small sixed ash, one rather wry, and small walnut and one valuable maple. To bet thia deficiency there are several l"0 trees not found eiaewbere. men as the CaU feraia laurel, which fumisnas a moat bf"o lfct adored wood; the saadrona, mmU "w gvy wooded tow, ahdUawtnmiU, n11 tree which furnishes a dense, heavy, dark col ored W0Ld, much resembling mahogany. Minerals. We generally think of California as the land of gold, forgetting that it has rich supplies of nearly every other mineral of value. I need not attempt to enumerete them, and will only say that of eoal. building stone, iron and gyp sum, there are inexhanstille supplies. The People. Generally the people, from living much in the open air, and having windows and doors opn for so great a part of the year, are Btout and healthy in appearance. Whether they live longer or not I do not know, but judging from their full faces and bealthv color, I have no doubt that the average length of life is some what greater than in colder and more inclement regions. Socially I see but little difference between people here and elsewhere. Possibly the American nervousness is a little more fully de veloped here, on account of the gold fevers which rage now and then. Weal'hy men are numerous, an! as a consequence there is much extravagant living. I never found a place where common people spent more per week than here in Oak'and. Cosily houses, costly furniture, fine gardens and fine dinners need and receive a great deal of money. The Money. How strange it seems to have gold and silver in my poeket. The first silver I received for a torn "greenback," I rolled over and over in my pocket, and then and tbern I real zed what a miser's sensation must be whn he conn's hi money. How big the half dollars seemed, and the quarters and dimes, and even the diminu tive half dime, bow they put to shame their poor relations, the "fractional currency," and the " nickles." But when I drew one day from the b ink some gold pieces, twenties, tens, fives, and two fifties, I coull scarctlv repress my feelings. I did not pay my board bill immeJl alclv, for I could not bare the thoughts of part ing with such be mtiful thiugs I went to my room, took out those gold pieces, piled them up as I had seen the banker doing, then grasped THE "WHOOPING" OR them all in my hand aqoin and rattled them. I could almost baie hugged them (had there been enough of them) they looked so pretty. But they had to go Tun 1 indlord tok them as unconcermdly as landl rds in Des Moines take greenbacks, aud with a chink they wen lost to my sight and purse. Gold and Bilver are true currency, how I wi-h we had it all over the United States. C. E. Bkssev. Oakland, California, March. 12, 1875 Western Farm Journal. MODE OF ASCERTAININO THK VaBIOCS KlVDS of Matebials in Mixed Fabmcb. A German industrial journal gives, ufier M. Vupp, the fol lowing treatment for fabiios containing silk and wool, with vegetable fiber. All vegetable fibers resist cauttio alkaline solutions" even when boiling, and are dissolved by sulphuric, nittio, hydrochlorio acids, even when diluted with odor. Vegetable fibers when burnt do not give forth any characteristic odor. Wool, insoluble in the above acids, is readily attacked by caustio alkalies, especially when hot; tho sulphur which it contains combines with the alkali, and the solution becomes black when acetate of lead is added to it. In burning, wool produces the same smell as horn. Silk is dissolved both in the acids and the caustio al kalies, and produces an odor similar to that of wool, but it contains no sulphur, and, conse quently, its solution in alkalis is not blackened by acetate of lead. In order to distinguish these materials in a tissue, it is treated first with concentrated hydrochlorio acid, cold; the residue is then washed in a filter, and, if neces sary, bleaebed, by metns of water containing chlorine, and then washed again in para water and boiled with caustic soda, which dissolves tne wool, leaving the vegetable fiber intact. The wool is distinguished from silk by adding acetate of lead to the liquid, as already men tioned. CoKFoamoM of Wool. Gauss. According to rkhuUe and Uricb, the balk of the natural wool grease of sheep consists of compound ethers. A part of aloohola and fatty acids are in a free eondition. Tn Newport mining conpany of Com Bay ia baying a loghoat for its own u. Whooping Crane. The whooping crane or sand-hill crane, so familiar onthis coast, breeds from