Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-08-05
Thc soil is uniformity Of one kindi


The soil is uniformly OF one kind; =
sort oi plastic clay somewhat difficult to
work. though rich enough to make any
crop il sufficiently watered bat owing TO
the peculiarities OF climate that l have
pointed out, nothing but the cereals will
flourish without constant irrigation, so
tina, the paying products of the soil are
confined to wheat and barley. on account
OF small demand for the other grains
and by reason of the non payiu. quality
of grain raising, if carried on on u small
scale. il emphatically lets out" small
farmers. am now abiding only 10 the
valley of the Sacramento and San Joa.
quin rivers; in other parts it is entirely
practicable TO make living on small
ranch" SO about San Francisco Bay we
find the farms to average in size not more
than 200 acres. Land there is dear, SELL
ing at from $40 to 500 per acre. 1t is
generally good soil producing all varieties
of vegetable growth.
According to the San Francisco Call, y
323 men own one third OF all the arabic
land in tho State, and in the interior
Counties the average size of ranches Is
over $500 acres. OF course it necesSiiaies
many laborers TO carry on such farms as
these, and their wages &c. are an item oil
interest. find they are hired mostly by
the month at S25 To $50. An extra
number are needed during harvesting
these receive from y To s. per day and
board. according 30 ability. Lodging,
by the way, is never included or even al
luded TO, in their contracts. Every man
furnishes his own blankets and sleeps IN
the wheat.stack, or wherever his fancy
dictates.
Maine people are quite numerous here
many of them filling responsible positions
and l may add they have an excellent
reputation in every way. No less than
ten Maine boys attend the University OF
California AZ Oakland.
rnE OUTLOOK.
II would be advisable for person de-
sirous Of settling in California, to take
trip here before he made his final decision
and examine fully the country. Much
NAV be learned from books. but critical
examination OF the state OF things would
be preferable. Some may rely upon
mining or upon small farming rs means
of existence the former viii be closed
to them IS certainly "a | have shown
the latter 10 be in this valley, Tor il IS not
possible nowadays for any one but ii
miner to make living in the mines OF
this State.
The place tor small farmer i As
have pointed out. on the coast. or in The
bar Counties where the business i apt 10
be highly rcmuneuliye. and would be
certainly 50 it carried on As carefully as
il is in old Oxford.
We find newspaper writers stupidity
wondering why California agriculiurists
don't pursue Il system of mixed husband
ry: others ask Why thoy don't rSise in
ordinate crops of cotton. lice. &c.
The answer to this is. that California has
such peculiariles of climate that she can
not produce any crop in her interior val
legs 50 profitable As wheat.
White Immigration has been somewhat
on the increase since the completion OF
the Pacific Railroad. The immigrants Is
4 whole cannot be said 10 be vi good
class, consisting IS they DO mostly OF
Catholic Irish. aud Germans. and the
like. who become laborerS. or saloon
keepers, - u rule, aud SO conducs but
slightly to the welfare OF the State.
Uppermost in the subject OF immigration
comes the thought Of the Chinese.
that some genius could write so effective
Is on the subject rs to wake up Eastern
people to the evil OF the celestial coming.
but evidently il can't be- done.
have in the preceding endeavofed TO
give a. clear an idea oil things that NEST
affect intended courses as possible. |
know that an extended description OF
affairs would have greatly benefited me
before set out tor California. 1t is now
noticeable. and may say painfully con-
spicuous, TO me that in 1869 the books
and papers only told tho best side Of the
story; however. now that communication
is so easy between the Atlantic and Pacific,
imagine people must have tolerably
correct ideas OF matters pertaining to this
State; but il not, distance should not 50
50 enchant the view rs to make but one
side of the picture visible.
The lice President.
A special from Washington says that
adyicss have been received there that