Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 30

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

USA > California > Santa Clara County > Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California > Part 30

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The committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for the purchase of grounds, met with good success. In two weeks they had raised the sum of $14,464.55. There were one hundred and ninety-nine original con- tributors, as follows : The county of Santa Clara gave $500 ; William Daniels gave $300.

Those who gave $200 were, Martin Murphy, Sr., James Lick, Samuel J. Hensley, Josiah Belden, Philip G. Vibbard, W. M. Williamson.

Those who gave $150 were Adolph Pfister, E. Auzerais & Bro., Calvin Martin, Thos. Bodley, Naglee, Peach, and Billings.

James Murphy gave $125, and J. F. Kennedy $120. Those who gave $100 were : Coleman Younger,

H. C. Melone, Cary Peebels, Wm. B. Thomburge, Hiram Shortzer, Rowley & Adams, A. S. Beaty & Bro., William Reynolds, S. B. Emerson, William Mc- Clay, H. H. Winchell, C. W. Pomeroy & Co., W. W. McCoy, E. W. Grover, W. W. Hollister, W. M. Lent, John H. Cameron, John Young, R. K. Ham, Daniel Murphy, and S. P. Coburn.

Peter Quivey gave $70.

Those who gave $50 were : G. Mengarini, S. J., J. R. Lowe, Sr., Isaac N. Thompson, Aus. M. Thomp- son, Delavan Hoag, Henry Lawrence, Isaac Y. Brooks, Antonio Suñol, F. and J. Stock, R G. Moody, V. D. Moody, Morris Wise, S. O. Broughton, E. J. Wilcox, Adam Holloway, L. Froment & Co., W. H. Hall, L. H. Bascom, John G. Bray, Santa Clara Brewery, B. S. Fox & Co., S. C. Young, J. R. Weller, Louis Prevost, William Aram, A. Lervies, John H. Moore, J. C. Cobb, J. B. Van Nest, Louis Pellier.

John Trimble gave $40.

Those who gave $25 were : H. D. McCobb, Morgan & Johnson, Victor Speckens, S. S. Johnson, A. C. Erkson, John West, Horace Hawes, M. Jourdan, D. Gerdes, C. Colombet, Isaac Branham, John M. Mur- phy, G. W. Frazier, S. A. Clark, P. H. Burnett, C. T. Ryland, J. P. Springer, P. de Saisset, J. Cerensky, John Balbach, Williams & Winslow, A. Delmas, J. D. Gunn, Læwe & Bro., Levy & Bro., Leddy & Statsman, Haskell & Porter, Yocco & Bro., Pearl & Reen, Lilly & Bothwell, J. W. Sims, William Matthews, E. W. Case, J. R. Wilson, Lawrence Archer, F. G. Appleton, J. B. Bontemps, G. George & Co., William McClay, N. Hays, John W. Hardwick, G. Brabaska, William Travis, Patrick Fenton, D. Williams, H. H. Warbur- ton, James Scott, Mark Hardy, T. S. Bradley, John W. Leigh, J. A. Quinby, Freeman Gates, John John- son.

Those who gave $20 were: Wm. T. Wallace, Will- iam S. Letcher, Jackson Lewis, P. O. Minor, Henry Deatsman, James Houston, Madan & Fosgate, F. C. Franck, J. N. Appleton, Massey Thomas, C. D. Cheney.

Those who gave $to were: H. & E. A. Van Dal- sem, Joseph Bassler, and George Bego.

Edward McGowan gave $8.00.

C. W. Lander, T. D. Johnson, J. H. Scull, Matthew Mitchell, B. Bampard, James O'Brien, S. B. Mont- gomery, R. F. Herrick and Mr. Rich gave $5.00 each ; J. L. Miller and Wesley Tonnar gave $2.00 each, and Juan Santa Ana gave $1.00.

In addition to the above money subscriptions the following donations of materials and labor were made:

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

169

George H. Bodfish three thousand, six hundred and forty-one feet of lumber at the mill, $91; Green Hanna, hauling same, $37; J. P. Henning, two thou- sand and seven hundred feet of lumber at the mill, $54; W. K. Bethel, one thousand feet of lumber, $30; G. B. Blanchard, seven hundred feet of lumber, $21; Henry Jarboe, lumber, $25 ; F. A. Shepard, lumber, $15; F. S. McGirr, shingles, $23; Martin McCarthy, shingles, $10; Jeremiah Miller, flag-staff and sundries, $50; F. M. Fowler, one hundred and thirty posts, $20; Maffic, blacksmithing, $40; L. A. Gould, pumps, $75 ; J. Bass- ler, pump, $9; C. E. Campbell, lead pipe, $10; R. Fletcher, sashes, $1.50.

