New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-08
A CALIFORNIA Rancho.

body knows ia the word universally used for farm in
California. 1t corruption of the Spanish rancho
These ranches, containing, they often do, thou
sands OF acres conducted upon scale of
magnfcenoe quite in contrast with the style of
farming where field is thought large If 1t contain
80 acres ! have taken some pains TO make my
knowledge accurate and thorough respecting rancho
which have spent the last three months. This
situated the Sacramento River, not far from
the head OF navigation. The valley here, as IL does
during its whole extent, reaches from the Sierra
Nevada Mountains the east TO the Coast
Range the west From foothills to foot
hills Il is here from 80 to 40 miles wide,
the river bearing toward the siorras Both
ranges Of mountains be distinctly seen reaching up
their wcapDed heads 10 the skies, making 1t often
times very difficult tell where the mountain leaves OFF
and sky begins. Later in the season the snow VIII
he gone except from Of the highest peaks To the
north Mount Shasta stretches its head far above It's
cOmpeers. giant the mountains. II is 40 miles
away. is always visible, 60 where you will II Is
16OOO feet high and until recently was thought 10 DO
the highest point in the state Measurements maze ata
late date prove that Mount Whitney, in the northern
part state exceeds 1t in altitude by few hundred
feet refreshing sight, scorching Summer day.
quiet Of this mountain as 1t literally
lifts its white head above the heat and dust that Cypress
beneath IL. with mantle of snow wrapped around IT,
reaching far down the eye can see Like great
rock in weary land il seems TO hold out the invitation
to and take refuge in its shadow
The valley here is not untimbered plain, as 1t is
lower down. but has, scattered here and there, the
grandest old oaks that greeted the eye or made
glad the heart They have the graceful sweep Of the
New England elm, and resemble that in appearance
more than the sitter oak OF the States. There
seems to be good grounds for the opinion
that this Sacramento Valley was once great sea
or lake, shut in by continuous chain Of noun
tans that extended along the coast which by some con-
vulsion asunder the Golden Gate opened and
the water permitted escape except where greater
depression retained it, The rancho comprises 10000
acres the east bank of the river and extends
about four miles along its shore 1t reaches backward
of it skirts the foothills OF the sierras
The privileges enjoyed byt are wonderful There
Is not field in the whole rancho that does not have
running through II stream of pure beautiful water
These ryulets come down through the cahons
between the mountains and, after winding about
here and there, making glad the earth
and giving drink TO the cattle they find their way to the
Sacramento River There is a fOur-mi Of large ca
paoty the rancho whose wheels kept running by
neverfailing supply Of water from one OF these
streams Last year 10000 bushels OF wheat and 1000 OF
barley were raised the rancho So perfect is the ma
chnery used for cutting and gathering in the grain that
a thousand bushels Of wheat which in the morning held
its golden head erect in the field at evening was tied up
in the sack ready the miller. This was last year.
This season. with steam thrasher greater things
are expected to be done. Headers driven through
the field which off the grain little below the head
Each header followed by three headerwagons, which
catch the grain it is thrown into them, and in these
wagons hauled to the thrasher which in the same
field The wheat when sacked is left where it lies with
IMMUNITY until the harvesting is done, ana there Is
leisure to haul it ill., for there Is no fear OF ram 10
carry on these operations force of 40 horses and about
30 men ia required
mart of this grain-crowiug IS done by tenant.
will describe the process of putting in the grain on e
part titled by the Of the rancho Twenty men ana
ATTY horses were employed from the 1st OF October until
of March though six 10 ten OF the men were
crubbng and cleaning of the fields. The oIdiashloneu
oow that man must hold with both hands Is entlrey
discarded No plow that does not cut more than Two
burrows is admissible Buggy and sulky pows' IN winch
-. man may ride in a very gentemanly way
while ne turns up the soil twins" ana other klhuS
have entirely superseded the Old style oo'ne
90 thase p,os cost as much as $780, From four to six
horses or mules attached 10 each pow lndeed some
times as many as eight horses are used When haI-
these teams came in together at noon or night
there was quite congregation Of horses The poWlhg
was not ended when the wheat and barley were all sown
Hundreds OF were powed to be sown IN the all
before the rains. This is called summeriauo"lhg'
and ia the surest way Of securing good crop
These fields will he cultivated in that Is,
the grain will he put in with cuIuVaIor'
which can be done before the Fall rains oeen 50 that
the grain will have the benefit Of all the rains ana VIII
reach such state OF maturity before they are over as
Ia hid defiance 10 the dry weather afterward No pow-
ing can be in the FAN until after the rains begin
aud when it late was last season. before the rams
there is danger that the wheat, being late sown.
W
and 80 the crop fail altogether as 1t has IN thou-
sands of acres the present season. All the agrl-
cultural instruments in use are OF the DesV
Lind and such as most effective with the
least manual labor for "nelp" is more expensive mere
than at the East Men receive $50 per month and board
for ordinary labor with advance upon TINS OF SU OF
t1a in having and harvesting Contrary to common
IMPRESSION the supply Of aborers is III excess oil e ue
tnand At it is this season The failure OF crops
In the San Joachim Valley, and in many oner parts OF
the State has the tendency to attract laDOers 10
tbose parts OF the state where the crops
ara better and there is more to he Done
No arrangement is made for lodging the
men who are hired Each brings pair Of blankets
with him. he selects his sleeping place IN the barn.
or tool house. or granary, seems good Ill his sight
Very often he prefers a lodging under the branches
nj ome large oak with some hay for his pillow. On the
rancho Of which write, the men have Their quarters IN
a house little way from that Of their employer where
Chinaman prepares their food
Last wear 500 tuns hay were!cut Clover is not heard
NJ and timothy is unknown here All the nav Is maze
az the native oats cut before the seed is ripe enough TO
f,u ant No preparation OF the fields no plowing, no
sowing is necessary for this crop. Simply let hed
alamo and the oats will come, no matter how many
rops may have raised upon II, or how many years
- ha heen titled The seeds of the oat seem 70 have
wonderful vitality and stay hidden away IN the rece'ses
Of the earth, awaiting chance 10 spring
mn and take possession OF the land' Before
,ho country was settled and the land brought
nnder cultivation these grew everywhere, three
four and even five high, furnishing unrvaled pas
tue for cattle and sheep. Eight hundred cate Doaru
themselves on the broad acres OF this rancho not yet cu
tvafed These cattle require attention II summer OF
winter except that two men, called Buccar' are en-
yd IN ride around the rancho daily 10 see that the
. a.tIe IN common with the hogs and horses behave
,he,,-elves and to make that no fences