The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 19, 1897, Page 8

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1897. CALIFORNIA PROMISED AN ABUNDANT HARVEST Reports Received by “The Call” From Many Counties of the State Indicate an Unprecedente There is every indication that the farmers and fruit-growers of California will be most amply repaid for their laborsin plantin- and cultivating the crop for this season and that they will reap a most abundant harvest. . A protracted cold spell bas been beneficial to both fruits and cereals, and if the weather continues favorable to the farming and horticultural industries Californians ed 1n these pursuits will be greatly enriched. Tur CALL has canvassed the State thoroughly in regard to the forthcoming crops of grain and fruit and the result is most gratitying. There are a few counties in which the rains have set back growth, but a few days of sunny weather may make these all right. TrE CALL recentiy sent out to its correspondents in various townsand counties of the State the following letter: “Please forward to THE CALL by fast mail after receipt of this letter a careful esti- mate of the prospects of the grain and fru't crops. e the probable yield of wheat, barley and hay, and state whetber the fruit promises 10 ba of good quality or otherwise. “If frost should intervene before the receipt of thisletter tell what its efiect is likely to be. Inshort, endeavor to give in a few words an_ intelligent idea of the outlook, so tiat when the reports from all sections are g-thered and published in THE CALL the result will be of real value to all interested in the prosperity of the State.” In respunse to this letter THE CALL representatives in the various counties inter- viewed the authorities on grain and fruit crops, and from the information each corre- spondent received from the best posted men on these subjects he based a prediction as to the outcome of the coming harvest. It will be gratifying to Californians to note that a greater acreage has been planted in grain. The grain production of the State, except in a few counties, hay for years been unequal to the consumption, and it has been necessary for Californians ‘o import cereals from the gran-growing fields beyond the Rocky Mountains. This detriment to the presperity of husbandry promises to soon be overcome. In one county alone, as the reports published below show, 3000 aaditional acres were planted in grain this year. " All the orchardists have to fear is a late frost. The fruit trees at the present are in excellent condition. Cold weather has kept them back from bursting into bloom 100 early in the season, and tuey are now hardy and strong; and give a promise of an abundant yieid. With the prospect of an excellent crop and good prices for their products, the farmers and fruit-growers of California have a bright prospect before them this present season. The statement of the local weather office rezarding the rainfall, and reports from correspondents of many counties in Caliiornia, are given below. LT SUPPLY OF MOISTURE. history of Colusa County has the prospects foralarge grain crop been more flatter- cc1sco,] | ing. In the first place a third more acreage 3, 1897. § nrs heel’l put in grain than has baen! ey e Eins 1 plantea for several years. Large tracts of Fditor Call. City—DEAR Sin: Inclosed | fyp3hoq” boen summer-fallowed, and is a tabie giving the seasonal precipita- | 1 ins this was so delayed by the winter tion up to March 12 from fifty of the prin- | rains, and had to be done for the spring cipal cities and towns in California, as per | sowing. Farmers have sowed a large your request of yesterday evening. We | acreage within the past three weeks, and have also added the rainfall for the pre- | :;3:“1‘}1 planting in some portions of the ceding year. " Very f*s_“e“““"‘3‘ Planting of wheat was greatly encour- ALEXANDER McADre, aged by tiie good price that prevailed dur- Local Forecast Official. | ing the past season. Barley has been SEASONAL RAINFATLS IN CALIFORNIA, | largely planted, and hay will be bountiful. 150697, All'these are doing finely, and the pros- pects for a heavy crop areeven better than they were a week ago. The fruit crop has every prospect of being a heavy one. Frost has done no injury, and the trees are literally ioaced with buds and biossoms. Those orchards around Colusa are particularly fine. From Williams, Arbuckle and College City the report is thata fourth more grain than ever before will be gathered and a third more of orchard products. The rai-in raisers of the Arbuckle and College City localities are makinz preparations to handle a large crop. The Maxwell dis- trict reports the best of grain prospects, and the outlook for the whole county is cheering. The rains have ceased and the sunshine is bringing lile into