The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-09-24

Si'cS ~ Nri1 hSCuuut 0i Wnsl 2
saw in Suffer County, California. We make
the following extracts.
CALIFORNIA saE1p-nascH.
No pillow has ever disturbed this maenih-
cent meadow. Except on the borders o,
come lakes near the centre Of the district no
tree WAS TO be seen on its surface; and not
weed offended the eye We were now up
on field Of 5000 acres, owned by Mr..
Parks, and be spoke with pardonab,e pride
not only for the beadty, but Of the richness
Of the soil and the pr.-ent and coming value
Of his possessions He pointed to "slap-
up shanty mile or so ahead Of Us. Upon
reaching it we found it a ''slap-uph in'ieed i.
few boards tackled together made single
room, where Chinese cook had his pots
and pans, and his overseer a rough table
npon which lay his acsount-books and news
paper. The sleeping apartments consisted
Of is 900 acres outside the kitchen and off ce
or any lesser portion thereof, whe-e some
ten or dozen men had irregnlarly set up
their bedsteads. with blue mosqnito-netting
8TDIbu lHtm- MS was utidCluR the
ov in rrther unique way. A square ffty-
ton haystack just built from the sweet grass
e., cut since the subsistence o. the water, the
fragrance Of which saluted cur nos,rils half
Bedouin-Iike encampment. Mr.. Parks will
soon hove 800 TO 400 tons of this succulent,
native hay, cut on different portions OF his
principally, as the food for his horses and
mules later in the season.
wow" said he, don't you think this
would make good sheep-ranchel'
"Fner than could ever have imagin ed -
in response.
''Well, if yon have lost your interest in
this shanty be good enough TO get into tho
carriage, and I'll drive you down to a band
of sheep belonging to me which l haven't
seen for some time"
In We got. but where was the bsnd7
thought | could see even single sheep any
where on these plLins. In driving or 8
miles the outposts Of the "band" began to
show .hemseIves-then more--sheep TO the
right Of US, sheep to the left Of us, and ahead
why, the horizon seemed to DO made
Of minute sheep. But just at this moment,
the sun shining down upon us holly, the
tupperny sheep mile or two in advance Of
our carriages begin to grow tall, and kept n,
1t until they assumed the appearances ola thin
line Of huge grsnadiers, bear-skin caps
and plumes all standing on legs drawn out
~ a thraad THE "a nsi,ad host of obostlv
soldiers had background, broad, white
surfaced lake, anl on its hither shore stood
magnificent oak trees artistically planted,
some Of then apparently rising from out the
lakes surface.
Nature always finishes here work. At
this opportune instant she cast over the
whole Of this magic scene thin, transpar-
eut veil Of silvery mist, modifying snd rein :
,eisenf and ssakad IS the in
snre here and there at the last inspiring mo-
ment with atmospheric glazings, to give air
and harmony to the whole or course ex-
olamations Of delight and wonder went up
from us new corners, but Mr.. Parks in Ia very
commonplace way. informed us it WAS only
e mirage, and that very likely we should Of
ten its effects during the day. And we
did. Whilst sitting in the carriage looking
at this display there were sheep all round
and before US strung out for couple Of
miles, and all quietly feeding en- the young
grass noticed that the great majority
were merinos, the remainder Cotswolds.
Sheep aud lambs were, as thought. fat and
fit for the shambles Not a burr could by
possibility get into their feeces. Mr.. Parks
told me there were 200 sheep in thi,
aband,n and that he sheers them twice q
year. and gets an average of9 pounds FROM
each HI estimates his increase Of num-
bers at rs per cent per annum. lie has
been sheep raising on these plains ovor TWEEN.
ty years, and has never seen case Of foot.
rot, and in all other respects his sheep are
healthy. Certainly they appear SO. To
drive over the miles that this = oand' was
scattered upon, in order that we might re.
view them, was not to be thought Of in 30 hoi
sun. So Mr.. Parks gave the word Of oom
msnd to have them march past US, in pc
culiar and long shout, and sure enough thu
whole 2-mile string started on the run IL
due order past our carriage, those farther
est off appearing to start at the same mo
ment as those who were feeding quietly with
in few yards Of our position. they soor
got into grea. confusion. and the whole Hsci
came to stand still, with mournful calling
of mothers Tor children, and vice versa.
did not observe lean or unhealthy sheep in
the whole flock.
CORN AND FRuIT GROWING.
In order that we might examine the isad
and levecs of the western half and lover enc
Of District 5, it became necessary FOR us t,
return 10 Sacramento, and thence 10 Knight,
Landing by rail, which is in Levee Dis
trict No. I0s, and in Yolo County, on The
western bank of the Sacramento River, anC
IA miles from the State Capital. Crossing
the river into Suffer County, We found tina
the bank sf the RIVER, whist is hardly eve
submerged by freshstssva fully settled up
on by thrifty farmers, all well to do and do
ing, aud May Of them rich. Al the ferry
lsnding sas a remarkably comfortable
locking homestead, shaded ~ very fine tree
With what appeared to me en- Ohio cornhel,
some distance in the rear. AS had hear,
very ostes tnat California vas a poor corn
growing couetry, this vigorous looking fel,
u dark rich blades excited my earnestly a
once, and resolved to examine it. Open
ing the gate of nicely kept yard, we wer'
In the cool shade 0! original oaks and 0hit
black-walnut trees, end, seeing man pack
Ing some fruit at a distance, asked permits
sion to 60 into his coraield and take look
1T it. "Csrtainly-corie on, I'll 60 toe
Passing through peach, pear, and plum tree
the limbs Of which we're utsrally breaking
dewn with an overload Of fn,it.vs came to
field of the sweet corn Of New England, ther
TO a held of popcorn, and entered the corn
field that had taken my eye from the road
!, aas refreshing to ger into ths shade Of it.
tall salss. Every blade tc the tassal vas 1
dark rieh green. and Inc zood-si-ed ears OF
each stslS-,he tassels being FROM IS 10 Il
feet from the ground
Why, my friend, I've always heard In
/ 81. Il l.