American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-09-12
Farming on a Large Scale.

MANY of the farmers in this State have
grown wheat enough this year to load a
thOusand-ton ship, while IA few have
enough to load half Il dozen ships of this
size. 1t is not an uncommon thing to
hear one of these ranchers in quiet way
estimating his wheat crop as ranging from
10000 to 30, 900 bushels.
The Napa Register notes recent trans
action of one of the farmers of that
county, as follows:
A farming enterprise on a scale that
lays in the shade most operations in that
line has Just been entered into by our
friend John Finnell, of Gountville, long
resident and eX-Supervisor of the county.
He has leased for Il period of five years
the celebrated Walsh Ranch,' in Colusa
County, forty miles north of the town of
Colusa, and eight miles west of Chico,
consisting of 10000 acres, at a yearly
rental of $4,000 In addition to this, he
has purchased 300 head of stock cattle,
100 head of horses, fifty mules, $1,000
sacks of wheat, 800 hogs, and a quantity
of hay, barley, etc. His purchase aside
from the rental amounts to $14,250, or
the transaction for the first year alone,
$l14,250. 1t will take Il good farmer to
manage all this, and we doubt not MIR.
f. is just the man for it, as his well-kept
grounds at Iountville and his long
mony."
This farm is probably all arabic land,
and is within easy reach of navigaDle
river. Two dollars an acre seems Il mod
crate price; but the aggregate makes it
the largest rental probably of any farm
in California. We have sheep ranges
covering 100. 900 acres, and one or more
firms of wool growers estimate their
sheep at 100, 900, while several have tiockS
ranging from 10000 to co. 900. We have
heard of one farmer in the State who
estimates his wheat crop this year at
120, 600 bushels There may be others
who will have larger amounts.
y few years ago large figures could
only be quoted in connection with cattle
raising. But the native herds have been
gradually reduced until they no longer
figure with much prominence.
In the Napa valley one vine grower
has this year 10000 vines in bearing, and
he has only fairly got down to his work
\ number of other vincyardmcn north
of the bay have vineyards exceeding 100
acres in extent, while there are com
panieS which have vineyards exceeding
800 acres. One man in Marin County
has Il dairy ranch of about 10000 acres,
and has in all not less than 800 cows
for dairy purposes, and Is enlarging
every wear In time he will be able to
make his own butter and cheese.
These facts illustrate the reach and
enterprise of many of the agriculturists
of this State With an area exceeding
100, 1000, 900 acres, these great opera
tions are not only possible but they are
almost lost sight of in the multiplicity OF
other large transactions. 1t Is not every
venture of this kind which is successful.
In dry season it might happen that the
more land a man had in wheat the worse
off he would he, especially if he was to
paw rent for his land. Generally. how
ever, the men who embark in these large
operations are well fortified financially,
So that one unfavorable season does not
phase them as it does those who have
risllcd all on single crop.-.San Fran
cisco BgI,tlH