The Placer herald., 1873-01-18
AUBURN PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA JANUARY Is, 1878.
SiOCh kAIslNU.

When we read the old account of the i'm
mense number Of cattle, sheep, etc.. in Cal
ifornia during the Mission period of her his
tory. and compare that with the small herds
now found, we are apt to grow incredulous
But when we consider the causes aud circnm-
stances producing the present condition OF
things We cannot be surprised. The native
grasses have been so often and 80 eifectually
eaten down, in the early part of the season
ere the seed could mature, that they are fast
being killed out.
The quaint y of good grazing land is con
stanty growing less, and the price conse-
queniy increasing So far Calitornil may
be said to have learned no system of stock
raising. The old way ofletling animals take
care of themselves, now that nearly the whole
of the valley lands are occupied for agricul-
tural purposes, s proving inadequate. Stock
must half (f not wholly) starve during It
large portion of the year, when forced to de-
pend upon the scant feed found upon the
waste lands now devoted to grazing. Then
being subject to the inclemency of the wea.h
er, the wonder with US is that they exist as
well as they do. 1t is IA well established fact
that the wool clip from sheep that have been
scantily fed is far inferior to that from those
that have been cared for.
We think it is becomngan imperative du-
ty on the part of stockmen to seek some
remedy for the present evils attending their
business. 1t certainly is an untavorables sign
when we see the stocK-except that which is
kept for the stalls in half starved coudi-
ton during a very considerable part of the
year. And that especially hen stock is held
at such high figures. Judging from the
price for meals paid by our stallmen, we can
not but think that the supply of stock is not
near adequate to the demand. An increas-
ing population is making demands for an IN
creased supply. Whence shall this supply
come? " here can the grazing lands be
found And what grasses or sources OF PROV
ender can be found to feed the stock? These
are, for the stock raisers serious questions.
We have thousands of acres which, were
they situated in countries where warm Sum
mer rains fall, would be most valuable for
grazing, now are, during the greater portion
of the year, but barren wastes. During the
Spring months our hills and valleys are un-
rivaled for their wealth of We citation; but
alas, for ,he Summer and Fall And this
when the native or sses are fast being killed
out by ovcrpastuTing. 1t has become mat
ter of prime necessity, either to look to other
countries for our supply of stock or adopt
some moons by which they can be better
.red for.
We believe the remedy will be found in a
more general attention to the raising OF root
crops, of Mezquit grass, Alfalfa, ETC., and
providing shelter for the stock during the
rainy season.
Vast quantities of the hill lands in this
and other counties now used for pasture
grounds, but upon which stock must, during
a large portion of the year, starve if moi
changed or fed, could be advantageously put
into cultivation; and parts now used foi
| wheat growing, made to produce forage foi
the stock. A very large portion of the hill
| lands that now are used as place to starve
stock upon could be made to produce excel
lent grapes. Vineyards would flourish here,
and pay many fold more than the stock; and
The portions now used year after year in a
suicidal routine of wheat crops, could be di-
versiiied by raising feed for stock.
Then, we think irrigation must beresorted
to more generally. "A great portion of our
lands can, with no very great expense, be IT.
rigaled. These could be made to produce
ample feed for large herds. Our tule lands
could be made most valuable pasture grounds.
Some small fields below Napl city, towards
Suscol, that have been reclaimed, amply
prove this But the subject is one that must
| claim the attention of stockmen, for change
ON our present system is imperative. -
Napa Reporter