152 
AMEKIOA]:^ AGEIOULTURIST. 
[April, 
although not receiving a drop of water from rain 
or irrigation after planting, the stalks averaged 
seven-and-a-half feet high, one and one-eighth inch 
diameter at the butt, and weighed something over 
two pounds each. No cultivation whatever was be¬ 
stowed after planting, and no suckering done, and 
of course the yield of syrup was correspondingly 
low. It should be borne in mind, that full wages 
are allowed for all hands employed, while in fact 
the labor was all done by the farm men when 
other work was slack, and with comparatively no 
expense except for vessels to hold the product. 
This is not a fair test of the capabilities of this 
soil and climate as a sorghum producing region, 
for had the season been a favorable one, the rais¬ 
ing and manufacture on a more extended scale, 
with better machinery used, and due care exercis¬ 
ed in the selection of cane foi' crashing, the result 
would no doubt have been much more satisfactory. 
The Culture of Pigs iu California. 
T. S. PRICE, SELMA, CAL. 
When we read in 1879 that the importation of 
figs into the United States amounted to nearly half 
a million dollars annually, we were surprised that 
a country, the greater part of which is so well 
adapted to its culture, should act as consumer of a 
foreign article, when it might with profit meet 
all the demand for home consumption. While 
nearly all the southern and southwestern sections 
of the United States have the soil, climate, and 
other requirements for raising and maturing the 
fruit, it is doubtful if any other section has 
more nearly all the peculiarities for entire success 
than has the southern half of California. Probably 
in no other place will the effort of the horticul¬ 
turist to produce figs be so liberally rewarded. 
Several varieties of figs are cultivated here with 
considerable success, but the White Isehian and 
Dark Purple fig seem thus far to be the most profit¬ 
able. Owing to the great interest in raisin and 
wine production the past few years, very little at¬ 
tention has been paid to figs, further than to sup¬ 
ply the immediate wants of the eulturist; however, 
within the past two years considerable interest has 
been manifested in the production of an article fit 
for shipment. The fig is propagated entirely from 
cuttings, which in suitable soil make a very thrifty 
growth. The soil in which it seems to thrive best 
is the black alluvial soil of the foot-hills, al¬ 
though it makes nearly as good a growth on the 
plains below. Very little pruning is necessary, in 
fact it is a mooted question whether it is of any 
advantage to prune, further than to prevent stool- 
sprouts ; and in general, less attention is necessary 
to its well-being than must be given to other fruits. 
Experience has demonstrated the fact that the tree 
is more productive, and yields a better quality of 
fruit when allowed to branch near the ground, 
thereby shading the roots, and at the same time, 
being more convenient for gathering the fruit. 
Under favorable circumstances the fig often fruits 
here the same year of planting, while the second 
season frequently furnishes a fair yield; but 
the best results as to quality and quantity can only 
be hoped for after the eighth or tenth year. Prom 
some cause, whether from lack of proper fecunda¬ 
tion or otherwise, the first crop is of little or no 
account, often falling before maturity. The second 
crop is the principal one, while the third is often 
of considerable consequence. The things particu¬ 
larly lacking to secure the fullest measure of suc¬ 
cess are eas}' and rapid methods of gathering the 
figs, and proper instruction as to the best methods 
of preparing them for market. So little has been 
done toward the preparation of an article of ex¬ 
port, that those who might, have not informed 
themselves in that direction as they should have 
done. Some parties here have indeed “put up” 
some of the fruit in a very creditable shape, but 
the expense connected with the preparation has in¬ 
fringed greatly on the margin of profit. As a pre¬ 
served fruit, the fig has certainly equaled our most 
sanguine expectations; as a dried fruit, the de¬ 
mand is a certain mark of its appreciation. The 
common method of drying as used by the farmer, 
is the same as that for sun-dried peaches. The 
product is usually hard and unpalatable when raw, 
but of excellent taste when cooked. Dried in 
the shade and on the ground, the taste is preserved 
to better advantage, but requires more care and 
expense. When the same care is exercised in their 
preparation as in Italy and in Spain, and when they 
become better known, our figs will hold a high place 
in the markets of the world. A tree of eight or 
ten years old should yield from four hundred to 
six hundred pounds of well-matured fruit annually. 
The Eatable-Podded Peas. 
There is a class of peas quite diflferent from the 
kinds usually cultivated ; the pods, instead of the 
tough, parchment-like lining, become tender and 
succulent, and when bent the}' snap suddenly like 
string beans,and they are used in the same manner. 
