The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-10-14
sarm ano DARN.



in the Golden State is golden business,
surer, if not more profitable than mining.
We can deduce from census figures a
gross return of 81, AZ per man engaged
in rural work, while we make but an
average of Sal for the United States,
and find Pennsylvania second best, with
S6,76 per man. On the other hand, it
Is acknowledged that many California
farmers are badly in debt, that farm i'm
provements and conviences are neglected
and that many rural immigrants retire to
their former home quite dissatisfied with
the prospect for achieving comfortable
homes and an early competency. Why
this discordaney of opinion? There is
nothing strange or unreconcilable in the
two views.
A large element in the wealth of this
regions resources is its climate. The
soil is rich very fertile in some of its
valleys, but by no means uniformly So
in this respect holding no close compari-
son with Illinois, Iowa or Nebraska
its level area are remarkable available.
With little sod. the breakingls easy work
with equable temperature, the labor of
seeding grain is extended over months,
not restricted to few weeks or days by
freezing WEATHER coming at an uncer-
tain date; and the harvesting may be
extended with no risk from rains. If
these advantages accure to rude and
primitive industry such as pioneer grain
culture is made In this country. far
greather follow the production of those
varieties of fruits, and other products,
which can have little competition from
other states less favored in point of
climate. In New England, the growth
OF most farm products grass excepted is
restricted to little more than an average
of one hundred days. In California the
perioG of growth in the arabic areas is
three hundred and sixty-fve, and two
or three consecutive crops can easily be
taken annually, even crop of maize
may follow crop Of wheat in the south
ern portion of the state. Not all plants
can be thus grown; but regard must be
had to the comparative requirements of
moisture and the depth of their search
Tor it. A vineyard may show the
brightest green, the utmost luxuriance
and most astonishing fruitage, in the
midst OF an apparent desert in which
the thin grass is completely dessicated
Tor months. Red clover may be discard
ed as an lmpracticable crop, while alfalfa
(Lucern) may be cut three times in the
season, and yield two tons or more at
each cutting. The great size of garden
vegetables has excited the wonder of
'1A"hSoio, WIZ ialleu TO observe that
there was scarcely limit to their period
OF growth; indeed, cabbages have become
perennial, growing tree-like year and
year. Hittell tells of squash that
weighed 260 pounds, with several com
paniols on the same vine Of more .ban
100 pounds each; and James Simmons.
of uba, is credited with the possession
OF squash vine bearing $50 squashe.,
weighing 1904 pounds. If President
Clark had harnessed that vine, he might
have run cotton mill with its utilized
life forces? A beet (mangel wurzel) is
youched for at lis pounds, diameter one
foot, length FIVE feet-but it was three
years old. There is one fact that should
be noticed, however, the size of both
fruits and vegetables is less than in for
mer years; the enormous growth of the
earlier period are reduced with the re-
ductlon of the strength of the virgin
soils.
So much has nature done to make
possible glorious realization of agricul-
tural prosperity in California. There
are other and less favorable aspects of
farming here. In the frst place, it par
takes too much of the gambling spirit
which peryades all business on the Paci-
fc coast. 1t may be harsh character
ration, but it is literally true. Farmers
arc operator" in soil stock; they a.e
willing to take the chances of finding a
bonanza or "petering OUT Land
proprletors are monopolists who form
combinations to control lands: construct
lrrigating canals to water tens of thou
sands OF acres, and use its entire capacity
upon their own lands. Wheat growers
who live in San Francisco, ..where much
OF the wealth of California and Nevada
Is owned, are willing to bet there whole
prle on the winters rainfall on the an
proach of the rainy season, send out
hordes of laborers to pillow and sow al
winter, and then take their chances will
poor culture and an uneertainrain supply
knowing that their later sowing. witt
failure of the latter rains, will prov,
either unremunerative or disastrous -
Careful cultivators, who pillow deeply tn,
fall before, or even in the spring, destro,
all weeds after the spring rains, and leav,
the moist seed bed in summer fallow. anc
SOW early, are certain of double yiel,
with any thing above the minimum
amount of rainfall. There are instance