vegetation. fia iR R EL DORADO COUNTY. GEORGETOWN, CaL., March 18 —In the section known as the Georgetown ‘WEeATHER BUREAT, M STATIONS. ngeles. Sarings - Divide, lying between the middle and Hodento south forks of the American River, El Dorado County, very little grain is raised, except that which is cut for hay, of which a considerable amount is harvested each year. About the average acreage was sown during the past fall and early winter, ard the climatic conditions to the present time point to the average yield. Itisa little early as yet at this aititude (2700 i fest) to predict with any certainty wnat the vield will be, as much depends upon the later rains, which in this locality usu- ally continue through the month of April, and even into May., The cold weather now prevailing and the recent fall of snow, which reached a depth of sixteen inches, 1as had a ten- dency 1o check the swelling of fruit buds, and present indications point to a favora. bie season for sll varieties. Should Iate {rosts not prevail the yield of all kinds of fruit will be beavy, as most varie ies have had a rest since the season of 1895 owing to the disastrous late frosts last year. et HUMBOLDT COUNTY. EUREKA, Car.,, March 18.—There is every indication that the fruit and grain crop in this county will be fully up to if not above the average yield. From statistics prepared by the secre- tary of the Humboldt Chamber of Com- merce it is estimated that the apple product this year will reach 60,000 boxes; product of dried fruit, abour 100,000 pounds; grain, principaily barley, 20,000 sacks. Cold, rainy weather retards the budding of fruit trees, which do not yet show signs of life. Last year the fruit trees blos- somed in February, and a stormy March proved disastrous to fruit-growers. The ‘production of grain is graduaily decreasing, as farmers find dairying more profitable, and grain lands ure |being rapidly turned into pastar AR ST BUTTE COUNTY. CHICO, March 18.—The prospects of the present erain crop, especially wheat, is not at all flattering in this vicinity. The greater portion of our grain lands is adobe, and continuous rains through Jan- uary, February and in the first part of March, combined with the cold and frost, have played sad havoc with all thie summer fallow and early winter grain sown. That which was not drowned was decayed beiore sprouting. Some of the late winter- sown grain may yield the average annual crop if the weather remains favorabie, but even with this there will be only from a third toa haif crop, or from only six to ei{hl bags yield per acre. Many of the farmers are now sowing what ground that could not be put to wheat to barley, and indications tend to show a favorable yield of barley as the weather has turned very favorable. 1t is now thought that there will be a heayy cut of hay this season, as some lands are foul, as they were last year. As to the outlook for an abundant yiell of [ruit it was never better than at present. The low temperature during January and February retarded the advancement of the fruit-buds by at least three or four weeks, but the present warm westher has bro t the trees out beautifully with well-matured capules. The a/mond, apri- cot ani plum trees are heavily ladep, and should there be no frost of any severity within the next few weeks there will be an enormous crop of late fruiz. CALAVERAS COUNTY. MURPHYS, CaL, March 18.—Owing to the high altitude the fruit trees of this section have not as yet bloomed and the buds are barely swelling. A few almonds bave put forth their blossoms, but they invariably fall before the frosts. It would be a safe prediction to say that if by the cold weather the biossoms are held back for eight or ten davs yet there will be a good crop in this section the coming sea- . B0 Growing grain isin a fair condition. is well-rooted and of good color. T in- dicates a good yield. The acreage in grain is somewhat larger than usual owing to the clearing and sowing of new KERN COUNTY. BAKERSFIELD, Car., March 18.—The prosvect for a bountiful grain crop in Kern County i- flattering. Inquiry among the jarmers discioses the fact that itis the most promising seagon for several years past, and aiso that the acreageis much larger than ever before, A conservative esiimate would place the area sown at about 75000 acres. A great deal of this is on what is known audry land, above irrigation, and this portion of the crop is_particuiarly fine, much of it being aiready in boot. ‘This is the results of the spiendid rains that have fallen in this county during the present season. The crop is estimated to be about two weeks earlier than last season. The hay crop is equally assuring. Regarding the fruit crop it is yet too 1¢| €arly to speculate on its outlook. The apricots and almonds are in full bloom. The other varieties are still 1n their winter stute. The orchardists claim that the blooming period 18 iwo weeks behind time. ground 1n different rancaes. Wheat, bar- fey and oats are all cut and cured for hay in this precinct, it being essentially a teaming community. There are hun- dreds of mules and horses used here Which are to be fed from Dicember o May of each year. Hay ranges from $16 to $20 per ton. COLUSA COUNTY. §LCOLUSA, Cal., March 18.