Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-27
VBRMONTERs IN CALIFORNIA
STOCK AND DAIRY.

In The Caledonian Of September 29th, va
published brief article entitled " Where
Vermonters are" BY that item, which was
made up from the last census, it appears that
in 1860 there was pretty good sprinkling
OF Green Mountain Boys all over Uncle Sam
vast domain. Among the statistics there
given we read that on the iar-of Pacific coast,
in the golden State Of California, there are
3,4l9 Vefmonters. Caledonia county has
contributed its full share to the enterpising
citizens Of this new State. We well remom-
Der, in 1851, when some fourteen young men
Ell this village in a body, to seek homes and
ortunes 10 the new Eldorado.
Among those who emigrAted from this
country, in 1852, was Mr.. Charles Webb
Howard Of Danville. son Of Hon. Theron
Howard, now Of this place. Many of our
readers will recollect the wrecking Of the
steamer Independently in which he took
passage from the lsthmus, and the letter be
wrote home after his rescue, and which was
published in the North Star at that time.
A year or two later than the period above
spoken Of, two other Vermonters, we'll known
IN public life, also took up their residence in
San Francisco. We refer to Hon. Oscar l..
Shafter, now Judge Of the Supreme Court Of
California, and his brother Hon James NJ
Shafter, sons Of Hon. VIM. X. Skater of
TowRshend, this State.
These three men are, undoubtedly, the
largest dairy farmers in the world. They
have farm in Marian county, California,
known as the Point Reyes Ranch, on the
coast, about rs miles north Of San Francisco,
Of over seventy-one thousand acres Of land
forty thousand Of which is very choice dairy
land, and being bounded on three sides by
salt water it receives the benefit Of the fogs
aud moisture from the Pacific ocean which
keeps the feed good for dairy purposes fully
eight months ia the year. The other thirty
one thousand acres is wild, and, in many
parts, a heavily timbered country, but some
ten thousand acres Of 1t is well adapted for
sheep grazing, they having herd OF nearly
nine thousand running thereon at present,
that thrive on the land the year round with
out care. except herdiog at night.
These farmers expect, within three years,
to be milking upwards Of four thousand cows
"twice a day" Mr.. Howard. who has been
East this summer to visit friends in his native
State for the first time since he went to Cali
fornia, has recently been inspecting the cheese
manufactures in New York, Massachusetts
and our own State, with the view Of building
one On thelf latth. ne mas auopted plans
for erecting one of one thousand cows'capaci-
ty, to be in operation next spring, they being
the pioneers there in that business
But the making Of butter is the principal
business on this farm, the establishing OF a
cheese dairy Of one thousand cows being an
experiment, the result Of which will influence
future operations in that line. With such an
example before them as butter dairy Of three
thousand cows, we should suppose that the
people Of the young and growing State Of
California would not long import one-half
the butter they consume. at present, but
would soon supply their own market, for Mr..
Howard informs US that they make as good
butter there rs lie made in the best diaries in
Cal edonia county CaledoniaR.