Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-06-18
Washington City, June 10, 1858.
Agriculture In California.

An official report of the last annual fair of the Cali
fornia State Agricultural Society," held at Stockton is
repete with interest showing, it dOes the rapid strides
with which this young Pacific State is making in the
development of her extraordinary natural resources
The following extracts from the report of the committee
authorized to visit the most noted farms, orchards and
vineyards in the State, contain reference to agr
cultural wonders which may we'll excite asonishment
Having taken steamer to Sacramento, we reached
Hook Farm the present home of the noble pioneer,
Gen. j. A. Suffer- This is ne healthy location, six
miles below Marysve on the west bank of the Feather
river Hook Farm has upon it twenty-five hundred
grape vines in full bearing, besides large number of
smaller ones of many choice varieties Also, five hun
dred peach, four hundred fig fifty pomegranate and
large number of almond and olive trees all in bearing
andtwentyve hundred trees in nursery. Gen. Sutter
has made both wine and brandy, of excellent quality,
during the last year, and in considerable quantities.
His grounds are irrigated from well, sixty feet Deep
the water being raised by steam power and distributed
over his grounds in wooden fumes.
d" Mr.. q. &. YOunt lives ten miles from Napa city,
His farm comprises thirteen thousand acres nine hun
dred enclosed and under cultivation seven hundred
in wheat averaging thirty bushels to the
one hundred in grass. Fifty acres has been cultivated
to wheat twenty-five years, and produces from twenty
five to fifty bushels to the In the fruit garden are
nine thousand grape vnes three hundred peach trees
in nursury two hundred and fifty apple
a Gloria Mundi APPLE twelve and half inches in
circumference and two months yet to mature Measur
ed rosebush nine inches at base two years old spread
ing its lateral branches hundreds of feet the house
| Napa SOnOma Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and the Rus
sian River valleys, just visited well worthy special
notice. being the most lovely and picturesque spots
the State climate toO being temperature
about 10 deg rendered humid by the breezcs which
are partly broken by the coast range Of mountains.
These valleys parallel to each other and are separa
ted by spurs of the coast range, which from
hundred to thousand feet in height covered with
luxurant growth of redwood and several varieties Of
oaks pines, naples and other forest trees and great
variety of evergreen shrubbery, and is continued
stretch of beautiful, romantic, mountain and valley
scenery, unsurpassed These valleys WILL in few years
become the great vintage ground of the north, with
their wine presses doting the plains and the vintage
time will become an important yearly epoch.
MIR. E. Ii. ComstOck, eight miles from Stockton, has
a farm of twenty-five hundred acres. He pows about
sixteen hundred two hundred of which he this year
summer-falows, two hundred acres be mows for hay
One hundred acres has justly yielded its third crop Of
barley, since plowing or sowing. Two hundred acres
sowed very late, has this year yielded three thousand
bushels of barley One hundred acres sowed last win
ter to wheat but to bush it in made an aggregate
crop of fourteen thousand bushels of clear wheat and
twenty-five hundred bushels of screenings.
| On Tuesday, September 22d, visited the extensive
establishment of Sansevaine, Brothers. They have fifty
three thousand vnes handsomely dressed and richly la
den with fruit. They expect to make eighty thousand
gallons of wine this year. Their eight large cellars fill
ed with wine and brandy present astonishing picture
of rapid wealth Their grounds handsomely laid out
and fenced with growing willows. An arbor, three
hundred yards long, is covered with grape vines loaded
with fruit which, in addition to their elegant flower
garden and six fine fountains, makes their place one
unusual beauty and grandeur. This establishment il
vet without successful rival in this country