Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-05
Correspondence Of the Waterman.
Farming in California.

facts on the agricultural facilities Of Caiior-
mia and the far West of our broad nation.
1t has been observed, and think truly, that
the wealth of California is destined to be
found more in her farms than in her mines
And it may be said to-day that agriculture
offers to her citizens a more sure reward
for industry than mining Aud it is doubt
less true here, as it is all over the country,
that more gold is destined to be realized from
tillage than from mines
But agriculture here must he adapted to
the climate and the seasons About three
months in the fall and winter rain is abund-
ant. Sometimes an inch or two Of snow falls.
but none that remains over O few hours The
other nine months Of the year are generally
without rain, and the fields, as at present,
become arid and dry The grain crop is made
without irrigation. The fields being ploughed
and prepared, about the first Of December
wheat sowing commences, and it may be kept
up till about the first Of February. But
wheat is often sowcd on summer fallo%, but
docs not terminate till the rainy season.
Barley, requiring a less time for maturity,
may be sowed two weeks or month later, or
until the first Of March. These are the "a
vorite crops; with oats to be gathered for
hay while green, or left to ripen to be har-
vested in the usual way, The grain crops
being ripened, the harvest usually commences
about the first Of june though the dry sea-
son having commenced, the grain is not in
jured if it stands longer to meet the conyen-
fence Of the farmer in gathering the crops Of
a large plantation. The wheat and barley
crops are gathered by species Of roapiDg
machines called Headers" that is, the
cutting gear is so gagged that it cuts only the
heads, leaving the bulk of the straw on the
roots The heads when cut are carried up
into wagon following the reaper, by a belt
elevator; and when one wagon is full, another
is put into its place, and the full wagon is
driven to the stack where these grain heads
are stacked as you would stack load of hay;
and the grain is subsequently threshed in
threshing machine after the work Of gather
ing has been completed. The grain when
threshed is put in sacks, containing by weight
some 225 pounds, or little over two bushels.
In these sacks, it is piled up in the field, till
it is marketed or till the rainy season APP
proaches, when, if it is not then sold, it is usu-
ally stored with the commission merchant or
forwarder, at some railroad depot, or other
store, near transportation. The average yield
Of wheat is said to be thirty bushels to the
acre. and that of barley about forty Wheat
is now 80 cents bushel, gold, or 81 curren-
cy barley sells for four Jts) 80 cents a
bushel But farmers prefer to feed it to
stock, and horses, rather than sell it at this
price. The production Of Indian corn here,
is confined to bottoms along the streams, or
to lands susceptible of irrigation, The at
tempt to raise it elsewhere would be a fail
ure. In the mountains, where rains are COM
mon, the elevation is too great for this crop.
Graperies and fruit gardens are made produc-
tive by irrigation effected by pumping water
from wells by aid Of wind mills Every
farm and fruit garden has wind mill oper-
ating pump raising water. Water is found
at various depths, form ten to two hundred
feet. Here and there is an artesian well, in
some places flowing or sending water in a jet
above the surface. California claims to be
the most productive fruit growing region in
the country. This is doubtless true though
fruit trees especially when young, do not re-
rist the drought except on the river bottoms
or where facilities for irrigation are afforded
The wine crop is said to be some millions of
gallons; and other fruits, such figs, peaches
pears and apples, are produced in great album
dance. The lands best adapted to farming
are rolling prairies gradually rising towards
the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
There is remarkable provision in nature
here for the preservation of farm stock
The grass, withered by the coming of the dry
season, retains its nutritive properties until
the fall rains, and though the prairies seem
burned up, yet stock will live and even grow
fat on the dried grass upon them. The fall
rains rot this grass and destroy its nutriment
and stock often suffer between the coming of
the first rains and the starting of the new
grass at such season every prudent farm
or will see that his stock is properly fed
When the new grass is fairly started, it
remains green throug, the winter, and sup
ports Il kinds of stock without feeding
The facilities for raising stock without feed
ing winters, makes this branch Of agriculture
q fayorite pursuit here. Cattle horses and
mules are raised here in great numbers, and
sheep are by no means neglected though
apprehend the grass and climate are not so
favorable to the production of sheep and wool
as the pastures of the east But the losses
by wintering are.iar less--to say nothing Of
the less expense Of their support in winter
in California. In one thing the sheep raisers
are more sensible in regarding the profit Of
good mutton as well as good WOOL The
English South Downs are found here, and
seem well adapted TO the climate.
In relation to wheat and barley crops, it
often happens that a good crop is obtained the
second year, seeded by the waste grain in the
harvest, and growing spontaneously without
culture. The crop is not so large, but gener-
ally worth gathering. Fruits are said to
grow without irrigation after the trees become
large and deep rooted.
Yours, &c,
JonN NJ. SrEARNs.
Our Potatoes.