Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-04
TOT tnt NhiohWaus
Z" What I Know shout Farming"
NUMBER rivE.

NUMBER FIVE.
In my last your types misnamed what |
referred to as the TUE lands Of California,
so named from an old Spanish name Of the
Sedge or TUE grass growing on the margin
Of bays and rivers, subject to the flow of ocean
tides. The final is marked with an accent,
to indicate its pronunciation as separate
syllable. This sedge has stalks about half
the size Of common broom corn, and grows up
to the height of from four to six feet. These
" bottom lands have received deposits ofvege
table growth, gathered by the streams all the
way from the mountains, aud these have here
become mixed with sediment from the ocean
tides AMI where not too far inland, with
saline element from the water of the sea-
The strength of such soil, where it can be
made available for agricultural purposes,
may be well appreciated. A few experiments
have demonstrateditto be the mos. productive
land in the world. The politicians and spec
ulators Of California have made these lands
the subject of grand scheme of public plum
der out Of which, when the lands come to
the hands of honest industry, vast public Ad-
vantages may be realized. In the first place,
they procured these lands-of which there
are millions Of acres in the state-to be sur
rendered by the national government to the
state Of California, as swamp" lands
The Legislature then authorizes their sale in
sections and parcels to the highest bidder.
Laws are passed to enforce joint contributions
by the several owners, under commissions duly
appointed and organized, for the retaining
of these lands. This is to be done by evees,
or dikes, sufficiently high to shut out the
tides, extending from upland to upland, all
along the borders of the streams or bays
Simple earthworks, thrown upto the height Of
from four to six feet, and in a continuous
line around the land to be reclaimed, are
generally found sufficient protection against
infowiug tides. 1t il found that lands so re.
claimed have solid body and basis, so that
when the rank tule grass is subdued by means
Of FIRE in autumn, and by turning up the
roots by giant plows, such as are used in
breaking up the western prairies, they be.
come susceptible Of easy culture.
There lands are not flowed, except at high
tides or by winter or spring freshets, aud
though the soil is moist, it is not heavy, being
arabic garden mould or alluyion. Hence
drainage, except in particular localities, will
not be required to protect the crop on these
lands. 10 this respect they differ from the
sugar-lands Of Louisiana The latter are re-
claimed from timber swamps, and after being
ditched and cross-ditched, would still be par.
tally inundated by spring and surface water,
were it not for the constant working of pom
derous hydraulic engines and pumps in lift
ing the water from the main bitches and
pouring it over the levees into the bayous and
rivers contiguous to the plantations.
The Tue lands Of California, when the
water is excluded, can be cultivated with as
much ease and success as any prairie or up
land, producing large crops in the summer,
when California plains are as yellow stub
ble-clad desoation. The contrast Of the
deep vegetable green seen on these Tue
fields, with the general straw-colored dress of
the prairies in summer, gives the principal re-.
lief to the sadness Of the California sumner
landscape. These Tule lands produce album
dainty, root-crops, squashes, melons, pump
kins, grapes, and Indian corn, Hay, as green
ms leek, is already made on these lands, Of
artificial or cultivated grasses, there being
ne summer rains to mildew it in curing. |
have seen trains of wagons, freighted with
this hay, transporting it to the mining dis.
tricts in the mountains
The development of these lands is yet q
matter of experiment, but it is an experiment
that has already realized substantial success,
and at an early day they will be found
ptacers of wealth, richer than the golden
mountains. But they have been sold by the
State to spectators to "dogs in the manger,
who will neither improve them, nor suffer
others to do so, without paying tribute tC
them. But this state of things cannot las
always. These lands will be taxed, and tn,
Spectators will be sensbly impressed with
the necessity Of making them productive.
But started to correct an error Of YOU
types, and found in the inciden, the matter o
an extended discussion.
| will add remark as to the healthines,
OF these lands. In all new countries, wher,
decayed vegetable matter is brought to thu
surface by the pillow, more or less Of malarie
is thereby developed. But found in Cali
fornia that the cultivation Of upland field
and prairies, in turning up vegetable relics ia
virgin soil, was quite as productive of ague
chils and feyers, as the cultivation of thes,
bottom" lands. doubt if the cultivation
Of these lands, on the border of salt water
would produce malaria at all. People who's,
dwellings are surrounded by salt marsh, ar,
rarely affected by chills and fever, while fresl
water ponds aud swamps almost invariably
produce il.
JonS NJ. SrEARNs.