—Never in the gt B i o LOS ANGELES COUNTY. LOS ANGELES, (AL, March 18.—The abundanc: of rain thronghont Southern California during the season has fallen at such opportune intervals that none of it has been wasted. In conaequence, the ground is moistened 16 a great depth, assuring fine pasturage durine the summer and autumn. No better opportunity was ever offered d Yield of Fruit and Grain- Planted for This Year's Reaping. the farmer for making sowings of immense acreage to wheat and barley. The oppor- tunity has been well improved with the result that a far larger area than ever before has been put to these cereals. The ratio of increased acreage being as 2 to 1 in favor of wheat. Antelope Valley supplies an exception to this rule; for want of seed wheat, the acreage has been greatly reduced. Tile farmers of San Fernando and Simi vaileys, the two sections of this county where wheat is exclusively grown, have about doubled their acreage. The yield promises to be the grestest ever known. The unusually cold weather during March has retarded the bloom on apricot trees, which are now full of blossoms with assurances of a full crop. The peach crop is equallv promising. And, although the season storage crop has just been moved, an abundance of bloom gives assurance of a large early crop for next year. A hail- storm of great severity to-day in_ the neighborhood of Whittier is said to have injured the apricot crop of that locality. Linnets have done ereat {amage to .the aimond cropin Antelope Valley, and. still check the growth, but with the great amount of misture in the ground and a few warm days, which are sure to come, this is not looked upon with any degree of alarm, T The outlook for fruits of all kinds is most promising. It is not thought that the recent frosts have affected anything, uanless it is the aimonds, of which but few are erown here. Farmers and fruit-growers all express the opinion that no more favorable season has been seen here in many years. P S MENDOCINO COUNTY. UKIAH, March 18 —The consensus of opinion among agriculturists and fruit- growers of this county is to the effect that the present year will be very favorable to those industries, Over 36 inches of rain has fallen this season and feed is excellent. The late cold storms were very severe on young stuck, however, and the season is back- ward. Hop-growers are very sanguine ”~. 18.71 SANLOUIS OBISPO (€ many years past. A lai acreage has been sown, and the weather so far has been in the highest degree favorable for growing grain. Experienced grain men decline at this time to make an estimate of the probable yield of cereals in the county, although it is probably entirely safe to place it at at least 20,000 ton:s in the vicinity of Merced. The fruit promises a heavy crop of guod quality. The trees are now loaded down with buds, but the birds are doing some havoc in the orchard il g NAPA COUNTY. NAPA, Car, March 18.—The prospects brighten for an abundant harvest of fruits and of grain.. The farmers are rejoicing, for the indications are that the harvest of cereals and fruits will be larger this year than it has been for many years. The climatic conditions have been most favorable. There has been no long and severe storms and, on the other hand, there has been no excessive droughts. Last year there was much warm westher during the month of February and this caused the fruit buds tostart. March was cold and severe frosts fell. The buas were injured and the fruit crop was materially lessened. Thisyear it has been to the con- trary. February and the early part of March have been cold and stormy. Be- cause of this the budding of thie fruit trees is two weeks later. This has been of ms- terial advantage to the farmer, for now no danger from frostsis anticipated by any one. The indications are that the wheat crop will be unusually large. The fields of growine wheat have a good color and are free from wads. Owing to tl e high prices there is more acreage o wheat this year than usual. The crops for bariey and for hay are also promising. ST. HELENA, CaL., March 18.