San Andreas independent., 1858-01-23
Correspondence of the Independent.
STOCKTON. January 18th. 1851

TINS season, gathered some facts which
may be of interest to the numerous read
ers of your spirited and valuable paper.
At Mokelumne Hill I spent an inter
esting day. This place contains popu-
lation of about 1000, is surrounded by
one OF the richest mining districts in the
State. Millions of dollars have been ex-
pended in ditching, tunneling, aqueducts,
and quartz machinery The town has
the appearance of enterprise, industry and
wealth. | noticed quite a number of
beautiful residences, fine gardens and
orchards A. 7. Dudley, Esq, has a
large and costly residence; in his well
laid out garden are found growing, though
high up In the mountains, rare flowers,
roses, tropical trees and shrubbery, all
growing to great perfection
The orchards and gardens Of DIR. Sober.
IL. NJ. Sturges, Judge Thompson, BRYANT
and many others, contain peach, pear,
plum, cherry trees and grape vines, in
full bearing at three years old corn of
several varieties; hops and vegetables OF
all kinds, thrive to the entire satisfaction
OF the cultivators. The warm, conoenial
climate and abundance of water, from the
thousands of springs, for irrigation, the
deep, rich, alluvial soil of the valleys, and
the red, gravelly loam on the hill sides or
elevations, produce fruits and vegetables
to great perfection.
All, and more, than has been said Of
Mokelumne Hill, can be attested to a
score of mountain towns and cities The
enterprising towns of Columbia, Sonora
San Andreas, Angels, Murphy's, Spring
field and many others, numbering in pop
ulation from 800 to 5000 each, contain
all the elements of refined life, luxuries
and comforts that are found in towns.
In the mountains (Sierra Nevada from
the extreme north to south, or the length
of the State, 800 miles, are thousands of
rich and pretty valleys, nurtured by never
failing springs which gush from the noun
tains and hill sides, and are romanticalv
and quietly situated, waiting, only, for
the husbandman and plow, to produce
every variety of northern and tropical
vegetable productions, in quantities and
qualities to suit the most fastdious.
The adaptability of these valleys and
hill sides, for fruit growing, is just being
found out. The monstrous pears, peaches,
apples and grapes, in all varieties, raised
81
From so to 100 foreign varieties of grapes
are now growing in the State, and doing
as well as in their native soil and cline,
and some much better. France contains
some 5,000,000 acres of vineyards and
annually produces 80,000,000 barrels Of
wine, worth 600,000,000 francs-an i'm
mense product. The capacity of these
valleys and hill sides for producing a
similar amount Of wine and revenue, is
undoubted Already the culture of many
varieties of the grape and the manufae
turing divine, is rapidly becoming large
and a profitable business. Germans.
French and others, coming from wine
producing countries, who have hada laree
and full experience in the culture of the
grape, pronounce this to be the best sec
tion of the world for its growth and per
feet maturity. Rising 3, ,000, 600 of grape
vines are now growing in the State, and
increasing nuallyhundreds Of thousands;
and in a few years we willcxport millions
of gallons of superior wines. Our plains
will be dotted with the wine-press and
the /" vintage time" viii become an i'm
portant yearly epoch.
The capacity of the soil of California
was unknown until recently. or some five
years since, and that all cereals, fruits,
cotton, hemp, hops, tobacco, tropical
fruits and trees, could be raised to perfcc-
tion and with profit. This State contains
of land adapted to agriculture, about Il, :
100000 acres and 5000, coo of swamp
land, most of it susceptible of being re-
claimed The amount of grazing land is
10000, 600, makinea total Of ~ ,000, goo
Amount under cultivation $4,000; en-
closed, 100000 acres. Sugar Beet and
China Sugar Cane have been cultivated
in several sections Of the State the past
season, in quantities and qualities to fully
test the practicability of raising them for
syrup aud sugar. Already there is an
extensive mandatory Of beet sugar, in
all its grades-for which premium was
awarded by the State Agricultural Socie-
ty. Thousands of tons of beets have been
raised this year for the purpose of making
sugar. Messrs Smith & Winchell, of
San Jose, raised this season, 80 tons to
the acre. Soon we shall become export
ers of sugar.
The culture Of Hemp, in San Jose, by
DIR. Cobb and others, fully confirms the
practlcability Of raising it to as good a
quality and advantage, as the Russian ::
and this is another sure and profitable
product that can and viii be raised for
expectation.
The raising Of sheep, in the mountains
has been perfectly tested, and IN M rarf
of the world do they thrive better WOOL
is now exported in large Quantities and
with fine profit, and there is no reason
why we should not, III very few rc,,s
With fbn cg,tn+r,o-