California northward to the Arctio regions, whence it re moves southward early in autumn, and soon arrives ia the regions of the United States, from North Carolina to Texas, and thence westwatd to the Rocky monntains, and remains through out the winter. In the Middle States, east of the Allef,hanies, it is very rarely seen, and thence eastward to Maine it is unknown, all its m'grations being performed far inland. While migrating it travels both by day and night, and in total disregard of the character of the weither, its power of flight enabling it to resist the force of heavy gales. Thirty or forty form a flock, which is sometimes arranged in an acute-angled triangle, sometimes in a long line, and at others with an extended front, and sometimes flying in apparent disorder, each bird sounding his loud note in succession, as upon all occasions of alarm. The middle of October or beginning of No vember is the period of the ai rival of this spe cies in the United States, and the end of April or beginning of May of its depaiture for the North. They here frequent the edges of large ponds supplie I with rank herbage, on fields or savannas, now in swampy woods, and again on extensive marshes. Tho intetior of the country and the neigbborhocd of seashores suit them equally well, so lone as the temperature Is sufficiently high. Both the old and the young may be seen digging through the mud before the rains have begun to cover the shal low ponds. They work assiduously with their bills, and succeed iu uncovering the roots of the great water-lily, which olten run to a depth of two or three feet. Several cranes operate SANE-HIIJ. CHASE. at the same root and devour it together when obtained. They may then be approached easily and a number killed at a single shot When this do-cript'ou of food fails they resort to the ue!ds, to d. voiir corn, peus, sweet pota toes nud cotton st edit, and in the wet fields, seize on water insects, to ids and frogs, and occasionally mole, a meadow-mouse, or u snake, but not upon fish, as is believed. Tney feed only during the day. Though these birds may be easily'killed while Intent upon exhuming their food, their senses of sight and hearing are so acute, and I heir wariness is so great, that it requires the practice of mncti uitroltness to approacn mem. I bey are on the alert the moment a man ap pears, tbouuh a fourth of a mile distant; and, If not seen, the snapping of a twig beneath hi feet, or the closing of a gate behiud him, is Buf fi o eut to challenge their vigilance. They obsene bis motions with unerring precision. Mr. Audubon says he would as toon undertake to catch a deer by fiir running as to shoot one of these cranes which bad observed him. When wounded they are capable of iufiioting severe injury upon an nnwary sportsman. Wil son states that one of them has even beeu known to drive his bill through a man's hand at such a time. The young are more numerous than the old. Tbey are killed both for their flesh, which many relish, and for their beauti ful long feathers, of which fans and fly-brushes aie sometimes made. In some regions, these birds leave their feed ing grounds an hour before sunset, and silently repair to the interior of a highland forest, where six or seven of them alight on the branches of a lofty tree to roost. Here, after dressing their feathers for half an hour, tbey crouch In the manner of wild turkeys, and when there is moonlight may then be shot. In other regions tbey roost in the midst of tall grass.cat-tails and otcer plants, near the marsh es, selecting a dry hillock, upon which they stand on one foot, the other being drawn under the body, while the bead is thrust beneath the bread feather of the shoulder. In captivity they become gentle, and feed on grain and other vegetable, though tbey are occasionally mischievous, and wantonly pick and malm chickens and other poultry. They probably do not attain their fall aiae nor perfect plumage batata Inay art f oar or y obi. Alfalfa Outside of California. From Pacific Kuril Press. With a prudence characteristic of farmers, our friends in other States are slow to embark in alfalfa growing. They evidently suppose that because its success has been notable in California, this country must possess some pe culiar advantages in this connection; and though they are not disposed to give it up to us entirely, they seem to scarcely hope that it wi.l do as well with them as it does with us. The following letter, addressed