The union Democrat., 1870-02-19
So.
Ridweli's Rancho.

''Rancho del Arroyo Chico" was purcbss-
ed by Gen. Bidweli in lS4S. Gen. B. having
passed through this section while pursuing
some Indians who had stolen q horse on horses
from him near Suffers Fort, was struck with
the fertility of the country. as we'll ss It's adj
vantages, and succeeded in purchasing the
grant. which contained about - 900 acres.
Rancho Chico comprises at present 20, 600
acres, having a length of Is miles and breadth
of from 3 to 81. No rancho 10 the State can
boast of sIch soil as the Rancho Chico, COM
prisirg as it does. a rich black loan. That
portion of the ranch lying near the foot hills
is poor for grain, but will prove to be the
finest soil for the grape, which in few years
will be covered with the finest varieties of
! foreign vines. Muscat Of Alexandria, Flame.
Tokay, Black Prince, Black Morocco, Black
Hamburg, and other choice varisties will not
only live and produce, but come to perfection.
both as to quantity and quality, on these foot
hills.
Bidwell has produced grain in large guam
titles yearly on this farm, commencing while
laughed at and told that California could not
produce cereals, and when bread-stufs were
being sent from the East to San Francisco.
The adobe building was built by Bidwell in
1852. His present mansion was commenced
in 1861. and finished in '6S, costing $50, goo
sold coin. From 1000 to 5000 acres are
yearly put in grain, and the average yield is
about thirty bushels to the acre In '62, 10
acres produced 750 bushels, while il was es-
timated that at least 100 bushels were lost BY
the grain shelling, owing to it's ripeness.
Above average is SIS bushels to the acre.
The soil has produced in one instance on an
acre los bushels of grain. Grain yielded
1866, light crop, fcrty six thousand four hun
dred and eighty bushels.
Bidwell has always raised stock. In '62
numbering 5000 head. The flood of thst
year took off 1900 head. At present his
stock of horses, cattle and hogs number from
$500 to 1000, near the former figure. As to
breed, his stock in general has few superiors.
Bidwell proposes to introduce sheep on his
ranch this or next year. During the winter
season Bidwell runs % plows. During bar
vest his force in the field numbers 25 men.
He employees header machines to cut tho
grain, 9 header wagons to receive and carry
i: to the threshing machine, and 4 large
teams to carry the grain as it is threshed TO
his mill. Fifty horses are employed daily in
the harvest field, and since many Of these
meet with mishaps, others have to be on hand
to supply their places. All of his grain is
threshed in the field, the machine being driv-
en- by a l0-horse-power engine. Average
amount threshed daily, 200 bushels.
The garden comprises 160 acres, and is
made up of vineyards and orchards, and at
present large vegetable crop is being pot in
TO supply the wants of Chico. The fruits nro
Of the finest varieties of apples, peaches,
plums, pears, apricots, nectsrines, prunes.
ounces, cherries, and pomegranates. The
nuts comprise the Almond English and black
walnut. The pecan trees are in fine condi-
ton aud will likely produce next season.
the olive produces finely. and the orange
promises to do the same The orchards COM
prise from 5000 to 4, 900 leaIirg trees.
The vineyard comprises over 10000 vines.
5000 of which are of foreign varieties. 1000
Catawba. and the remainder the Mission
grape. Bidwell has experimental on the tea
plant. and finds it suits the climate exactly
the winter not to cold, nor summer too hot.
1t is proposed to set out many thousand trees.
plants and vines in the garden the coming
winter. The force at present employed in
the garden number fourteen hands.
The Chico Touring mills, owned by Gen.
Bidwell, are among the best in the state.
The grain used is mostly produced on the
ranch. Amount of -four ground by the mill,
200 barrels per day.-Chico Enterprise