VOL. XXIII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, DEC. 22,1888.
NO. 5-
Sural Life in California, in December.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
It has now been seven years since I came
to this coast for a two years' stay, but soil
and climate here is of such a nature, that
every thiDg inclines to take root and grow.
So when my two years were up, I found I
had sent out a few lateral roots, so to
speak, and I continued to wait a little
longer before going back, and now I have
sent out a tap root that has taken such
firm hold that it will take a greater earthquake than wa have had yet to shake me
off.
I have filed a homestead claim, have
stuck up a shanty, and of course my wife
has planted flowers. I have been in possession two years, but the first I only complied with the law, and worked away from
home. Yet I am not afraid to say you
never *<av such roses and other flowers in
any private grounds in   Indiana.
Oar grapes are doing finely,and many of
them bore fruit this season, they were
cuttings two years ngo. I am making a
specialty of strawberries; have set out be
tween 3,000 and 4 000 hills, and am adding
to them as I can get time. My bees gave
me about one third cf a crop of honey this
year. I took a ton and a half of extracted
honey. My old Hoosier neighbors would
regard his as an enormous amount, but
for California it is "small potatoes and
only one in a hill." I am also doing something in the chlcten line, - have between
four and five dozen hens and pullets just
beginning to "shell out." List Friday I
sold my eggs at 45 cents per dozen, and
my Btrawbsrries at 20 cents per box—between a pint and quart to the box. The
plants are blooming finely now. We have
had about six inches of rainfall, about
four more than we usually have at this
season of the year, and farmers are rushing the plows. I am now feasting on new
potatoes and dandelion greens. To-morrow I shall plant some more potatoes, and
some peas etc. Tomatoes are still bearing
finely and sending out thousands of bios
soma, but the nights are so cool that I do
not expect fruit from many of these now,
but the -vines will grow and be ready to
bear when you begin planting seed. Grass
is as green as in May in Indiana. My
string beans are not all gone yet. I have
a variety that vines about like little Navy
For ssveral months they have borne continually, and at any time I could pick from
them dry beans,green shell beans,or string
beans which ever I desired. They began
bearing as a bunch bean, and as these
ripened they sent out vines and continued
to bear, and some of them are inclined to
keep at it yet. There has been no sign of
frost and the days are warm and bright,
just right for me.
My ranch is located on the mountain
side facing the ocean, which is some two
miles off, but does not appear to be half a
mile, and about sun down it seems to
come within a stone's throw of my door.
The city of Santa Barbara lies about two
hours' drive to the west, but from my
apiary is in plain view, and apparently
not a mile away, and at night the electric
lights seem near enough to tempt a boy to
throw stones at them.
The soil on my ranch is a black vegetable mold. I have not found out how
deep. Our friend John Bennett, of Sun
•nan, wrote me he had been buying manure to "fix" his land, and had got it all
fixed but ten acres. I can not help wishing he could have some of my soil to fix
that ten acres with. It would be worth
more than the other thirty.
I can take ono horse and put the plow
«lght Inches deep where it has never been
plowed, and the furrow will roll up as
mellow as ashes, not a clod big enough to
throw at a bird. There is a pure mountain stream running throngh the ranch o)
Pure cold water, which I have piped to th*
kitchen door, and from there down to the
strawberries, for they will not grow all
the year and bear fruit without irrigation
When the Rev. A. Parker visited us, he
was greatly delighted with the water.
Said it reminded him of the best spring
water of the hilly portions of Indiana, but
it is colder. Yet John Bennett, and nearly all other Hoosiers, insist that it is so
strong with alkali as to render it unfit to
drink. Is it not strange how much some
people know of a place they never have
seen?
I am pleased with the California letters
in the Farmer from Alice. She has got
the "twists" of the country pretty well.
The most truthful thing she said is that
au accurate description of soil and climate
of one place would be untrue of another
not ten miles away and she may leave the
cipher off and still be correct.
I have just received a letter from a cous
in in  Chicago  boasting of a grape vinn
at Canine's and acted strangely, bit tho
pup and its mother and left. It was Feen
among the fattening hogs of Mr. Canine,
and then went away. Two of the hogs
went mad on Friday and died the third or
forth day. A third one also went mad on
the Thursday following. This one I saw
several times on the first and second days.
The first symptom was the going off alone,
on approaching it, it showed great fear
but did not want to get away. At the
least noise it would jerk its head and snap
with a side motion. It went in among the
other hogs and bit two of them before it
could be penned. The next day I saw it
ia the morning. It was lying down, but
upon hearing me it got up and went to
snapping, frothing at the mouth and
squealing nearly all the time. In the
evening it had the same symptoms only
worse, having the appewaucs of fits. It
was then killed and buried.
GREETING OF SANTA CLAUS TO THE CHILDREN.
which produced 43 pounds of grapes. This
may be a good yield for Chicago but there
Is a vine growing in a small back yard in
Santa Barbara which has borne a ton a
year for many years, and it i_ not the
only vine in this vicinity that has produced a ton in one season. Would be
pleased to hear from you if you have time
to write and if this has not worn out your
patience I may write again. Best wishes
from all to you. Delos Wood.
Santa Barbara, Cal.
 .   e>   .	
Killing- a Mad Dogr.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
One week ago I was sent for, to kill a
mad dog at the residence of George Canine. I had nothing but an army musket
nnd bird shot, and took a young man (R.
M Rice) with me armed with an ax. As
we approached the house everything was
still and the family was shut up in the
house. The dog was in the garden, and
ran under the barn. We hurried on and
watched for her to come out. In about 15
minutes she made her appearance, coming with her feet up. I shot and stunned
her and Rice killed her with the ax. Ten
er 12 days' previous to this a small dog was
The dog howled all night Friday and
commenced biting the ground next morning, which alarmed the family. I got
there at 1 p. m. She ran In a lope, hind-
parts low, mouth open and ears laid back.
Had a fit under the barn I think from the
noise; would bite the loose rubbish and
anything within reach. The eyes were
glassy and the color of the moon. Wheu
killed a fog rose from her fore parts, probably from the saliva and heat.
We would like to know if this is hydrophobia and what form. P. J.
Brown's Valley, Montgomery county.
It was undoubtedly a case of hydrophobia. The dogs that wore bitten should bo
killed and other dogs and swine in the
neighleorh"od,should be carefully watched
for symptoms of the dreadful disease.
 a    *    .	
A rabbit hunting club has been formed
at Montpelier, Blackford county. Up to
last Saturday the club had a grand total of
675 rabbits. The mombers expect to raise
the number to a thousand at tho next
hunt.
Now is the time renew your subscription.
THE INDIANA FAMES
ONE OP
The Most Practical and Popular Agricultural Journals Published in
THE WESTERN STATES.
The inten-ely practical character
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world, according to area, in the production of all the staples, and in live
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growing circulation of the Farmer
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Its Railway extensions. .
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The farmers of Indiana, and of the
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census to be taken in about a year
from now will it is believed, show
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which stands by them. We do it in
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alto. And the Farmer proposes to
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the aggregate good that it would enable us to do for the farm interests of •
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THE INDIANA FABMEB 00.,
IndiaaaDolisi Ind.