New-York tribune., 1873-07-03
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
1.-THE sACRAMENTo VALLEY.

sHramento Valley, winch stretches from SacFathehVo
north to the junction OF the mountains above Redding
differs in things from the San Joaquin Valley it
has more rain-the increasing you go north 30
that above Chico they count upon at least 20 inches ana
with proper management, that is say, where they
snmmersllow their helds, they are, believe. quite
sure OF az least half crop even m very dry year; ana
this OF River they will get two
thirds OF CROP though IL II dry year Again. rriSa
ton is lee, Deedm in the Sacramento Valley than fur
her south they irrigae their vegetable gardens aud
also 10 extent their orchards but fields. Then
the greater part OF this valley has on 1t lovely groves or
white oak. that tree which is the glory Of California;
and you sec OF of wheat and harley
growing thrftiy with those gnifcent trees scattered
through The zelda Ny eye never tires of these low
branching widespreadiDg gnarled. picturesque trees
and you ride or the country you see hun
dreds day. each OF which worthy NJ painter
There are borrower, many signs tell you that ths
is, for California old settled country. good deal
Of it IL fenced n lumber, brought by nioad from the
rich timber region about Truekee or from the foothills
being cheap here II adds much 20 the appearance 0f
neatness and thrift that there rail OF worm
fences, but all pOsts and boards. The farms In the
upper part OF the valley usually square mile in
extent. e4O Then the farmhouses are apt 70
stand III the midst OF grove Of trees and 10 ~ very
pretty aud homcke see, far of the great plain,
pleasant green little home. house, and barns
concealed by trecs all having air OF comfort aud
prosperity, and above all OF permanence which the Cali
fOrnia famstead often lacks Except on tho edges
Of The river where you meet with fringe of cotton
wood and wilows aud IN the foot hills, there is
forest on this whole pain hut many parts OF 1t. for
me together give the impression Of path by reason
OF tho scattered single specimens OF the white oak
In some parts, the farmers have planted consider
able orchards about Chico, especially, Gen. Bldwes
example has given an impetus this branch OF farming
and Instead Of the aud lemon you hDd here the
and plum fruits very profitable here HOwcVerhc
olive hrives and bears, far North Red Bun and NJ
Chico iOranges grow, though do not think they would
pay crop The ALMOND, bo~ever, does so well that
there large orchards OF them planted out which sur
pr-ed me- for II blooms very early, and should have
supposed unsafe The Eucalyptus, too--a tree
winch ought 10 lie planted wherever IL viii gro~-does
admirably far north ~ this place.
WHEAT rIR UNIVERSAL CROP
Here and there you hnd farmer trying something
besides wheat aud barley az one place saw that
large crop OF broom bad been gathered; aud at
Tehama Chinese have raised immense crops OF
peanuts but wheat barley, sheep, ana cattle are the
chief products Of the Valley East OF Chico the
Sacramento. hives farmer, who is said TO raise
on his own land One-twGtieth OF the whole
wbea5 crop ~ the State; and from Sacra-
mento TO the Oregon line, sheep and cattle
abound and generally well bred. As far north
this place stock needs shelter IN tho Winter, ana
takes Of tself further sOnth but It is the habit
range sierra keeping theirstocf on the plains
only during the Fall Winter and Spring. The improve
ment IN stock has included also the horses. the light
Mexican pony being lenger found I'm these parts
owe have only good American horses In the Saera
uento Valley" said a farmer to me; ana 1 told
him that was probably the reason why nobody
rides on horseback any more For though the nstive
horse light do much or heavy work. IL E without
doubt the comfortable we'll as the easiest kept
S,dle horse on this continent and those who enjoy
riding will have for regret il this breed is i'm
proved of tho face OF the land When tell you that
the farms in this valley have often air of pcrmaDence
and when speak OF orchards not "a understand
that orchards abundant that comfortable farin
eads abound Immense is tho fruit produce OF this
State, il ID yet In its infancy; and for the
next quarter Of century men may plant
orchards confident Of large profits and in the valley OF
the Sacramento 10 is after ALL only here and there mat
you who has arranged his house and barns
as though meant stay, and though be had
regard for the comfort Of his wife and children In
fact this whole country only about four ad
vance OF the San Joaquin valley, and the nfu
enee Of climate and soil in bringing trees 10 bear early
was shown IN two three thrifty ofch-
ar,is aleady beginning 10 bear, on ground which
four years ago bought for y 81 per acre rho
habt OF raising wheat strong here that al
most everything else Is neglected. and l remember
the farm where the wheat field extended un0roken
the veIandah OF the farmers house. His family lived
canned fruits and vegetables. and except here and
there brilliant poppy which stubborn dame nature had
inserted among his wheat, wife and children had not
flower to grace mantle table confess that Il pesed
Inc TO hear this farmer complain OF hard times because,
o. he said tho spectators in San Francisco made more
money fro1n his wheat than he did. II the spectators
in San Francisco teach the farmers in California To
something besde wheat. they viii deserve well % tine
state.
THRIFTY cALHqBSA TOWN
II thev get 20 inches OF rain IN the Sacramenoc valley
they have enough This year they have had less than
is Tehama and Butte Counties usually fortunate IN
the matter OF ran but close under the coast range the
country is dryer as Is natural the highDounain range
absorbing the moisture from the north-westery Winds
They egn 10 pow as soon as it rains, usually Ia No
vember and the grain nj once. But the true way
10 ihs full crop Is 10 plow the ground thoroughly
the Spring before II gets too dry, and leave
then In readiness for the November sowing. Grain
soved such ground just before the early rains begin.
is to bear satisfactory even in dry season
With such work they expect 70 get 80 bushels Of wheat
the acre and in some places high as 40. In the
Sacramento River bottoms there fever and ae,
but none on the higher lands Formerly the higher
plains were thought TO be m only for grazue but oven
the red lands which somewhat harder ~ break mp
and we're thought 10 be infertile. ara found 20
bear good crops OF grain; aud this year
these lands bear the drouth better than
some that were and are preferred. Lambmg
takes place here in February and they shear in Apr
The grazing lands abound In Wild oats very nutritious
but apt where the pastures are oyestocked
Alheria IL not found far north as this alfalfa has
been soyn all over the valley proper places aud does
well. They cut IT three times the year, aud turn stock
on 1t after the cutting aud all who grow 10 speak
well oft
Red Blun s one OF the oldest towns in the valley u
stands at the OF navigation the Sacramento, aud
was therefore a place OF Importance before
the rairosd was built The river here ia narrow and
shoal ana IL is crossed by Of those ferries
common in this state where the rapid current pushing
aganst the ferry boat drives 1t Che srea wire
hi ME