The Placer herald., 1874-05-30
H0U Sc AND FA RIM.

AGRICULTURAL PICTURES. San Fran
cisco Commercial Herald, of May 14th,
presents the following truthful pictures Of
thrifty and thrftless farmers in California.
Wecan identify both in every county in the
State and frequently standing side by side
''Of all the broad acres which bask in the
suns rays, there are none to which Nature
has been more bountiful, more lavish of her
gifts, than those which lie within the limits
of this virgin State. Nowhere can man
of industrious habits and good common sense
realize from the soil so rich and copious re-
turn, and SO little outlay of capital, as in
California. But short time has elapsed
since a gentleman of our acquaintance, but
novice in matters agricultural, purchased
section of land on the high foothills of
Contra Costa, and went to work diligently
to render it fruitful. Everything had to be
supplied. The rocks were gathered up to
do duty as fences; his stock were sheltered
and provided for according to his means;
choice fruit and shade trees were set out;
fine kitchen garden was soon rendering es-
sential service; flowers decked lis lawn
and the owner soon fe!. himself in a cond
ton to be largely independent of stores and
markets. These Admirable results created
no small amazeme1t among his energetic and
more experienced neghbors. They could
not imagine by what peculiar sorcery he had
managed to become so delightfully."- situated
in so short time They visit him from
miles around, express profuse admiration,
and then-go home just as they always did
ho
made salt-pork, bacon, ham, or milk butter,
or cheese; cultivate grounds without vege-
table of any description, or flower, shrub or
tree; and then curse fate for their dreary
lot"
The GRANGE AS AN EDUCATOR. One of
the most marked advantages resulting from
the Grange movement is the change which
it is effecting in the minds of agricultural
communities, with regard to the Importance
of better education among farmers as a
class. Intelligent farmers are more and more
coming to see the disadvantages under which
they have heretofore labored in this respect,
and the Importance of more thoroughly edu
eating their sons. Since farmers have be-
gun to throw off their dependence upon mid
dlemen, as a separate class, and undertaken
to do their business themselves, they have
have seen the Importance of being more
thoroughly versed in the knowledge of bus-
ness matters. They see the necessity for
more intimate acquaintance with books and
newspapers, as much, at least, as that pos
sessed by ordinary professionals, manufact-
urers, tradesmen, etc. The great fact that
"knowledge is power is being brought home
to them. Farmers can seize this power if
they will, and use it greatly to their ad-
vantage. The Grange should be more and
more made medium for giving knowledge.
1t cannot take the place of books and news
papers entirely, but it can be made to greatly
aid them, and by interchange of opinions fix
more firmly III the mind the information
gained from other sources. The Grange
should be made a literary association and
debating Club, as well as a symbolic
farm.
To THE FARMEs. 1t is useless for farmers
to expect that Nature alone will bring them
products from the earth. Honest labor,
properly directed, is the price by which man
Is to obtain bread. Contrast the farmers of
The Atlantic and Pacific slopes; the former is
-. ver idle, works increasingly from early
no' de wy eve, and is careful to perform
,to'n ~ ~ W such a manner as leaves no
Jo,,ht nf aro, 'oss, unless the elements, by
uouu. uotnra1 ~ aamsas u. prevent. Here it is too
.f,on Tho casa that o,,r agriculturists deems
:. a,No;ont T be attend, to the duties of his
farm, for few months in seea raa. a,me, ian, ana
= same period in harvest ''me. ne
about the 20 interval he mounts his
During the loho enjoys his cigar or en-
lors, q, rides to town, may do, but neg
aseS ayes !, Go, ces, weedy gardeE7, in ;udU. Io
richards ano vineyards, will rise NJ o Id
oent % AGAINST hun. If our valley w0"
,oast of we'll cult. waited farms, with well % al
anged, nicely paint, u houses a ana .h oahnS' arms
hrfty orchards. shade .'rCeS anu 'ne 'no"-
and adornments of pea, ''' due' Th;a ,U ,br;rt
here must be labor expended, nrosnor-
ess shiftlessness will never max = P'0'P''
ous community.-Anttoch Ledge
W1NE.-The wine cellers throughout t'e
county have almost entirely cleaned out the.
id stocks of wine. Few have anything on !
land but small quantities for retailing. This
s favorable for the incoming crops. There
will be more room and consequently more de- I
nand. The Napa Valley Wine Company is, /
n great measure, to be credited with such l
A rapid disposal of our wines. This COM
pany was formed two years ago. They
have house in St. Louis, and will soon {
establish houses in 9th r Eastern cities for c
the sale of our native wines. Major J. R. f
SNYDER who is a member of the company,
and now on a tour East, telegraphs to the
Mr.. Charles King of St. Helena,
to send on everything that is saleable. Be
sides having the effect of giving more room,
this clearing out of the old stock will dispose
Of much that otherwise would have been un-
saleabe; so that a new and finer article of
wine may be expected hereafter. Calistoga
Free Press, Man 9th.