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2 HO^TICUIiTU^E. OUR PRODUCE HARKETS. There is a peculiar condition existing in the Sound markets at the present time. At first thought one would suppose that with the many thousands who have been drawn to the new Alaska gold fields passing through Puget Sound ports it would increase immensely the volume of the pro duce business. This theory looks natural enough and is deceiving farmers and shippers all over the Northwest into rustling their consignments in. But as a matter of fact the volume of business in this line has increased very little. With the first news of the rich strikes people left the Sound cities by the hundreds. The people who are flocking in—the transients —are not the fruit consumers that resi dents are. Those who have gone have taken only staple articles of food and are completely out of reach of all fresh fruits and vegetables. Alaska has been a growing market for several years past but when they heard of the rich discoveries up there every able-bodied person in the coast settlements stampeded into the interior and the demand from there has been temporarily shut off. Sound com mission men say that a year ago this time Alaska offered quite a market for all sorts' of products. One shipper states that where last season he was getting orders for 300 or 400 boxes of apples now he does well if he places 50 boxes on an outgoing steamer. Of course it is a ridiculous condition of affairs and while it means a glut of the perishable products for the time being, yet it offers encour aging features, for it will not be long before the balance of population will again be established at these points with an easier condition of finances among everybody than ever before. In fact the out look for permanent and firmer markets is in the mind of the writer much better than it has ever been in our history. It is easy to be seen that there is going to be a great many new people —home builders —coming in from now on and consumption will be constantly expanding. THE LOWLY EARTH WORH It was the patient investigations of Charles Dar win which resulted in the discovery of the import ance of earth worms as producers and maintainers of living layers of vegetable mould; he established the fact and raised it to the rank of a scientific dis covery, says an exchange. Darwin showed that earth worms act upon the soil in three ways. In the first place they open up and loosen the ground for the roots to penetrate, more perfect aeration of the soil being thus ob tained. The acids they secrete also act chemically upon the layer of rocks beneath in a way that as sists the disintegration of the latter. In the second place, they crush in their gizzards small fragments of stone and liberate their component elements. In the third place they drag down into their burrows countless numbers of leaves, which they eat, and carry up the refuse to the surface. It is computed that no fewer than 53,000 worms inhabit an acre of garden soil. These worms pass through their bod ies ten tons of material in a year, and throw it up RANCHE AND RANGE. as mould at the rate of one inch in depth every five years. The greater part of this mould is composed of a refuse of vegetable matter, and is teeming with myriads of bacteria. Even after allowing for other co-operating causes, earth worms are responsible for the formation and renewal of this layer of vege table mould. Bradley Redfleld Redfield & Son Established 1871. ■ ■ COMMISSION MERCHANTS GREEN AND DRIED FRUITS 141 Dock Street. - - - Philadelphia, Perm. SKOOKUM BOX FACTORY, 1nc.... Manufacturers of and dealers in all kinds of Wooden Boxes, Bee Hives and Bee Keeper's Supplies. FRUIT AND BERRY BOXES A SPECIALTY Quart and Pint Hailocks, 1-lb. and 4-lb. Tin-top Baskets always on hand. Get our prices. flS*We can save you money. Office and Factory, Foot Stewart Street, Seattle, Wash, The Bigalouu PAIDAo poIIAL pruit Co. JOBBERS OF GREEN AND DRIED FRUITS On application we will gladly furnish re liable information regarding fruit crops in the fruit producing sections of the east. Correspondence solicited. Nos. 19 and 21 Huron street, 104-106-108-110 Sheriff street, CLEVELAND - - ' ■ ■ OHIO Central Washington Nursery WE CARRY THE MOST COMPLETE LINE OK GENERAL NURSERY STOCK Of any in the state. Our prices are away below usual figures. You will be better convinced of these facts if you call on or write to us for quotations. We are particularly desirous of having intending pur chasers call at the nursery personally. CHHS. S. SIMPSON & DO. - North Yaklma, Wasli. Eugene Redfleld