The present fair grounds were purchased in 1859, of General Naglee, for $6,000, and the work of im- provement commenced. The tract contains seventy- six acres and is on the south side of the Alameda about a mile from the city. The trees were planted from 1872 to 1876, and the grand stand erected in 1878. This stand was built with money loaned by different parties who are to be repaid from the moneys raised by sale of seats. When this is accom- plished it will be the property of the society, and, we understand, will be made free.

The society has held its fairs, annually paid ex- penses, and is out of debt, except for the money bor- rowed to erect the grand stand. All the best stock are shown at these exhibitions, and the best horses on the coast annually compete on the track. Up to 1880 the society drew an annual appropriation from the State of about $2,000 with which to pay premi- ums. In this year the Legislature passed an act di- viding the State into agricultural districts, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties forming District No. 5. The act also prescribed the method by which District agricultural societies should be formed. When this law went into effect it stopped all State aid to the county society. This aid was absolutely necessary, as the proceeds of the fair would not be sufficient to pay good premiums and other necessary expenses.

The society did not want to change its old organiza- tion to an organization under the State law, for fear it might in some way jeopardize the title to its real estate,

which had then become very valuable. The only way out of the difficulty seemed to be to organize a new society under the State law and arrange with the old society for the use of the grounds. This was accord- ingly done, and the fairs have been held under the auspices of the San Mateo and Santa Clara County Agricultural Association, until the present year. The new society was formed from the members of the old one, and now have the same officers, with the excep- tion that the Board of Directors is divided.

Following are the names of the presidents and secretaries of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society since its incorporation in 1859 :-

DATE. PRESIDENTS.

SECRETARIES.

1859. ... William Daniels C. B. Younger

1860. ... William Daniels .C. B. Younger

1861 .... S. J. Hensley . William Daniels

1862 .... William Daniels .C. B. Younger

1862. ... Cary Peebels. . .J. R. Lowe, Jr.

1863. ... James F. Kennedy

.J. R. Lowe, Jr.

1864 .... James F. Kennedy Givens George

1865 .... W. C. Wilson Givens George

1866 .... W. C. Wilson

.Givens George

1867 .... W. C. Wilson

Givens George

1868 .... W. C. Wilson ..

. Tyler Beach

1869 .... W. C. Wilson.

. Tyler Beach

1870 .... W. C. Wilson

. Tyler Beach

1871 .... W. C. Wilson . Tyler Beach

1872 .... W. C. Wilson. .Givens George

1873 .... W. C. Wilson .D. J. Porter

1874 .... W. C. Wilson

D. J. Porter

1875 .... W. C. Wilson

Givens George

1876 .... J. P. Sargent. .D. J. Porter

1877 . ... Cary Peebels

.E. K. Campbell

1878 .... W. C. Wilson.

. A. P. Murgotten

1879 .... N. B. Edwards

. A. P. Murgotten

1880 .... N. B. Edwards

W. M. Williamson

1881 .... C. H. Maddox. . . Givens George

1882 .... J. H. M. Townsend

T. S. Montgomery

1883. . . J. H. M. Townsend

T. S. Montgomery

1884 ... J. H. M. Townsend.

.T. S. Montgomery

1885. ... N. B. Edwards.

.T. S. Montgomery

1886 .... N. B. Edwards.

.G. H. Bragg

1887 .... N. B. Edwards.

.G. H. Bragg

1888 .... E. Topham.

G. H. Bragg

The following are the names of the officers of the District Society since its organization :-

DATE. PRESIDENTS.

SECRETARIES.

I881 .... Abram King .T. S. Montgomery

1882. ... Abram King.

. T. S. Montgomery

1883. ... Abram King. T. S. Montgomery

1884 .... W. T. Adel. .J. Hinman

1885 .... J. R. Weller .A. B. Ellis

1886 .... J. R. Weller. Geo. B. Staniford

1887 .... J. R. Weller. W. C. Morrow

1888 .... E. Topham. .Geo. H. Bragg

FRUIT AND VINE INDUSTRIES.

T THE adaptability of the climate and soil of Santa Clara County for horticultural purposes became apparent long before the first American visited the valley. The Fathers who planted the Missions planted orchards at the same time, and found a full return for all their labor. The fertility of the soil was supple- mented by a peculiarity of climate that enabled trees to grow many more weeks in the year than in other countries, while during their season of rest there was no freezing weather to chill the sap and delay their progress in the spring. It might be said that trees had a continuous growth throughout the year. The result was that a very few seasons brought orchards to a condition of fruitfulness. All this was demon- strated by the experience of the good fathers at the Mission; but, even with this experience before them, our early horticulturists were astonished by the re- sults of their efforts. They had been accustomed to sections where certain fruits would flourish and others fail, but here they found that nothing would fail. The peach, pear, apricot, apple, orange, and lemon, the olive and the tender varieties of grapes from Italy and Southern France, all flourished. It was neither too cold nor too warm for any, and the soil seemed to contain elements suited to the wants of each.

