The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-19
From a late California Paper.
California Agriculture.


The letter which we publish below, from an IN
teligent practical farmer, is worth whole volumes
of newspaper articles upon the subject Of our agri-
cultural resources. Here Is mass oil facts, going
over a series of years. and demonstrating, beyond
the possibility Of doubt, the certainty that Calior-
MIA rich as she is in mines, is infinitely more valu-
able in other important respects IL Is extremely
gratifying to US, who have always commended in
to be enabled to lay before our readers, both upon
the Pacific and the Atlantic, so reliable and con-
vincing statement
AT MY FARM NEAR Elk MIssIoN DE SAN JOSH,
SANTA CLARA VALLEY, July 8, 1851.
MEssRs. EpIToRs / observed, in the weekly Til
buns of March 10Th, extract from the Journal Of
Commerce concerning farming operationsin Cali
fornia which refers particularly to me in fact, but
not in name. My name, as recorded, is John M
Horner, born June is, 1921, Monmouth county,
New Jersey, where my father and his family now
reside. left New York, February 4th, with my
wife, two weeks after marriage, for California, 10
farm, going by the way of Cape Horn and the
Sandwich Islands, and bringing my farming uten-
sils with me. arrived in California in August,
1876, since which time have been pursuing one
steady aim at agricultural pursuitA-
FIRsT YEAR.-I farmed sixty acres in various
kinds of produce, but gathered nothing but dear
periencs
SEcGsp YEAR, was thrown into confusion on
account of the gold mines Help could nat be hired
at ary price, and am credibly informed that the
Governor himself had TO cook his own meals. l
farmed but very little, and finally caught the
gold teur and went to the mines; and there caught
the fever and ague, and returned to my farm.
gathered nothing the second yoars-
Third YEAR, made further preparations for
farming. was determined not to be dsappoint-
ed, but farm would. / could not hire hands for
s 10 per day. tried to enter into co-partnershp,
but could not effect it; all had rather go to the
mines. None of my brothers were yet in the coun-
try. But would not be disappointed. j got the
assistance of some three Indians, and we went to
the mountains, twenty five miles Distant and there
we worked at the red wood (cedars OF Lebanon, for
some of them three hundred feet hgh) until
we got rails and posts sufficient TO secure fifteen
acres, which planted principally in potatoes. The
produce gathered was worth about $4,000; but
unfortunately lost one half, on account of heavy
rains setting in and the scarcity of help. Thus
ended the third year.
FOURTH YEAR.-My younger brother arrived in
January. We managed to fence some four hun
drcd acres and farm one hundred and fifty, prin-
cipaly in potatoes, and crop yielded fol-
lows:
Potatoes. ,760, 900 lbs Pumpkins. go 900 lbs
Onions 49,. 10000 Barley ...... 20, 900
Tomatoes. >. $4,000 Wheat, 10000
s seGts, i::ded 5000 Chickens Snsl Zoo Zoo dov
s oabbagss 10000 hsg'''''''''' 0O0 o0A
FIFTH YEAH, Solve have fenced about one
thousand three hundred acres, and have farmed
eight hundred. We want no rain until Deem
Der, and we will be sure to gather, of
Potatoes. .l20, 900 bush Solid headed
Onions $3.50, 5000 cabbagcs los, 900 lbs.
Table beets 1000 Chickens . 600
Turnips... 1000 Eggs....... 200 doz
Carrots 1000 Onion seed. 500 lbs.
Tomatoes. =. 200 Beet seed 200
Barley. 5000 Cabbageseed 100
Pumpkins 80 tons
To most of the eastern world, who are unacquant.
ed with soil and climate, the above account will
look almost impossible. But, considering that we
have nine months out of twelve in which
sow, and nine in which we can gather, it is not
doubtful. And if there ever was a country in which
the "ploughman overlook the reaper" California
ia that one. large amount of produce will be
raised in California this year for market. This
valley alone will yield about
10000 bushels potatoes, 5000 bushels pears,
1900 bushels onions. l,40O bushels apples,
l0,200 bushels table beets, 400 tons pumpkins,
5000 bushels do tomatoes, 1876 tons grapes,
100000 bushels barley, 1900 tons hay,
$4,000 bushels wheat, $4,000 solid head cab ges.
Besides the above there will be great quantity
OF beans, peas, melons, and finer garden eauce;
and some four thousand sheep and hogs, besides
cattle almost numerous as the acres of land
which they feed. This valley, if its resources
were fully developed, would supply more than
million of population. | write from knowledge
of the fact, having spent five years in the valley.
There are six hundred thousand acres of good TIL
liable land within its borders. The poorest will
yield two thousand pounds of wheat barley,
and the best seventy thousand pounds of onions
per acre.
Notwithstanding the present prices of labor,
which about seventy dollars per month, my
calculations, based upon experimental knowledge,
such as to warrant me in stating that Caliior-
MIA supply her own market in beef, pork,
flour, barley, and all kinds of vegetables cheap,
and of better quality, than she be supplied
from any quarter of the world Vegetables will
be very cheap this year. am credibly informed
that Mr.. Steinberger has purchased the best
tice of California potatoes, for the supply of the
ocean steamers, for the year, at three cents per
pound. After the LIST of August, 1852, California
will supply her own market with barley; but when
she can supply herself with flour is doubtful, as
there mills in the country, and farmers will
not raise wheat without some prospect of market.
Yours, respectfully,
JOHN M. RORNER.