Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-05-06
Communication.

The following will be of interest to
our readers, who, after the dreary win
ter will be glad hear from land of
sunshine and blossom. We ought to
have published it month ago, but the
tax list prevented:
SANTA Rosa. March 20, 1875.
Mr.. Oscar Taylor DEAR Sir I
will now try to answer some of your
questions concerning California; but 1t
will be impossible to give you what, in
future, might appear a satisfactory
view of the country. California has a
combination of climate, which might
be described differently hy observers
at different points, all the way from
San. Diego to Mt. Shasta; and from
the coast to the crest of the Sierra
Nevada. Having had no other exper-
ience in any other than this locality, [
must be understood { s from this stand
point.
Localities, few miles from each
other, differ very much in character,
and require different kind Of hus-
bandry. Our soils are adoba, black,
sandy and gravelly mould, brownish
sandy loam. and red gravelly loam
The two first are the soils of the val
leys the next, that Of the foothills,
and the red commences a little higher
up, and extends to the mountain tops
-. probably formed from the oxidized
debris of the mineral bearing rocks,
which, in our Coast Range, are
largely charged with quicksilver, con-
siderable gold and silver bearing quartz,
and, of course, much iron. Now, this
red although the poorest of orr Soils
is the best vineyard soil5 the brown is
the next best, ar d those two. probably,
best for most tree fruits; while the
valley soils produce the larger portion
of our wheat and other grazing and
require very different treatment to
render them fine and mellow so as to
get the seed well in.
The mountain lands are much brok-
en-, but adopted to grazing-are much
the cheapest. There is. no Govt land
of consequence in our n"ighborhood,
but is, in other parts of the state.
Good, improved rancl IS may be read
lily bought. The rn5ny season consti
tutes our wintcr-and extends from
the last of November, through April
or rather covers our spring--for the
fruit trees arc now IN bloom and forest
trees leaving out. From Dee. 1st to
Mar. 1St all the sowing is done the
fields around us now ar green, with
the growth foot high. Corn will be
planted next month, and will probably
never feel a drop Of rain-the moisture
OF the night fogs will be the only
thing to refresh it--that will pass off
by I or s O clock in the morning and a
clear day follow. Our summel heat
runs from 70o to 80 NOT too hot
to work, because ". have fresh sea
breeze every afternoon no sun-strokes
mo thunder storms-no tornadoes. -.
W heat is threshed in the field, stacke |
ard piled up and left without cover,
until sold and hauled off. We have
always cool nights-always want
blanket on the bed-the finest climate
to sleep in
1t young man is well situated at
home, and making a comfortable liv-
ing, let him stay. He might meet
dIsappointments in getting as we'll To-
cated mere, and he must work, where
ever he be. = But once fred here. he
has two chances to one to make a bet
ter living here, Every farmer, large
or small, has plenty, and if industri
Gus. accumulates. There are so many
different productions in this climate.
that an enterprising man can hardly
fail to have something to meet the
best market. His produce will al
ways sell for cash. We have no poor
although we have thousands of China.
men.
The productions of the country are:
Stock; Horses, Cattle, Sheep.
Hogs, Goats.
Grain. Wheat. Barley, Rye, Oats,
Corn.
Fruits; Apple, Almond, Peach,