What were the varieties of fruits planted by the Fathers at the Mission it is not now possible to ascer- tain in detail. Vancouver says that he saw, on his visit in 1792, peaches, apples, pears, apricots, figs, and vines, all of which, except the latter, promised to succeed well. He further says: "The failure of the vine here, as well as at San Francisco, is ascribed to a want of knowledge in their culture, the climate and soil being well adapted to some sorts of fruits." The failure of the vine, as related by Vancouver, might have been, as he said, the result of ignorance as to its culture; but if this was so, the Fathers soon learned the art of viticulture, for the old Mission vines are historic for their strong growth and abundant fruitage. As to their quality, so much cannot be said. They

are now a relic of the past, and although many of the old inhabitants contend that for a table grape they possess a flavor superior to that of any of the foreign varieties, the fact remains that they have been practi- cally discarded for wine-making, and that the reputa- tion of California wines has been built on varieties other than the Mission. This grape, however it may be despised now, accomplished a great object. It demonstrated the adaptability of our soil and climate for the growth of the vine, and, by giving confidence to our early viticulturists, induced them to expand their operations.

The character of the Mission fruits, with few ex- ceptions, was about the same as the grapes. The olive bore a small fruit little prized for table use but rich in oil. It required a comparatively long time for it to come to profitable bearing, but never failed of a large crop when it reached that point. It is even now preferred, by many orchardists, to the finer varieties. The peaches and apricots were seedlings, and therefore of different kinds. At that time, when this was the only fruit to be had, it was all considered good. The only distinction made was that some varieties were better than others. Whether or not the apples and pears were seedlings we have not been able to ascertain. It is more than likely they were, as they have been generally classed under the com- prehensive term, " Mission fruit," and are different from the varieties originated in America or imported from France or Spain.

This Mission orchard was the only source of fruit supply to the valley for many years, and for some time after the American occupation it held a promi- nent position. It was claimed as part of the public domain when California was ceded to the United States, and was taken possession of by J. W. Redmon. It proved a bonanza, the fruit selling at fifty cents per pound, while the yield was enormous. Some of the old trees are yet vigorous, although neglected for years and a prey to all the pests that have been

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

known to Santa Clara County orchards. The Mis- sion orchard and the Mission vineyard furnished stock for the few orchards that were planted in the early years of the American occupation. These plantings were few at first, owing to the gold excite- ment, but when the people began to return from the mines and give their attention to agriculture, the plantings became more numerous.

The scarcity of fruit and consequent high prices gave a great stimulus to horticulture. Apples, im- ported into San Francisco, sold at retail for a dollar apiece, and other fruits in proportion. People thought that at half these prices there would be more money in a bearing orchard than in the richest gold mine yet discovered. This idea struck many people at the same time and many orchards were planted, princi- pally apples and pears. They seem to have over- looked the fact that there were comparatively few people in reach of their orchards at that time, and that there were no facilities for transportation to a distance; or, if they did realize this fact, they kept on planting all the same and trusted to luck.

The first orchards planted after the American oc- cupation, with the exception of a few private trees, were by E. W. Case, William Daniels, and Joseph Aram. Case's orchard was of about 350 trees, and was on the property fronting on the Alviso road, owned by C. B. Polhemus. Aram's orchard was of twenty acres, and was situated about where the woolen mills now are. Daniels' orchard was about one acre, and was in the then northern part of town, on a tract lying between Julian and St. James and Market and First Streets. Part of the trees planted by these gentlemen were furnished by a man named Ganz, and were brought by him from Cincinnati, Ohio. They were principally apples. This was in 1852. In the succeeding year Case and Aram imported more trees from the nursery of Charles Hovey, at Cam- bridge, Massachusetts. Some of these old trees are still flourishing and bearing large crops of fruit. Among them is an apricot tree on the Hobson place, formerly a part of Captain Aram's orchard, which is now thirty-four years old, a vigorous bearer, and a living contradiction to the statement that fruit trees in California are short-lived.

