The hydraulic press., 1858-10-02
Mountain Agriculture.

Ihe attention OF the mountain press
is now generally directed to the sub
Ject of the agricultural capacity Of
the billy regions, and many facts
have recently been published in that
connection which go to prove that
the mountains are valuable for many
other reasons than that they contain
rich metallic deposits. Until within
two or three years the belief that the
mineral lands of California could be
made to support thrifty population,
independently of the gold, was enter.
tanned by very few; but recent de-
velopments have inclined many to
that opinion, and have inspired san
guine hopes that these dreary gold
fields, with their shifting population,
may yet be the abode of stable and
contented people, tilling the soil and
living literally under their own vine
and fig tree. Paper after paper from
the mining counties comes to us with
accounts of luscious fruits, of heavy
laden vines, of mammoth vegetables.
The dryest placers which the home
sick miner formerly cursed in his
heart as worthless but for the gold
they produced, are now represented
as smiling with orchards, and fields of
grain, and productive gardens. Fam
lilies build pleasant homes for them
selves, and, surrounding them by all
The natural beauties which little la
Dor and water can call to being from
the willing soil, settle down calmly to
enjoy life.
It must be admitted, of course,
that these things are exceptional ;
that the tilling of the soil in the
mountainous districts is so far no
more than an experiment. But it is
a successful enc, and affords suffi-
Gent ground for the hopes above ex-
pressed. The mining interest has
been unquestionably the paramount
one in California thus far, and will
probably continue to be for some time /;
but the time must come, sooner or
later, and the sooner the better, when
the agricultural and manufacturing
interests will supplant it. The day
is rapidly approaching when the
mountain communities, whose entire
worldly means are invested in mining
towns, must have something else upon
which to depend than the mines alone.
AS all the best claims get into the
possession Of a few owners, and the
diggings fail longer to support large
population of gold seekers, the real
value Of the soil will become appa-
rent, and its general cultivation must
result rs an inevitable consequence.
The generation that is growing up,
native to the country, will be better
able to appreciate the value of the
soil, and more likely to cultivate it,
than those who, coming to this from
another State, are prevented by
lingering attachments from taking
fixed root in the land Of their adop-
ton. California will hereafter need
a hardy mountain population, such as
can be reared only under the pure
influences Of agriculture. Here is
the most healthy climate, and facilities
for the greatest number Of industrial
pursuits. The great valhes will al
ways be more or less unhealthy, and
being much warmer will rear an ener-
waited population that will need invig-
Grafton from their mountain neighbors.
There is no question but what the
immigration to California would be
largely increased if it were generally
known in the-east that our arabic soil
is rot confined to the vallies. The
idea is generally entertained in the
Atlantic States thst Spanish grants
cover nearly ali LANDS which are
available for tillage, AID tug must
prevent many from coming hero whose
whole object in emis;rating is to pro-
cure farms. Let it once be known
to them that the mining regi.,ns Of our
State offer the facilities they seek for
making permanent homes, and t.s:ey
will come here. The mineral wealth