to the Rural Press, and written by a gentleman of Colotado Springs, Col., is one of many such as we are receiving from parties in various portions of the couutty: " I am carrying on a large live stock and farming bu-iucss here, and would like to try a crop of alfalfa this spring. It is not kuown in this country, and has never been crown here. Not knowing any seed dealers in California, I take the liberty of writing to you for informa tion concerning it cost of seed per p nind, number of pouuds to acre, best time for sowing, mi.de of cultivation, etc. I would like to try about ten acres of it if it is thought adapted to our cold climate." In answer to the above, we would say that nrime alfalfa seed is worth in San Francisco 20 e ents per pound by the hundred pound. This does not include d ayage and extra tnoks. There is a grade of alfalfa seed in market sell ing at 9 cents per pound. Where it is to be urown for sheep or nogs, it migut oe aavisaoio tn how this, but for other purposes, the best seed will be the cheapest in the end. The amount of seed required per acre varies, according to soil andcliiuate; the latter having most influence. The farmers in uamornia have learned by experience that it is decidedly a " pound loollsn practice to scrimp in cue) number of pounds of seed sown to the acre. The growing of alfalfa in California was com menced on a Dasis oi ia pouuus iu euo uuiu, it was soon found, however, that the thiuly-sown fields suffered most from the sun and drying winds in amine. Iu passinc tbrouuh this ordeal, there is found to be the same diffdteuce between light and uavily seecluJ niiuia ucius lli.it eVn.ru in Vipfwpnn 1 itn anil earlv sown grain. As in the case of the grain, the earl) sown gets a good stand, and covering the ground protects the roots from the sun and wind, whic h, falling upon the late sown while the ground is partially bare and tho roots are teuder and weak produces a crust on the surf ice sjil, and thn rays of the sun follow tho Blonder stalks down to their roots, and blight ensues So in the alfalfa field whero the sowing hss been liberal, the heavy stand of an early growth covers the soil and renders the hot sun and blighting wind powerless for evil, while that which was stinted in seed is unable to withstand the exposure. Iu most other farming countries, this late sown grain, or thinly sown alfalfa, would have derived no injury lrom a similar setback in spring; on tne contrary, it would have been turned to advantage by stool- 1112, but experience has taught the farmers of California tuat tnis is tne severest orueai iu which orain and grass are subjected iu this country. They have found a remedy in heavy seeding, ana zu pouuus oi auanu iu iuu uuro in uow the standard seeding here. Soiuo sow still heavier; we know of one of tbe moBt ex. pt rienced alfalfa growers in the Sto'e, an ex tensive dairyman, who is this season bo wing 30 pounds to the acre. By this liberal needing the young growth is less liable to Buffer from ihe impending drouth, us stated above', and another marked advantage is gained by the al falfa at once getting the upper hand of auy foulness which the soil may contain. As to mode of cultivatiou in districts subject to spring frosts, defer sowing until there ia no longer any danger from this quarter. Plow debp, harrow mellow and fine, brush tho Beed in and roll with medium weight roller. The seed should not be put in deep, and it is desir uble that it be well covered not by lumps, howover, and that tho fine soil be brought all about tho Beed; brushing and light rolling will do this. If the abovo principles and precepts are prop erly considered aud practiced, and the field re ceives such subsequent treatment as any good pasture or meadow ought to receivo, it will not need rcseeding for twenty yearB. Starch. The discovery of starch is not a modern achievement. Pliny places it anterior to the Christian era in fact, thero is g od reason to suppose that it was not unknown ti the ancient deities, and that the flowing robe which graced the form of Venus was perhaps starched nnd frilled.' Be this as it may, starch his always retained a strong hold upon tho popular favor. During tho reign of Queen Elizabeth it was in gre it de'mand in England to stiffen the enor mous ruffs cf that period. It must, howover, have been an inferior article, as we see it spoken of in the occasional historical allusions as of a yellow greenish color, showing thst the manu facture