In the spring of 1852, Commodore Stockton, who then owned the Potrero de Santa Clara Rancho, which lies between San Jose and Santa Clara, imported from Hovey's Massachusetts nursery, a large number of trees for the purpose of establishing a nursery. With these trees he also sent out a professional botanist named

Sheldon, with B. S. Fox and Thomas Egan as assistants. Sheldon died on the Isthmus and Mr. Fox took charge of the enterprise, Mr. Egan assisting. With this party came also J. F. Kennedy as salesman and commercial agent. The nursery was established in April, 1853, and for some time was the depot for nursery supplies for this section. These trees consisted of apples, peaches, pears, plums, nectarines, and apricots. With this importation came also the first strawberries grown in this valley.

In 1854-55 a Frenchman named Levalle imported fruit trees and planted them in both nursery and orchard form, on the property lying north of Julian and west of Market Street, now owned by Peter O. Minor. He planted about two acres, but after- wards removed the orchard to the west side of the Coyote, on the property now owned by Edward Mc- Laughlin. In 1855-56 he had a very large collection of trees in his nursery, which he afterwards sold to H. H. Winchell, China Smith, and William Smith, and they continued the nursery business for some years thereafter. L. A. Gould and B. F. Watkins planted their orchards and nurseries at Santa Clara about this time. Mr. Ballou, who was at that time employed in the Case orchard, says that from the three hundred trees planted then, mostly apples, a few specimens were had in 1855, and in 1856 about eight hundred pounds were produced. Up to this time the only apples to be had here were the "Parrons," grown at the Mission, and which were very inferior. The fruit from the new orchards above mentioned was very fine; far exceeding anything the orchardists had seen in the East.

During 1856 the State Horticultural Society held a fair in San Jose, and from this the reputation of the Santa Clara fruit spread, and people came hun- dreds of miles to see it. Some of the old pioneers believe to this day that the display of apples had at that fair was far superior to any that has been made since. This of course is a mistake. They have be- come accustomed to the wonderful fruit of the Santa Clara Valley, and the novelty has worn off.

In 1853 a horticultural society was formed. The meeting for organization was held on the grounds of Louis Prevost, now known as Live Oak Park, under a live-oak tree. There were present William Daniels, Louis Prevost, Louis Pellier, J. R. Bontemps, B. S. Fox, and E. W. Case. The Pioneer Horticultural Society was organized, and nearly all the old-time horticulturists became members. The names of Joseph Aram, J. Q. A. Ballou, R. G. Moody, D. Devine, L.

172

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

A. Gould, and John Llewelling appear prominent on the list of early members. In speaking of this organ- ization Colonel Younger says that, "during the balance of this year and the year 1854, they met once a month, brought in their fruits and flowers for exhibition, to compare and discuss their merits, and determine what fruits were best adapted to the valley. This was often most interesting and instructive. All were in- vited to attend, and many were enticed to these meet- ings to see the development of the fruit-growing ca- pacity of the valley. Many ladies attended and were richly rewarded; for, after witnessing the display of fruit and flowers, at the conclusion, these were divided among them." This Pioneer Horticultural Society afterwards united with the Agricultural Society, and in a short time lost its identity.

In 1856, as we have stated, nearly all these early orchards had commenced to bear, and the quality of the fruit, and the promise of extraordinary production, gave these pioneer orchardists an idea of the resources of the climate and soil in this direction. Everything they had planted had prospered beyond their most sanguine expectations, and they wererapidly approach- ing the conviction that nothing could fail in Santa Clara Valley. Being in this frame of mind, they were ready to experiment in any direction. This year stands out prominent as the date of the introduction of the French prune (Petit Prune d' Agen) to this county, and, in fact, to this coast. This fruit has be- come a standard, and will probably always remain a favorite with our orchardists. The history of its first importation will be interesting. Louis Pellier, a vine and fruit grower of France, had come to California in the winter of 1848-49. After trying his fortune in the mines, he came to San Jose in 1850, and purchased the tract of land fronting on the west side of San Pedro Street, where the mills of the Independent Mill and Lumber Company now stand. This tract was formerly known as Pellier's Gardens; it is now the Pellier subdivision of the city of San Jose. Here he planted a nursery and orchard, and cultivated flowers and plants. His brother Pierre had come out a year behind, and was assisting him in his work. When Pierre came, he brought with him cuttings of some of the fine varieties of grapes, among which were the Black Burgundy, Chasselas Fontainebleau, Made- laine, and others. From that time to 1854, the experience of fruit-growing here had shown the great horticultural possibilities of the country, and all were reaching out for new varieties. Louis Pellier deter- mined to transplant the best fruits from his native

