Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-04-19

ed or put into barns. We cannot "seed |
down" and reap successive crops from the
same roots, but the seeds that drop in har-
vesting will spring up next year with or
without blowing and give often most gen.
erous volunteer" crops.
| Wheat and barley are the great staples
corn and potatoes not so generally cult
yated-indeed one might travel far and
look sharp in some counties without see
ing either-yet considerable quantities of
both are raised in the coast counties and
river bottoms. It is thought many farm
ers might do better to cultivate variety,
| and aim at "rotation" of crops where the
soil will admit of it. "Wheat on the BRAIN
is the latest fashion, to such an extent that
some have rented grain lands at four to six
dollars per acre-putting in enormous crops
and reaping-sometimes big fortune and
sometimes big failure. 1t is 'ticklish
business" and this year falling in supply
of early rain is likely to go hard with those
who cultivate the interior plains and up
lands. Fruits and vegetables will every
where reward the most ordinary care, but
in many places must have irrigation six or
seven months of the year. The market
gardens of San Francisco owe much of
their surprising fertility to artificial water
ing
But the astonishing bounty of Nature is
not always met by an equally astonishing
industry of man. No frOst-nipped memo
ry of biting cold here pricks him on to
ceaselesss toll. and many jolly soul con
tent with easy life, seeks not for wealth
with all its troop of cares.
A majority of our American farmers are
Southern and Western men, who regard
not polish in their surroundings, and look
with lofty scorn upon the multifarious
yankee fXings." Behold with what
ease they fling up shelter for their house
hold gods A few sticks Of perishable
material are driven into the ground
floor of rough boards nailed thereon and
other boards perpendicular loftener siam
tindicUiar) to these form the outer wall of
defense, whose cracks are sometimes but
not always covered with "battens.' A
piece of scantling nailed on other pieces
forms the ridge-pole, and over all is quick
Iy laid the covering of Shakes" or rough
shingles from three to four feet long. In 4
few days it is done and in a few years
dome tor'-to be succeeded let Us hope,
by something more substantial if not more
beautiful. Their whole system of farming
is wasteful in the extreme calculated to
impoverish the soil and not enrich them
selves. 1t is still general practice to burn
all the straw after threshing, just to get it
''out of the way" Yet all are well aware
that if the next winter proves a dry" one,
thousands of cattle will be likely TO starve
to death, Now whether that straw if saw
ed would in turn save the lives of cattle, I
am not prepared to state,
My husband has been farmer only six
months and doubtless have much to learn
But know already that farmers have had
. hard row to hoe" in this state where
the Majesty Of Law and the Money bags OF
spectators have Joined hands against hi,
, most vital interests. What the Law
Yes, our dear, old addle-headed Uncle Sam
has played the very mischief by confirming
many various Land Grants, purportinc
to be Spanish" but actually fraudulent
thus surrendering a vast proportion of oul
lands-fairest and best for agriculture, in
, to the monster clutch of Monopoly. s.
prices have been held above the range Of /
humble purse and genuine prosperity o
people and country untimely nipped in III,
bud. | say ''hare jee,," for now strenuous
efforts are being made to hold back for &C
tual settlers whatever lands have escaped
the aforesaid Clutch
Wise and unselish men are striving Will
e Legislative and Congressional powers tina
2 be- hoping TO accomplish whatever is nov
n possible for the hitherto neglected an,
e abused interests of agriculture
!. Farmer. themselve, are waking up
r meeting in CLUBS" for discussions an,
+ common sense talk upon important ques
u tons of husbandry. In San Francisco
e they have formed an Immigrant Union
j which promises to steer clear of polite
IS and spectators and labor diligently in as
;; sisting the needy to some possible chanc
II of securing permanent homes.
d For the Immediate furtherance of thi
$ blessed work they ask Legislative aid
u which they are Rot likely to get but with
ie out it can do much good by giving infor
ie nation to those who arrive without none
K or friends.
Is There has also beena Labor Exchange
J. in successful operation some two or thre
v years. They state as significant fac
that demand for farm laborers is foun
e. most difficult to fill
OF So you perceive that California "bon
Is and muscle" betrays undue preference
$ for city life and the eight-hour Law.
/ MARY JAMESON LOCKE.
Santa Cruz, California, April y,