waB still in a crude state. Only during the last quarter of a century, and in the United States, has tho refining of starch approached perfection. In 18S8 the Messrs. Doryea, at Glen Cove, Long Island, began tbe manufacture and re fining of starch from maize or Indian oorn. Their business has in reased to such a degree that their works at Glen Cove now covor twelve acres, and have a manufacturing capac ity of thirty tons per day. Duryean starch received the first prize medal at the Paris expo sition of 1807 for "Perfection of Quality." This, where tbe article was brought ia compe tition with tbe manufacturers of tbe whole world, was a triumph. Duryea's starch is of a pure white, while many starches will be found to have a golden or yellow tinge. This is ac counted for by the superior process of manu facturing made use of by tbe Messrs. Dur)ea, which euables tbem to segregate the perisperm or albumen from tbe gluten and fatty matter of tbe maize. The Duiyea starch, as prepared for tbe market, answers well tbe description of Brando; "Starch is a snow white and often glistening powder, whiob, pressed with the fingers, produces a peoulUr crackling noise." How to Use a Grindstone. Common grind stone spindles, with a crank at one end, are open to the great objection that Ihe stone will never keep round, because every person is in clined, mora or less, to follow tbe motion of his foot with his band, which causes the pres sure is alwsvs applied to tbe very same part of stone, and will soon make it uneven, so that it is impossible to grind a tool true. To avoid this, put iu place of tbe crank a small cog wheel of 13 cogs, to work into the former. The stone wilt make about '07 of a revolution more than the erank, and the harder pressure of tbe tool on the stone will change to another place at every turn, and the stone will keep perfectly round if it is a good one. This Is a very sim p's contrivance, but it will be new to many of oar readers Ohiul Spinner, treasurer of tha United Mohair. From Paclfie Rural Press. Editors Pbess :--Enclosed you will find a speoi men of work done by McCracken and Welch o San Jose, which we think worthy of your atten tion, and that of your many readers. The dyers of Amerioa have tried in vain to find a mordant, that would set a jet bhek dye on any kind of a fur skin without injury to the skin or fiber, and we know of .but one house in England that has nude a perfect success of dressing and dving fur skins blaok henee our furs and other pelts have mostly b.eu sent to England to be dressed and dyed where a black was requirred. We pay a duty of $1 ou seal skins to get them to England and returned, therefore Angora pelts of a jet blaok have been very costly and rare. Wo think MoCraoken and Welch are now making as perfect a jet black as can be done iu England, aud ns fast color; retaining the lustre and beau'y of the fiber, and the soft pliability of the strength of the skin. This is evidently a success achieved iu this line, worthy of tho hlhest commenda tion; they can dress and dye Angora po ts, and other fur, for much less than the duty alone If sent to Europe to be dyed', and will therefore, by cheapening tbe article, throw millions of pelts into marset that would not otherwise even find their way there, for want of a suitable dye. At a reasonable price, these men, are preparing to dress and dye skins on a large scale. In San Jose we nave lately neatd oi anotnor Atuerio.in invention, of considerable Impor tation, imttioul rlv to breeders of Anoora coats. John Shinn, of Philadelphia, has iuvented a loom for weaving a pile fabric, at any depth of pile and in connection with tne uorn oauK oi .rniiaaeipuia uuu mucin is now encased iu bulldin'c a factory for the ininufacture of mohair plushes. The firm of Niclet, Brown, Nlblet Ac (Jo. are interested in the factory; tbey are supposed to be the heav iest imnorters of mohair pluBbes iu Am rica. These pliiihes all come from France, and com prise all tne nnest clips oi piusnea iu mo woild. Tbey are used for all the finest car coaches and other fine furniture. This com pany now propose to use when under weigh 1,000 pounds of mohair Angora goat fleece Eerday. This will include all grades of mo air; they propose to use the o arsest buck fleeces and gr idx fleece, down ns low as it can be Bhoared off, into the various qualities of plushes, and the finer qualities of mohair into imitation of seal skin, wh oh they say they can make very perfect, even