land to his adopted county. In accordance with this determination he sent Pierre back to France in 1854, with instructions to go through Burgundy and other parts of the country, and secure cuttings and cions of the best varieties of fruit grown in each. This was done. Pierre, with another brother, John, who had not yet come to America, spent nearly two years traveling through France, gathering their stock. They returned to California, bringing with them a large variety of fruit cions. Among them were the petit prune, the gros prune, with many varieties of cherries, and pears, and plums. The petit prune was not at first very popular. The people preferred the gros prune on ac- count of its size and appearance. As the fruit-growers at that time knew nothing of drying or canning, but depended on selling their products green, anything which had an appearance of inferiority was at a dis- count. The cions were brought from France by the Pellier brothers, stuck in potatoes and packed in saw- dust. Immediately on their arrival they were grafted upon stocks prepared for them, and many lived. While, as we have said, the gros prune soon came into great demand, the little prune had no friends for many years. It was finally brought to the attention of John Rock, who recognized its value and soon popularized it. There has been great dispute as to whether the French prune grown in California is the true French prune of commerce. There can be no doubt on this point as far as Santa Clara County is concerned. It was brought from its home in France directly to San Jose, by people who had been familiar with it from childhood, and there can be no mistake as to its identity. One of the parties who brought it is still living, and the box in which the cions were packed is still in existence, with all the marks yet legible.

Mr. B. S. Fox, who, as we have stated, came out in 1852 with the nursery stock of Commodore Stock- ton, severed his connection with the commodore the next year, and established a nursery of his own on the Milpitas road. This is now known as the "Santa Clara Valley Nurseries and Botanical Gardens." He had with him Thomas Egan, and the nurseries were first known as B. S. Fox's Nurseries. At first there were one hundred and twenty-six acres, and it was the largest tract devoted to this business on the coast; the acreage was still further increased by the acquisi- tion of more land, until it contained over two hundred acres. Mr. Fox was an Irishman by birth, and a thorough botanist. When he first came to America he procured an engagement with Charles Hovey, the well-known nurseryman of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

When Commodore Stockton was looking for a com- petent man to take charge of his California nursery, Mr. Fox was recommended to him, and was engaged for the position. This was a fortunate circumstance for Santa Clara County. He was not only a pioneer fruit man, but a man of great scientific knowledge, and an untiring student. To his experiments we owe three of the finest varieties of pears now cultivated, the P. Barry, the B. S. Fox, and the Colonel Wilder, which have been placed in the front rank by the opinions of the leading pomologists of America. His magnificent orchard was developed from the nursery, and was not planted so much for growing fruit for profit as to test the varieties which he was offering for sale. To his enthusiasm Santa Clara County owes much of her early horticultural develop- ment. Mr. Fox died in July, 1881, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, while on his way to visit his early home. His nurseries were left to his nephew, R. D. Fox, a bio- graphical sketch of whom appears in this book, and who has since conducted the business with an intel- ligence that has maintained the reputation it attained under the administration of his uncle.

In 1856 Captain Aram moved his nurseries from town to the place on the Milpitas road where he now lives. He had G. W. Tarleton with him for a time, but in a few years the latter gentleman purchased the tract where he now lives, and planted it to orchard.

In 1854 came James R. Lowe. This gentleman was an Englishman by birth, and a professional bot- anist. He had been engaged in some of the most prominent landscape gardening operations of the English nobility, and had come to America to super- intend some work for New England nurserymen. He came to California at the request of Samuel J. Hens- ley. He laid out the famous Hensley grounds, which, up to the time they were subdivided into city lots, contained more rare plants than any similar area in California. Mr. Lowe was in constant communica- tion with the superintendent of the gardens of the Duke of Devonshire, who was an old-time friend, and hardly a mail was received at the post-office in San Jose that did not contain some rare plant, bulb, or cutting, from the Duke's gardens. These were propa- gated with care, and from this beginning sprang many of San Jose's most beautiful gardens.

Mr. J. Q. A. Ballou, who was with Mr. Case in his early nursery operations, went into the fruit business on his own account-in 1856. At that time he pur- chased the place on the Milpitas road now occupied by him as a homestead, and in February of 1857 he

planted about five hundred trees, principally apples and pears. In 1858 he planted fifteen hundred trees additional. In 1861 he procured from Louis Pellier grafts for fifty French prune trees. From these grafts he made his first prunes in 1867. At that time they were not popular, and only small quantities could be sold. Pitted plums had the call in the market for several years. About the same time his plums came in and these sold readily at twenty-five cents per pound, green. They were of new varieties not before produced here, such as the Columbia, General Hand, Quackenbos, etc. In 1868 Mr. Ballou made eleven tons of dried fruit and shipped it to New York via Cape Horn. It arrived in good order in 1869, and was sold so as to net him from eighteen to twenty cents per pound.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 30

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844