There are a dozen or more varieties in this class, 
but our seedsmen rarely offer more than two or 
three. They do not seem to be much cultivated in 
this country, though the few who try them esteem 
them highly. The pods are usually very large and 
irregularly curved, as shown in the engraving of 
the “ Ram’s-Horn,” a variety largely cnltivated 
in France, a country in which these peas are 
much more generally esteemed than with us. As 
with common peas, there are dwarf and tall kinds, 
and they require no different cultivation from that 
given to other peas. When the pods are in proper 
condition, they will break with a clear fracture ; if 
allowed to become too old, they will be tough and 
not desirable. They are by some called “Sugar 
Peas,” “ String Peas,” and also “ Skinless Peas.” 
“The Louisiana Purchase.” 
H. A. HAIGH. 
Referring to the “Public Domain” article (p. 5, 
Jan.), Mr. B. F. Taber, Orange City, Fla., asks if 
the U. S. Government has perfected its title to the 
“Louisiana Purchase,” by cancelling the “obliga¬ 
tions ” it assumed in addition to the 815,000,000 
cash paid. As stated on p. 5, Louisiana then em¬ 
braced all the present States of Louisiana, Arkan¬ 
sas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oregon, 
part of Alabama, Mississippi, and Minnesota, and 
the territories of Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washing¬ 
ton, and the Indian Territoi'y south of Missouri. 
The “ obligations ” assumed by the United States 
were specially set forth and their payment definite¬ 
ly provided for in a Convention between the twa 
powers, signed contemporaneously with the treaty 
(April 30, 1803), and virtually a part of it. They 
embraced only debts due or claimed to be due 
prior to that date, from France to citizens of the 
United States, for supplies, embargoes, and prizes, 
at sea, etc. In brief, the United States merely 
took the place of the French Government in re¬ 
spect to certain previous claims, by our own citizens 
against it, the total amount not to exceed 83,750,000, 
They were to be paid on orders of the American 
Minister to France, based on determinations of a 
joint French and American Commission, with final 
approval of the French Minister of Finance; the 
payments to be made from the United States 
Treasury, with interest. Up to June 30, 1880, (Ex. 
Doc. 47: loth Congress) $3,738,268.98 had been, 
paid, which probably covered about all due. These 
could in no way affect the title to the lands, which 
passed the moment the treaty was ratified, (Oct., 
19, 1803); and possession was formally surrendered 
by the French at the city of New Orleans, Decem¬ 
ber 20, 1803, when the American flag was raised. 
The claims if not paid were no lieu upon the laud;, 
their non-payment would only have been a breach 
of good faith by our own Government to its own 
citizens. Spain made certain claims upon some of 
the lands included in the “Louisiana Purchase,”’ 
about the time of the negotiations ; but the matter 
was amicably adjusted November 30, 1803, twenty 
days prior to our final possession, by a formal de¬ 
livery of the Province of Louisiana from Spain to 
France; and the Spanish Secretary of State sub¬ 
sequently made a formal re-nouneement in behalf 
of the King, as “ a new proof of his benevolence- 
and friendship for the United States.” Thus the 
claim of Spain, based on the discovery of De Soto 
in 1541, was, alter nearly three hundred years, aban¬ 
doned; and the great Valley of the Mississippi. 
and the great Northwest, extending to the head¬ 
waters of the Missouri, and on to Puget Sound and 
the Pacific Ocean, was added to the United States. 
As a matter of interest it may be stated, that at the 
time of the Cession, Bonaparte said he only parted 
with the Province because compelled to do so by 
the many combinations against him, for he believed 
that “ whatever Nation held the Valley of the Mis¬ 
sissippi would eventually be the most powerful on 
earth ”—a prediction already realized, or soon to be.. 
Saving the Eoad Wash. 
Every road not on a dead level has more or less: 
debris which has a fertilizing value washed off 
upon its side. The water itself is vaiuable, and will 
make grass wherever it spreads. In a hilly country 
or one of gentle grades, nearly all this water, and 
the fertilizing matter it carries, may be turned off 
at frequent intervals upon the adjoining pastures 
and meadows. The dust and debris of the highway 
consists of finely pulverized soil and stone, which 
contains more or less lime, potash, and other val¬ 
uable material so minutely divided that water 
makes it immediately available for plant food. 
Iron and steel tires, horse and ox shoes, and above 
all the frost, have been at work upon it all through 
the winter. Appreciable quantities of manure have- 
been dropped upon it by beasts of burden, and 
their feet have mixed it with the road dust, and 
made a nice compost. Its value is seen in the rank: 
