FRUIT FROM CALIFORNIA

Mr. O, N. Cadwell, writing from Car- penteria, Cal., May i8, writes :

"I send you a little box of samples of frTiit ; two oranges from the tree illustrated in the April number of Food, Home and Garden, one Indian River orange, one Eureka lemon, several loquots and a small bottle of White Muscat Grape Syrup, made of the White Muscat grape. I find it very pleasing to the taste when I want something sweet. The white grapes are cooked, the juice pressed out, brought to a boil and

skimmed : then add the same weight of nice sweet sugar, again brought to a boil and then sealed hot in bottles or fruit jars. The Muscat Grape is very pltntifiil in Cal- ifornia. Most of the raisins are made of them, and a great many are used for table grapes. I thought you would like to see and taste the loquot. They grow on a beautiful evergreen tree and I send yon one of the leaves. The fruit grows in clusters. There are now bushels of oranges on that tree ripe, and we think very good oranges. The tree is still blooming and bears small green fhiit. The Indian River orange you will find to be very thin skinned, compared with the others, and a very good fruit."

The above came with the box of ftnit described, all in good order. The loquot is quite a nice fi^it and we have planted the seeds. The others are fully up to the standard of good fruit, and the syrup ex- cellent. MRS. THACKER'S COLLEGE FARM.

My sole object is to help establish better conditions on earth, that the human race may be able to see and realize its higher possibilities. There is some magnificent scenery here and I expect soon to have some pictures taken. Here are some of the biggest live oak trees ; a waterfall 60 feet high; mauy beautiful springs of water; the river (North Fork of the American); mountains and snowy peaks on one side, and sloping hills and valleys on the other. On the college grounds there is an orchard of 300 trees in full bearing of peaches, pears and apples. It is a remarkable fact that these mountain sides produce some of the finest fruit in the world wilhoul irrigation. All kinds of nut trees flourish here and bear abundantly. Within titedistance of half a 109 Dbi-zsdbyGoOgIC

mile from where I write this letter there is a full-bearing orchard of English walnuts, almond, chestnut, peach, pear and prune trees. Also seven acres in muscat (raisin) grapes, and other trees and vines, and a fine young olive grove. Water is scarce, but the fruit grown here without water is said to be richer and more finely flavored than that grown lower in the valley, where it is irrigated. There are thousands of acres of land around here that might be cleared off and set to fruit trees. Fine wheat also grows on these mountain sides.

I have 200 acres of land here belonging to the college grounds. Aboat 100 acres of it is wild, steep and rocky, but the other 100 acres, or most of it, can be cultivated. My idea is, as soon as I can get some co- operation, to set most of this land out in olive trees. Perhaps set two-thirds of it in olive trees and the other one-third to nut and prune trees. Thi» is to be not only for the benefit of the college, but an example to the world, by way of utilizing the nat- ural resources of the earth. Peannts can be raised here whenever water can be obtained. I think they require irrigation. There are many springs here which afford some water ; also irrigating ditches which pass through here carrying water to the country below. Water may be bonght from these ditches. All kinds of berries grow here when supplied with water. — Sara Thacker, Applegate, Placer Co., California. CITY POTATO PATCHES.

It is three years since a few gentlemen contributed funds for cultivating vacant lots in the city's suburbs to afford health- ful employment to peisons out of work . The first year one hundred lots of a quarter of an acre each were taken by poor men , women and children. The ground was ploughed for them and they were furnished with fertilizers and seeds, and a super-

intendent gave them instructions in plant- ing, and caring for the vegetables raised thereon.

There was no trouble in getting land enough. The second year more than doubled the number of the applicants for lots, and the demand is still greater this year, the question now being how to raise funds to carry on the work. Experience has demonstrated that for each dollar expended by the association the laborer in charge of a lot takes off four dollars worth of produce. It is principally consumed by them, al- though some is sold.

The advantages are twofold. It not only gives employment to those who would otherwise have nothing to do, but it also educates them as agriculturists and garden- ers. Several who have worked these plots have obtained positions as gardeners, and some have gone into the country to work on farms. It is one of the principles of the association not to turn off a man because h« has bad habits, believing that his interest in his work will aid in his reformation. The principle product so for has been potatoes, and the other crops cover most of the vege- tables commonly seen in market.

The success of the experiment has en- couraged the promoters to ask the public for tunds to extend its work. A gift oi$to enables a family to grow $60 worth of vegetables. Money can be sent to Nathan- iel B. Crenshaw, Treasurer, Girard Trost Building, Philadelphia. — Piila. Ledger. DRIED BANANAS.

It is found that dried bananas take the place of raisins in puddings very well, and an enterprising firm in Queensland has sent to the agent's general office, in Victoria street, Westminster, a consignment of dried bananas, with the object of opening up a market for them in England. — Phila. Public Ledger.

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