The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-04

sides ranching 5000 sheep for half the
year, also "a large number of cattle,
horses and hogs. They ranch many
horses and cattle here during the winter
from the mountain regions. The stock
get but very little hay, but they save
their straw in large mows with roofs
over the same and they allow their cat
tie to have free access to it. The Cali
fornians were much surprised at my ac-
count Of our burning straw in Minneso-
ia. They considered it a great waste.
l think their straw is better than ours
for fodder. They raise grapes at this
ranch more easily than we raise wheat
also pears, apples, figs and almonds in
abundance. Feather river is the win
ter quarters OF great numbers of wild
geese and ducks. They are on the
ranches much of the time during the
day and cause considerable damage to
the wheat fields. I have seen thousands
Of them and many within easy gun shot
thus affording rare opportunity for
sportsmen. Deer are also sometimes
seen here.
Near the centre of this ranch they
have levee around about six acres,
on which tract the buildings are located.
At the time of an overflow they quickly
collect the stock inside the levee. Ma
ny of these ranches have levees near the
banks of the rivers. These great
ranches are to be found most all over
the State. Although they are some
times very profitable to the owners,
they are a great curse to the State. It
takes the earnest intelligent farmer, own
ing l6O acres or less, to bring real
wealth to the State. Small farms, we'll
cultivated, will secure good neighbor-
hoods, good schools, good churches, and
will contribute to most things desira-
BILE in community.
Most kinds of tropical fruits are
grown in California as far north as
Marysville, and some kinds even to the
Foot hills, much farther north. The or.
ange trees are very beautiful. The
leaves hold on during the winter and are
fascinating long after the leaves of 9TH
er trees have returned to their mother
earth. / never saw anything more
beautiful than the orange trees which I
sa" in Marysville heavily loaded with
fruit. The oranges do not mature there
until January The leaves of the fig
tree are very large and strong. Hence
the reason why our first parents select.
ed fig leaves for aprons. Figs Of excel
lent quality are raised in most of the
yards and gardens Of Marysville. Pears
are grown there which would astonish
the good people of Minnesota as to
quantity, quality and size. I saw a
pear grown there which weighed four
pounds. The California grapes are
much larger and sweeter than any other
grapes that I have ever seen. Grapes
such as the best we get this side of the
Rocky mountains are sold at $40 per
ton. The other fruits successfully
grown, are apples, peaches, almonds
lemons and ounces.
In shrubbery California is far in ad-
vance of any other State that I have
ever been in, and the flowers, am
forced to- admit will out do all those of
our beautiful Minnesota. :,
The cemetery at Marysville is one of
the most beautiful in this country, dec
Grated with rare shruubery and flowers.
The tombstones indicated that many a
weary sojourner from nearly every
State in the Union, and from most of
the countries in Europe had found a
final resting place there. i
Ihave near and dear relatives buried
there beneath the flowers. How many
thoughts Of past events and associations
at our far Eastern home crowded into
the mind as I stood there at the graves
Of those loved ones. o.; |
j. RIM.