—As far s can be t0.d at the prasent date the out- look for grain and fruit in this vicinity is very encouraging. The yield of grain promises to be very large and of the best quality. The fruit crop is expected to be large and of good quality if Iate frosts do not occur to damage the bloss ms. The pre- vailing cold weath r 1as a tendency to delay the blossoms from coming out so early, and consequently lessens their lia- bility to be destroyed™ by tne late frosis should they occur. “The almond biossoms are out, but it cannet be toid if they have THIS YEAR’S RAINFALL IN CALIFORNIA. The Figures Beneath the Names of Towns Indicate the Quantity of Moisture for the Season in Inches. the yield will be far larger than ever before. Alfalfa is the most luxuriant and abundant ever known in the history of the county. POMONA, Can, March 18.—Never in the history of Pomona Valley has there been such promise of abundant crops of grain and fruit as at present. A common remark here now is that this winter sea- son has been most favoral rain, san- shine and freedom from blighting frosts ever known in this locality. The only danger that may come now {o the agricul- tural productions of Pomona Valley this year will be frost at about the time of the blossoming of prune, peach, pear, olive and oranye trees, but there is little or no thought of probability of that now. Conservative estimates put the quantity of apricots that will be grown 1n Pomona Valley 1n 1897 at 3000 tons. The same au- thorities believe that about 2200 tons of runes wili be produced in Pomona Val- ey ; also about 1800 tons of peaches. There is no estimate obtainable yet as to the quantity of the wheat and barley crops in Pomona Valley, for the grain is marketed at cifferent points and it is hard to get satisfactory estimates. PASADENA, ~ Can, March 18.—The general outlook for the production of hay, grain and fruit in Sonthern California and this locality for 1897 has never been ex- celled in the recollection of the oldest in- habitant. Early warm rains induced the farmers to plow and plant early, and its result is a great acreage vlanted to wheat, oats, rye and barley. The hay and grain crop wiil be enormous and native grasses abundant. Orange and deciduous fruit trees are now putting forth their spring growth, they not having been in the least injured by a slight frost of two weeks ago. " The yield of apricots, peaches, prunes and oranges this coming year is now beyond calguiatiol B ackberries, strawberries and other smali fruits give evidence now of great thrift. Generally indications are good for a most wonderful yield of every*hing in the ‘way of grain, fruits and vegi phais o MADERA COUNTY. MADERA, Car, March 18.—The grain orops ‘throughout Madera County never looked more promising at this season of the year than now. The good price paid last year has stimulated production, and (his year the acreage exceeds by a third that of any former year, the increase being principally in wheat, had o tendency to The cool weather over the outlook for beer blossoms. The surplus held over is very small, which means good ))rlcn for this year's crops. The late frosts have slightly injured early peaches, but otherwise fruit pros- pects are excellent. ‘I'he area to be sown to erain thisy will be greater than usual. All things considered the outlook is for & very pros- perous year. The rainfall during the season of 1896 Was 41.26 inches. For this season thus far it has been 3643 inches. The average rainfall for the last twenty years hi 85.18 inches. ————— MARIN COUNTY. BAN RAFAEL, CaL, March 18.—In cereals and hay Marin County cuts no fig- ure in tab es of export. The cattle on her hitls take all she raises, and it goes to market only in cubes ot butter and cans ot milk. Her wheat and parley fields are all cut for hay, exvept s very little which is threshed for home use. Indeed, the county draws largely from the outside, not only for grain but for hav, Sonoma, Boiano and the San Joaquin Valley con- tributing to its supply. The amount of the home product this season is in doubt. Rain and frost con- tinued through February and created an- ticipations o¥ a splendid yield, but when the wet and cold lasted through a toird of March jt was 100 Iate to get in seed in low land, and ashadow fell upon the pros- Keet. On high ground the roots are stur- and average weather for six weeks to { come will bring fort did growth. We look for an average growth but no more. Much the same conditions prevail in fruit culture. It was thought that Febru- ary’s low temperature would hold back the blossoms and save them from the dreaded frosts which are liable to come in April. But they have been so severe and that damage to resulted, and Novato, which is great fruit centers, has dl‘opflfl her hopesof an extra yield of apples, peaches, apricots, etc., and will be satis- tied with a moderate crop. Exceptionally favorable weather from this date may chanve the outcome consid- erably, but at present no very flattering Pprospect appears. sy MERCED COUNTY. MERCED, Car., March 18.