The Nevada journal., 1856-01-18
Farming in the Mountains.

We gave last week an instance of the
results of one seasons farming in Eureka
township in this county. The facts then
stated, show that the subject of farming
in the mountains is worthy of more atten-
ton than it has heretofore received. 1t
is true that the nature of the country
here is such that agriculture, upon any
large scale, is not practicable. We can
not, of course, among these rugged hills
think of competing with the lower coun-
ties of the State in the raising of wheat
or any other product of the soil which re-
quires large extent of arabic and wa
tered land for its cultivation and growth.
But there are many ways in which, even
here. or more especially in the upper
portions of our county, the labors of the
husbandman may be rendered very useful
and very profitable.
In almost any section sufficient land
can be found in the valleys of the small
streams, or on the slopes of the hills,
which, if properly cultivated, will yield
large crops of potatoes and other vegcta-
bles, which are emily excellent when fresh,
and therefore will not bear transportation
from below. The superiority of these
articles, on account of their freshness
solely, would secure their preference in
the market over all other products of the
same kind No one will use stale, wilted,
unhealthy vegetables, brought from Ma
rysville or Sacramento as long as fresh
produce can be obtained, from gardens or
ranches near by, even at considerable
increase of price. Miners like to live
comfortably and we'll, and are willing to
pay whatever is necessary for that pur-
pose. There would be sure and ready
sale for all the produce that could be
raised ON the arabic land in the noun
tains.
The expense, difficulty, and In some
cases impossibility of transportation from
below, are however the great Undue ements
to mountain farming. During considc-
rablc portion of the year, the roads are
almost impossible, even to Nevada; be-
yond this place, except for short dis
tance, absolutely SO. In many places in
the mountains, the inhabitants are for
some months completely shut in by a bar
rier of snow, and are obliged to depend
almost entirely upon the stock of provi-
sions laid in BY themselves, or by the
small dealers, in the early part of the
winter season. 1t often happens, from
miscalculation, or the unusual severity of
the winter, that these supplies run low.
The prices are of course largely increased,
and the ranch man, who has his stock of
potatoes and other winter vegetables on
hand, can realize enormous profits upon
his investment. Even in that part of the
year when the roads are in the best con-
dltlon, the expense OF transportation is
necessarily large, and the profit arising
from that saving is sufficient to render
farming in the mountains, wherever it
can be followed, a safe and lucrative oc
cupation.
There are many men in the mines who
are fitted by education and practice for
this business, and who have mined with
out success until they are tired of repeat
ed failures. If they would devote their
wasted energies to the tilling of the earth,
its fruits might change to more gold than
they have ever found beneath its surface.
SOMETHING IS ALWAYS HAPPENING
MOST wFEVs ,-This uoal, &c q xx.JJ