The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-03
agricultural department.
COvDUCTtU BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
A Charming Home.

When we were 10 California recently |
we made visit to the Sheep Ranch OF
Messrs. Severance & Peet,where we we're
very kindly aud Hospitality entertained
by our old friend l.. W. Poet and his sc.
complished lady. This Ranch Tor as we
would call it in Vermont, FARM is at
Nles u small station on the Central Pa.
ciic Railroad twenty. miles from San
Francisco. The place is also the junction
Tor branch railroad running up the San.
ia Clara Valley to San Jose, certainly
ooe Of the most charming and fertile val.
leys il was ever our fortune to visit. Sep
arated from the Pacific ocean by the
coast range Of range Of mountains on the
south west. the sea breezes are modified
20 as to roo them Of just enough of their
moisture to make them gratefully cool,
but not damp nor chilly, So uniform is
the temperature there that in the coolest
days in winter the mercury rarely falls
below 80 degrees or two below freezing,
and in summer rarely rises above SO de-
srees above zero. To Vermonter this
difference Of only about 65 degrees be-
tween winters cold and summers heat
seems strange and hard to realize. The
morning that We were there, we think
vas the one that Vermonters were suffer-
ing from the terrible cold Of 32 degrees
below zero. while there only the slightest
white frost upon the grass of the lowest
grounds 10 the Santa Clara valley could
be perceived, and we felt no want of an
overcoat while we stroled about the
grounds and looked over the improve.
ments and the stock upon the place. Mr..
Peet assured us :hat ice never formed
thicker than window glass, and only
very few times year, and snow never
falls in this valley. The Almeda creek
runs through one side of the ranch, fur
nishine water to many of the sheep pas.
lures. and will in time be used for the
purposes Of irrigation, part of the land
being low enough for flowing from the
river. which falls considerably and can
be taken from the stream above but a
short distance and made to flow nearly
half of the land with comparatively small
expense, This is to California farm a
great advantage, and very materially en-.
hapcos its value. for under the stimulating
influence Of irri CATION such enormous
crops of grass and grain can bc raised us
would staggcr the belief Of Vermonter
The land is as nearly level as is desi
rab!e. part being Oh higher plateau
or level than that just mentioned as be.
ing easy to ;rrigate. All is excellent til.
ling land, exceedingly fertile aud capa.
Bile o! being cultivated easily to the 6uer
vegetables. as good onion land as we ever
saw. All lays in square compact form
at the base of high steep hill, which is
one end Of chain that rises to mountain
hight. aud makes the divide between the
Santa Clara and San Joaquin valleys.
Here and so far up the valley as we went
on to San Jose, there was little rock in
these bills, and as we saw them just GOV.
ering With the light green grass of spring
they we're very beautiful.
The house and windmill tower nre up.
on the higher lands of the place and near
tho center OF the ranch. The view from
the top Of the reservoir or windmill tow.
er is charming. Away to the south
stretches the Santa Clara valley with its
small villages. thickly clustered farms
and pleasant homes. Among the former
is the old San Jose Mission 10 a beautiful
nook at the foot OF the bills. To the
southwest and west the view is across the
valley to the coast mountains in the dix.
lance, and to the north the broad valley
lies il view, to the Bay at Oakland, and
oil the beautiful farms under tho highest
state Of cultivation, producing enormous
crops Of grain, vegetables aad fruit, aud
bearing pleasant homes aud evidence oil
growing refinement and luxury, as none
but bountiful soil and mild. charming
climate can furnish.
Since the farm came into the possession
of Messrs. Severance e. Poet it has all
been fenced, not only upon its outside
bounds but in such suitable lots as to
make it convenient for sheep ranch, the
use Tor which it is especially designed
With this view there has also been erect.
cd a large sheep barn upon the lower
lands, aud just below, but near the house
This barn is in its way the most simple
and convenient VIC ever saw. Through
the center is the bay, and each side ia 0
wide drive way through the entire length
which are tho sheds IN winter for th,
sheep, and from which the bays are filled
in summer AID orc easily cleaned of the
manure when it is desirable to have i,
removed. a large wind mill upon the
top oil the tower pumps an abundant sup
ply Of water for use a. tho house as wei
as at the barn, where it is taken in pipe.
aud eau to USED in any part of tho build
ing. The windmill tower and reservoir
the barns ard nearly all the fencing, are
improvements that have been added BY
the present proprietors. Fruit trees en-
ough for family use and to spare are al
ready set, while o large vineyard hal
been materially reduced 10 limits as pro
ducing more grapes than could be profit
ably disposed Of with the views and taste
Of the propretors. Some large sycsmore
and eo,tonwoods are scattered over tn,
lower grounds that add much to the beau
ty Of tho place, and large numbers o
young trees have been added the pas
season, which with those to be added th,
coming season. will give the place
charming, refined and homelike appear
ance, aud be fitting adjournment to au'
setting for fne residence it is intende,
to erect at no distant day,
The fields are being laid down to AL
falfa clover as fast as possible to furuisl
hay and pasture for the constantly in
creasing focks of sheep, that are kept a
the chief speciality of the place.
As is well known to most of our read
ers no pains or expense has been spare
to get the very best Merino blood il