—The out- look for a particularly large wheat crop is much more promising this year than for long-continued ~already fruit ha been damaged by the frost until the buds have formed, Ll ORANGE COUNTY. BANTA ANA, March 18.—The outlook for grain and iruitcrops in Orange County this year is better than fcr many years past. The rainfall to date has been 14 inches, which was very evenly aistributed torough all the months since November, and in such mild showers that no damage has resulted. Over 50,000 acres of barley will be sown in the county this year, the vield from which, at a conservative estim should be 1,000,000 sacks. Several thousand acres of wheat have also been sown. The hay crop will be very large, 20,000 tons being a low extimate of the y. ‘While.it is yet early to predict with any degree of certainty upon the deciduous fruit crop, from present indications it wiil be the largest in the hitory of the county. Apricots and peaches are alresdy in bloom, and there is now but little danger from frost, from which the county has escaped without injury thus far. Thou- sands of new walnut and orahge trees are coming into bearing, so that an enormous yield of the e important cropsis expected. ‘About 6000 acres will be planted to sugar beeis in the county this season, the prod- uct to be used at the new sugar factory now being completed at Alamitos. AR Sy PLACER_COUNTY. AUBURN, March 18.—The outlook for the Piacer County farmer and fruit- grower at the present writing is most en- couraging. Not in the past ten years has there been as much grain sown. The usual amount of summer-fallow has been added to by the sowing of an immense amount of new acreage, stimulated no doubt by the infla- tion in the wheat market last iall. Fully 125,000 acres, mosily in wheat, has veen 20Wn in this county, and nothing short of vere nor:h winds can a The fruit crop outlook E.“ the warm wea her in February rought out the buds, and in consequence the snowstorm in March killed many of them. - So far this reason nothing has ap- peared to give the iruit-grower any un- easiness. Although tha weather has been pleasant most of the time it has not been warm enough to advance the bu the cold wi very in- dication of a big crop all along the Jine, with the possible exception of almonds, Increased Acreage and xhe} are so few {hat they are of little consequence. e SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. SANTA BARBARA, CaL., March 18.— The condition of the grain crop is good, as the soil was favorable to seeding, owing to the rans having fallen sufficiently to enable the planting. The planting of grain was from November 1, 1896, to January 1, 1897, but the average date of planting was D cember 1, 1896 The present growth is healthy and in excese of the last two years and is what would be considered a good stand. Wheat will average eighteen bushels per acre, which is above the averave. Hay wili average two and a half tons to the acre and barley will average from thirty to thirty-five bushels to the acre. Barley has been planted in an increase above the average about 10 per cent. In regard to the fruit crop, it having had plenty of rain, the indications are favorable for alargeyicld. Butowing to the weather having been cool the fruit buis have been neld back. Bui warm rains and plenty of sunshine will insure an extra good crop for this season. g SAN MATEO COUNTY. REDWOOD CITY, CarL., March 18.—The outlook for a prosperous farming on throughout San Mateo County was never brighter than at the present time, and un- less something unforeseen intervenes be- tween now and the farming season proper the farmers will realize an abundant barvest. The prospects for a large crop of hay and grain are even better than tnat of last year. The heavy rains which we have ex- erienced of late bav had rather a bene- ficial than an evil effect, except in the very low Iands, where the crops have been urowned out, and in those places it will probably be necessary to sow them again. The fruit crop is_nardly far enough ad- vanced to say delinitely as to the possible yield. On some of the treesof the lale- yielding fruits there are as yet no signs of buds, while on the earlier iruit trees buds bave atready appeared. Though the frosts have not been sufficiently severe to cause much damage, yet there are places where 1tx effects have been feit. Unless we have beavy frosts later in the season it is sate to say that the crop will be much larger than tnat of last year. MENLO PARK, March 18.