The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-03-21
California in the Early Days.


gives this account of early agricultural
methods and implements in California,
under the Mission rule: asas s77sl7z@7
Plows were roughly fashioned from the
stems of small trees, while tree brush was
the only material of which harrows were
composed. Yokes for cattle were merely
poles of suitable length, lashed to their
horns by means of rawhide thongs, and
the only vehicles were carts, of which the
wheels were sections of logs, and resembl-
ed huge cheeses with holes through the
centres. Instead of chains, rawhide ropes
were used. Iu fact, at this period the
whole business of seeding aCalifornia
farm might be accomplished without the
use of iron in any Implement, if we ex-
cept the pole or soad used for driving the
cattle for in the end of this persuader
was inserted small brad or awl
Relating to these carts, an anecdote is
told which may not be out Of place here.
In certain section Of California the peo-
pie were greatly annoyed by marauding
parties Of Indians from the mountains, or
wild Indians, as they we're called. Now
it happened one day that an American
who was riding past grove in which was
situated ranch house, heard issuing
from the tllickct the most terrible and
piercing screams. Hurrying with all
speed to the next ranch he informed the
people what he had heard, and that he
believed the place was attacked by In.
dians, and that they were numbering the
women and children The ranchmen
bravely responded to his call, and hastily,
with such arms as they could collect,
hurried back with him to the place, VOW
| ing by the way vengence upon los pirG-
tosy roberos-the pirates ID robbers
Arriving at the place of the supposed at
tack, they found no robbers there, but
only couple of tame Indians engaged in
the peaceful occupation of hauling fence
poles with two of these carts propelled by
oxen, and as wheels and axles were COM
posed entirely of wood, and no lubricat
ing material used, great screeching was
the consequence.
The manner of blowing was peculiar.
! To every pair of oxen there were two
men-Indiaus The business Of one was
to hold the one handled plow upright and
also to use the persuader, of goad, while
the other acted in the capacity ola guide,
marching solemly just in front of the
team. These plowmen were accustomed
20 wear only the boots and pants provid-
ed by Dame Nature. a serape (blanket
with a slit in the centre) aud an old broad
brimed s0n.6rero (hat,l completed their
outfit. Sometimes the piow, holder acted
as guide to those in the rear, as frequent
ly there were five or six plows running
in the same field. The furrows were
mere scratches, being four or five inches
wide aud about three in depth.
The harvesting was accomplished in
the same primitive fashion, the grain be-
. ing cut with sickles aud stacke in small
+. circular enclosure, having space between
! the stack and fence for passage or road
way. Into this a band of horses was driv-
en-, two or three mounted drivers being
among them, whoopiug and yelling like
mad men, Round and round the stack
went the flying band, the grain meantime
being thrown on the ground for them tC
run over. After a few hours exercise ol
this kind, the horses were turned out, the
, threshed straw being thrown over the
fence, more of the unthreshed grain spread
on the ground, the horses again turned
in. again the wild, mad chase performed
!. and so on until the stack was finished.
The threshed grain was then imper
fectly separated from the chaff and dir
| by carrying it upon high scafFolds ano
, pouring it down while the wind was blow
I ing. This, it will be perceived, was th'
, process practised three thousand year.
ago. Though poor and rude the plan
' still, owing to the fertility Of the soil
i crops fair in quantity and quality wer
. obtained, and the pandres, madres, sen
oritas. homJres and Ladios (lndlans)-
these latter poems and performing nearl
I all the labor-were enabled to luxurlat
a on tortillas, onions, beans, &c, to thei
n hearts content b
Fish Commissioner Worrall has mad
his annual report in reference to the re
J. storation Of the inland fisheries of Penn
sylyania. He considers the project
u entirely feasible, and states that he ha
i every reason to anticipate ultimate SUI
cess. The first experiment tried was th
erection of fish dam in the 'Susquehann