better thau the gen uine seal skin. Following is a P. S. from Mr. Shinn in an swer to inquires in regird to a simple of our lowest grade fleece: P. S. I am right among the manufactory of ingrain oarpe's, aud nni personally acquainted with most of them. The sampli s of ', and bleeds is two thirds of it too good for in grains; about ono-third tho ahott fibers will niako good filling. The b il nice would make a first class warp yarn, but though I think it is too good for that purpose. It will make ex cellent yarn for velvet carpets and rugs. I am personally acqu tinted with sevi ral of our lar gest wool dealers, and I think I will uet you sale for all jou h ivo liko the samplo I h.tvo ro recoived. KeBpecttully, J. SntNN. I a'so orclo-o samples of ladies' dreBS goods, made by Hall & Turner, of Jamestown, New York, from California mohair, the first mohair goods made iu their new alpaca and mohair factory. Mr. Hall pronounces the mixed goodB a suco'SS, but says ho will improve nn tho lus ter of the black in the next lot whic h he is now making. I have shown these goods to Beveral merchants and they all agree that they com pare favorably with Eugllxh mohair dress goods. Mr. Shinn remarks in his communica tion: "The only trouble I have to dispose of my patent loom is, when I approach manufac turers they my I would like your looms but can't get tho mohair," and at the same time the broedcrB Bay, "Where is our market." Now, ho says, "Let them send on thoir fleece aud wo will give them a market." Thn fl.;ooo is all we want to malio a success with our loom, in furniture, plushes, velvets or seal skin imitation. Wm, M. Lanmiom, Of Landbum & Hodoehh, Watsjnvillp, March 'J3, lh75. Sheep in Trouble. Having had much expeiienco with sheep I nd viso no doctoring or attempting to cure dis eases; but the in-tin t any Rickncss seems to be coming on a Hhcep of iinv ngo, slaughter it right away, be foto tho compl tint has time to nftVt the meat. I have had sovural hundreds in cbarte e-f shepherds uuelcr my superintendence and it is verv raroly any Bheep ever does any good ft-r nilitm; therefore my plan was for the shepherd to kill every sheep or lamb that bod any kind of disease coming on or' If it stood alone without eating or wanting t j liu tbe rest of tho flock. By this means I had ono of tbe most healthy flookB in oxistenof net bucIi a flock us is termed a flook uow-a-days, hutabout seven hundred; and after tho first two jears there was not one in a hundred over came, to "grief." It is breeding from sheep prone to sickness which causes u flook to bo having ail ing sheep in it. Of course there must be no nonsensical sheltering of sheep out cf rain in the Hummer season, for it does them good to bo out day and night, and in winter they ought to have a run out iu the day or the confinement will cause trouble. Where the climate is mild, they should never be housed, Mr. ltandall copied the recipes for curing oom platnls and I assure every owner of sheep there never was a greater mass of rubbish than was published in the English sheep books; for none of tbe largo flock masters ever dream of keeping or buying physio for sheep. Tbe diseases are most of them imaginary, and the only tbree woith thinking of, are foot rot, scab and liver rot. Tbe fltst two are easily cured aud will nevor come again afterward unless diseased animals are put with them agsin. The third disease has no cure and is not known in this country. Drop-y occurs when tegs are thriving very fast, after having been checked in their well doing by some bad feeding; but when sheep are kept as they should be, in a uniform, regu lar, healthy condition, never receiving any obeoks to their growth, rhey will not be liable to dropsy or other ailments; and when a flock is oronerlv managed and kept in Rood order. always kill every sheep which docs not do so well as tbe rest, for that is tbe way to secure real hardv, bealtby and profitable sheep, JJu ral New Yorker. A Coos's Blonbeb, A lady on the east shore of Maryland happened to make sausage meat and wines pies on tbe same day, Being called to the parlor to receive company, she rcurned to find to bersotrow that the cook bad put the wlue, spice, sugar and plums intothesausages, while the mince meat received its complement of sweet heib, sslt and pepper, Tha lady magnanimously bestowed the whole stock on the poor, since which she ba never been troubled by tbe siok and demoralized paupers who vara Ear vioUaos. lijVsT !