—The out- look ior an abundant harvest in this val- loy is not very promising. In the low lands ti.e r cent heavy rains have washed out the growin grain, while on the foot- hills crops have not that healthy appear- ance usually seen at this time of the year. Warm weather and late showers will help the growing grain very maierially, but even with these influencesthe rarmers do not expect an average yield. lhe Hes- sian fly .as made its appearance here for the lust three yearsand desiroys the wheat stalks and makes the rasing of wheat al- most impossible. Barley is also attacked by this insect and while it is not so severe as on wheat the yield will not any more than satisty hume consumption. The prospects for a heavy iruit crop are good, and if late frosts do not appear the yield will be larger than in any previous year. — SANTA CLARA COUNTY. GILROY, (AL, March 18.—Fruit pros- pects were never more promising than at present in the history of the valley. The present frosty mornings check the early blossoming of buds, though apricots and almonds are in full bloom. The grain is up and a beautiful crop is expected by the farmers. Barley is the principal crop here. The late heavy raing did slight damage to grain on low places, The acreage planted to fruit and vines has been increased the past season, and many new orchards will bear their first "k raintall to the present date is 18.25 inches, and a month of sunshineisall that is needed to make this the banner year for crops of all kin: ot SAN DIEGO COUNTY. SAN DIEGO, CaL., March 18.—Should no unforseen disaster occur within the next three weeks the season of 1896-97 will pass into history as the most tavorable, agriculturally speaking, within recent years in mot only the San Diego Bay region but throughout the 4000 square miles of arable territory in this county. There have been no frosts of consequence. Pasturage was never so good before and the cattle and sheep are uniformly sleek and fat. Mostof the grain area lies in Santa Maria, Escondido and adjacent val- leys ana on the lower mesas. *‘ha acreage which will be harvested for grein this year is roughly estimated at 25,000 acres—i0 per cent over any pre- v.ous year—15,000 acres in barley, esti- mated to yield 17 sacks per acre, and 10,- 000 acres in wheat to yleid 11 sacks aver- age, making a total of 255,000 sacks of bariey and 110,000 sacks of wheat. This t least a 50 per cent greater yield than county has ever had before. Almost all grain rai-ed in the bay region wili be cut as usual for hay, and the crop wil, be phenomenal. New hay is already coming in. San Diego and Escondido this season will ship a total of 100 care of oranges and 325 cars of lemons approxi- mate.;y—aboui 40 per cent greater t an any previons year. Someaprico. trees are already in bioom and the deciduous fruit and raisin ou.look was never more prom- ising. Tbe apple crop of the Julian bel 18 estimated at 100.000 boxes. e ISl ol SOLANO COUNTY. BENICIA, CAL, March 18, —The long- continued cold weather this year has had the effect of retarding all kinds of crops, both cereal and fruit. A large portion of the low lands will be very late in its yield. Benicia district will Ve about the same acreage this year as but the crop has been pianted for grain instead of huy. At least oue-fourth of the land will be in wheat and about one-fifth in barley, leaving about one-fiith in hay. The oalance is pasture land and orchards. Some of the almond orchards will be damaged by the frosts, but no other kind of fruit nas been as vet, and if We get no more frosts there will be more than an average crop of fruits, espec.ally of grapes. The furmers and fruit men all anticipate a gouod crop. —_— SHASTA COUNTY. ANDERSON, Car, March 18.—The grain iand in this territory ‘comprises about 2000 acres and is devoted principally to the raising of hay, which is in greater demand and commands better prices than grain. The conditions are very favorab for a protitable yield. ‘Within the boundaries of the Reading grant are the river or bottom lands which are devoted to the rawsing of almonds, French prunes, peaches and jears. Thess orchards are in small holdings, ranging from ten to 230 acre tracts and aggrezate about 3000 acres. Never before have the trees set 50 heavily in buds. The uplands are devoted principally to the raising of peaches and grapes, the land being more adapied to these varieties ol fruits than to any other kind. These holdings run from 25 to 50 acres each and aggregate about 2000 acres. Two years ago there was shipped from this town about fiiry cars of green and seventy-five of dried fruit, vaiued at about §$75.000. This year under [avorable circumstances the fiuit crop will be from $125,000 to $150,000. SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY. LODI, Car., March 18.