Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-01

SWAZILAND RECLAMATIoN.-The work of
retaining overlooked or swamp lands is pro-
crossing in California. mine of wealth is
opened in such Improvements, by which lands
obtained at the average rates Of government
sales OF public lands OF all grades are trans
formed, at an expense usually not exceeding
five dollars per acre, into the richest and most
manageable of tIllable areas, having the added
advantage of almost perpetual sunshine above,
and neYer-laing supply OF water beneath, Sc
curing results in production almost unexam-
pied Information has been received OF the or.
ganization Of a company of Sln Francisco cap
ital'sts who have purchased 10000 acres at the
southwest end of Lake Hulare, in rulare coun-
w, at 500 per acre, and will Immediately inau-
gurate measures for its reclamation Negota
tons for $4,000 acres adjoining are also in pro-
cess
Marsh and tide lands in Alameda have been
sold to the value of ,0S6. The overflowed
lands on the eastern shore of San Francisco
amount to 10000 acres.
In Contra Costa county, on the south bank of
the west channel Of San joaquin river, strio of
low lands 20 miles long, requiring levee only
on one side, contains $4,000 acres valued at 500
per acre. On portion of this tract %, 900 sheep
have been grazing; another portion (of 10 900
acresl has pastured II 900 head of cattle, and
weekly shipments of beeYes have recently been
made from ii to San Francisco. 1t is believed there
that SIX to nine tons OF lucern can be produced
per acre on this land. Ga 5000 acres it is pro-
posed 10 grow crop of wheat the coming sea-
son. These tule lands are prepared for culture
by burning. The tule and grass are set on fire
and rapidly consumed, and the soil itself is
burned to ashes to depth at which the fire is
checked by moisture, leaving several inches of
light ashes and charre1 soil on the surface. The
level of the land is often lowered by this process
from four to six inches. No cultivation is re-
quircd, but the seed is sown on the surface and
the narrowing is accomplished by turning on
flock of sheep, which is subdivided into sections
OF 200 to 300 each, and driven systematically
each by boy and shepherds dog, until the
ground has been thoroughly tramped over. In
harvesting, there is too much grain left upon the
ground for seed; SO the sheep are again brought
into requiSition to feed upon portion while they
tramp in the remainder
Twitchell island, south of Brannan island,
containing $500 acres, was leveed in 1870. but
not In season to dry it in readiness for burning
with the exception Of 1000 acres, which were
Sown in wheat. The product of that wheat croD
is reported at S67 200, which is Just $500 less
than the purchase money for the whole island
Besides the wheat, vegetables TO the value of
Sc eral Thousand dollars were grown upon the
same tract. A large area in the centre of the
island has been burned preparatory to seeding
and tramping, while sheep are fattening upon
the wasted grain left upon the area in wheat in
1870.
On Sherman island, the reclamation of which
has been heretofore reported, immense crops are
now grown. One field i'll 1871 is said to have
yielded sixty bushels of barley per acre, and
afterward two crops of Chill cloVer-one and a
half tons each per acre. Another field, accord
ing TO the report, brought forty-fve bushels of
wheat per acre, one aud a half tons of clover,
and feel for cattle in the autumn.
The number and character of these enterprises
are worthy of special investigation. Some com
panles propose TO reclaim very large areas, in
one case about $4,000 acres. After reclamation
these tracts are cut up and sold, sometimes in
bodies OF hundreds of acres, often in small
farms, the lapse of time promoting further SUBJ
division, which will ultimately secure a dense
population and the highest culture.