P A C 1 1- I r TREE AND \' I N E 



'9 



Thinning- Ik a heart-breaking job. le 

 always looks, when the work is done, 

 if it be properly done, as thongh the 

 whole crop had been stripped troni th.- 

 trees, and that none is left to ripen. 

 Usually it develops that plenty has been 

 left, and sometimes the temptation lo 

 leave too niueh fruit on the trees is loo 

 strong to be ove'come and, in spite of 

 all, the tiee is overburdened. 



Thinning- should commenc-e as soon 

 as there is no further danger of a heavy 

 drop, and before the fruit is too large. 

 From six to eight inches apart is the 

 right distance to leave the specimens 

 on the trees, and if the best results are 

 lo be obtained, the work must be thoro- 

 ughly and lonscientiously done. Un- 

 less Ihis is done the trees will be over- 

 loaded, the fruit small, scrubby and un- 

 salable, and even when dried it is 

 questionable -whether the price obtain- 

 ed will pay for the trouble required. 

 To produce good fruit the trees must 

 not be overburdened, and unless the 

 superabundant fruit is removed by 

 some natural piocess, it must be tak- 

 en off the tree by hand before it has 

 attained sutlicient growth to affecl 

 what is lo be left. 



are always in demand, at good T>ri( i-s, 

 and the market is never overstocked; 

 that poor berries seldom sell well, and 

 the market is easily overslo<-ked; that 

 it costs just as much as much to raise 

 poor berries; that It costs as much to 

 pick and pack poor berries; that freight 

 and express charges are Just as high 

 on poor berries; hence, there is profli 

 only in growing the best for market. 

 P.eiry boxes, picking cases and ship- 

 ping cases should be ready before the 

 liuri-y of the season begins. Clean, 

 well-made packages, neatly L.tenciled 

 on the sides with name and residence, 

 soon become your "trade mark," let 

 it also be a guarantee of good berries 

 lionestly packed. Never allow stems, 

 leaves, imperfect or unripe berries in 

 the box. Handle carefully. Always 

 have a uniform quality without, and 

 the boxes well filled. Berries carry bel- 

 ter if boxes are rounding full. For long 

 shipments, pick every day, and oeforc 

 fruit is too ripe. Never offer poor ber- 

 ries for sale; never use a poor or inferi- 

 or package. Let inarkets be as near 

 as possible and to regular customers. 

 If you would have good markets foi- 

 youv berries, always deal honestly with 

 your customers. 



PIERCE CUSHION FRAME CMAIHLCSS 



Small Fruit, Culture. 



A Sonoma county coircspondenl asks 

 for some information in regard to berry 

 growing, for whii h he says, his section 

 is especially well adapted. Any laml 

 suitable for (-urn will produce good 

 berries. The land should be deeply 

 plowed and thoroughly pulverized be- 

 fore planting, and this is essential if 

 success is to fcdlow. The rows should 

 be about eight feet apart and the plants 

 set four feet in the rows. February 

 and March aie the best months foi- 

 planling and when the cane has reach- 

 ed a height of three feet, it should be 

 pinched btick, which would cause it 

 to throw out laterals. When these have 

 a spread if about eighteen inches they 

 should be snii))ied off with the pinners, 

 and this cutlint; back may be continu- 

 ed with advanl.-ige vhrough the sum- 

 mer, producing a heavy growth ot new 

 wood which will beat- the next year's 

 crop. 



When the canes have borne one c-!-op 

 they have passed their usefulness and 

 must be removed and the new gi-ow - 

 th encouraged foi- the coming season's 

 crop. The patch .s.hould be kept Ihoro- 

 oghly cultivated for the double pui-posc 

 of keeiiing dow'n the weeds and con- 

 serving tlie moisture in the air. The 

 following hints to beiry groweis will 

 be gound useful; 



Fine manure, raked or cullivaled in 

 near the surface, will add fertility to 

 the soil and rnake your plants grow. 

 An application of wood ashes will sup- 

 ply the soil with potash so necessary 

 in the berry garden. If any jdants have 

 failed lo grow, set new ones in their 

 ploce at once. A large percentage of 

 labor is often lost by this neglect and 

 profits for several seasons reduced. The 

 size and quality of berries may be im- 

 proved by severe pruning of laterals in 

 the early spring. 



Picking-, packing and marketing are 

 important facliM-s in the growing of 

 berries for market. The grower should 

 understand at onee that choice berries 



Recent conditions indicate that the 

 coming fruit crop may not be so heavy 

 as indications seemed to promise a 

 few weeks since. In the great pear 

 district along the Sacramento river, 

 pars have been attacked by a fungus 

 disease which has stopped their growth 

 and caused them to drop heavily. In 

 the Southern San Joaquin valley, this 

 crop will be a total failure, owing to 

 the pear blight, so the indications are 

 now- that the pear crop will be a light 

 one. Early peaches in many places 

 will be light, but late peaches promise 

 better. Reports are now uniform in 

 1 egard to the peach crop, some sections 

 reporting the early peaches as almost 

 a complete failure, and others as very 

 good. .Although we may count upon 

 an average peach crop. Prunes are al- 

 so somewhat spotted, being very light 

 in some sections, but, as a whole, there 

 will probably be a full crop. Cherries 

 will yield a good crop, if weather con- 

 ditions remain favorable. .Apples are 

 setting very well. Other fruits remain 

 unchanged and will run fiom fair to 

 very good crops. On the whole, how - 

 ever, one may look forward to a fairl\ 

 good fruit season. 



DR. T. A HRRI.N has removed his oflice 

 from Room 4, in tiic Porter Building to 53 North 

 Second street, Sau Jose, Cal. 



Pierce Bicycles 



J. A. DKSIMONE 



No. 87 liast San Fernando Street 



vS.\N JcsE, Cai.. 



Books Books Books 



liooks ol all kinds bought ami 

 exchanged. :: Some rare works 

 constantly on hand; prices right 



San Jose Book Exchange 



2J W. Kernando St., San Jose 



JAMISON'S pay the highest prices 

 for your 



POULTRY 



N. K. Cor. Third and Santa Clara Sts. 

 San .lose, California 



Berkshire and Poland China 

 Brooksirte Stock Farm, Stockton 



C. .\ STOWK. ROPRIETOR. 



THE ARCADE 



Dry tiooJs. Fancy Qood.s and Notions 



A M HARTEN COMPANY 



Leaders of Low rices 



83-9T South First Street, San Jose, Cal. 



'hOMf . Main 1 1 



Pine Box lanulactufefs Agency 



REPHESENTINC 



31 FACTORI[S 



^ANOTACTUHERS Of 



Soft Pine Boxes and all kinds of Cut Up Material 



Z. S. GATHER, General Agent 

 Office; 137 Crocker Bldg. 



Phonb Main 872 SaN FraNCISCO, Cal. 



E. F. METLAR, Agent Southern CAt-tFORNiA 



Office: 367-369 E. Second Street 



Los ANGELfS, Cal. 



Phone Main 496 



G. D. WORSWICK, AGENT 



Warehouse: 381 north First st San Jose, CaL, 