—Prospects for crops of all kinds were never better than at present. Both farmers and fruit- growers are rejoicing over the turn in af- fairs. An unusually large acreage of wheat and barley has been pianted, and the crops are turning out almost beyond ex- pectaiion thus far. Some complaint comes from the black or adobe lands re- gion, where rains kept the plowers off the land of that particular formation. The hay output will be enormous, judg- ing irom the outlook now. Fruit will be extremely plentiful. Dur- ing the pust three years the crop has been poor, but this year promises to outdo any within recent times. Tho great Langford Colony orchard men say that the fruic crop there will be far heavier than in any other year since the orchards were planted. Peaches, almonds and cherries are expected to give the greatest yields. Apricots will do nothing exceptional. It is too ear y vet to make an estimate re- garding grapes, figs and next orange crop, but growers expect a yreat yield. Potato men have planted more than ever before. Frost thus iar has done no harm, although it is of nightly occurrence. gt SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. SAN BERNAKDINO, CAv., March 18 — Everything indicates that the crops of this county will be exceptionally large and excellent., The rainfali for the sea- son now aggregates about 15 inches, and has come in such gentie showers that the ground has received the full benefit of it. The yield of alialfa and barley will be enormous. The prospects for deciduous fruits of ail kinds couid not be better. Apples, peaches, figs, apricois, cherries, almonds and nec- tarines all bid fair to bring excellent re- turas to the growers. Nurserymen report large sales o bk and DN Tt Tonie ties and growth. The fruit acreage of the county will be greatly increased by this year's planting. The Anglo-American Canaigre Company is preparing 8000 acres of land four miles irom this city for the planting of canaigre. The slight frosts in this county have done no demage wWhat- ever to fruit or crops. et Tl SAN BENITO COUNTY. HOLLISTER, Car, March 18. — The present season promises more favorable crop prospects than have been presented for twelve years. Rains came early, and at such favorable intervals that crops were seeded in good season. The area of nmew land seeded to wheat will exceed 3000 acres. Frost has not injured grain in any way. Thie probable yleld of the county will b Wheat, 90,000 tons; bazley, 30,000 ton hay, 24.000'tons. Crops are growing vi orously, and promise an abundant bhar- vest. The fruit crop, without damaging frosts, will be exceedingly larze and ot good quai- ity. Two thousand acres of new orchards * will come into bearing this year. They are mostly in apricots and prunes. The vield of the former will be immense. The tarmers of this county are well satistied with the outlook. : — SISKIYOU COUNTY. YREKA, Car., March 18.—Crops will be large and fine this summer. More ground bas been plowed than ever before, es- pecially on the high and dry lands, owing to the advantage of continued rains, amounting to a total of nearly 17 inches, which is far above the averagze for the winter months. The fruit crop will also be better than usual. 3 Frost has no effect on crops here until after the last of April, our season for bud- ding of trees being about six weeks Ia than in the sea-level valieys. PR S, SONOMA COUNTY. CLOVERDALE, CaL, March 18.—The balmy weather of the past few days bas had a magical effect on vegetation of all kinds. Buds and blooms are bursting forth on all sides and waving fields of grain are hastening on to luxurious ma- turity. The season is from two to four weeks later than usual. The rainfall to date is 39.50 iiches. Grain of all kinds has a spiendid stand. The growth has been slow and steady, with no heavy frosts to check it. - Cloverdale Township will this year proiuc: about 6000 tons of hay. No estimates can be g.ven on wheat and barley, as there is very little thrashed here. Fruit buds have been held back, and as the daunger from heavy frosis is about over the indications are very favorab.e ior an enormous yield, Aimonds and early peaches are past full bloom and the iruit is forming splendid.y. Orange and lemon trees are full of new buds as well as the ripe fruitin many ins.ances. Grapevines are vet in a dormant condition. The prospects at this time for larger and better crops of all kinds are more iayorable than taey hav been in many years. SEBAS10POL,. (AL, March 18 —The outlook for hay and fruit in ail seciions of Analey Township is very encouraging. The late heavy rain somewhat impeded the growih of grain on low land, but while thecrop may be short it is of excele lent quaiity and farmers are aiready look- ing forward to $10 per ton for hay next summer. The fruit-growers of Analey Township also feel jubliant over the prospects be- fore them. There have been a iew severe frosts in this section, but the effect has not been serious, as the fruit buus are not yet far enough advanced to be injured by the cold s 11, PETALE‘MA. CAL., March 18.—Land surrounding Petaluma is considered too valuable for hay and grain crops entirely and, owing to the long-continued rain, there has not been as much wheat or bar- ley sown ihis season as usual, There