St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-07-27
Letter from California.

| EuttOT CuttuOHUH .-lU is now nine
months since we took up with the la
mented HI. G.'s advice and resolutely
turned our face westward to seek a
home on the Pacific coast. We left
little doubtful as to the wisdom of such
an adventure, because our kind adviser
had been unable to express an opinion
based upon the latest phase of the
Chinese question. Nevertheless, we
have made the trial and, having possess
ed no great expectations, have not been
disappointed.
The matter of location depends about
us much upon sensation as does the
regulation of the diet. We are apt to
he most pleased with that which most
pleases us. How fortunate it is that
"what is one mans meat is another
mans poison" There is good deal of
philosophy in old Los remark that he
was glad that ali men didn't think alike
else they would all want his squaw.
Were it not that our observation has
led us to adopt the old Indians reason
ing, in the abstract, we should expect to
see an immediate depopulatiOn of some
of the more frigid and rugged portions
of our beloved land, and such migra-
ton to the Pacific coast as was never
before equalled, even by the gOld-hunt
ing fortyniners.
California is large enough to hold
three New Englands, inhabitants and
all, and is capable of making her peO-
pie much more comfortable than they
could possibly be in New England.
compared with the richness of her soil
and it takes all the rest of the United
States together to equal her in the va
riety of her agricultural products. The
cereals of the Mississippi basin are all
produced here the tropical fruits OF
the South flourish here in even greater
profusiOn and variety; she is unsur-
passed in the size of her fOcks and
herds, and the excellence of her dairies
will stand comparison with the best
:. in New England or New York. More
than this, she proposes to compete with
Europe in the quality of her wines, a
large portion of which already pass for
European wines in the East.
At some future time l will endeavor
to describe, more minutely, some of the
industries of California. At present,
let me mention, in a more general way,
some of the peculiar features of Cali
fornia life which bear upon her progress
and the desirableness of residence here
: As to climate, it would seem that the
world could not produce better than
is found along the coast of California
Here, with a blanket one can sleep out
) of doors every night in the gear, save
in rainy weather, and experience nc
serious effects or detriment to the con,
r. stitution from such cheap though am.
pie accommodations.
Aside from the interruption to trave
and open air pursuits, the rainy season
: is rather welcome than otherwise, as i
brings with it milder temperature an(
new and vigorous life to every species
E. of vegetation. The season of rain herr
is hardly more disagreeable than thu
spring in New England, when the melt
ing snow and "April showers" lay {
} very effective embargo upon plea sur
travel in the country. Then through
ol tI,n inf tha naplanS nj N
: tain their variegated hue and the fra
GRANGE of roses, callas, violets, pink
and countless other flowers apples ant
pears ripen upon the trees till January
and new blossoms put forth when tn
old crop is barely removed. Thus win
ter is shorn of every thing harsh ant
suggestive of physical 'sepulture, ant
the transition from one season to an
- other is scarcely perceptible. Th
nights in summer are cool, and delight
full; and one, with tOlerably clea
conscience, sleeps the sleep of an infan
every night in the year.
In winter the farmer plows his LAM
and puts in his seed. Harvesting com
mences in May or June. On land tina
st can be irrigated a second crop may b
taken off before the winter rains set in
The Chinese vegetable gardens are KEEP
in constant production. AS soon as
s. crop is taken off the seed for another
y. put in, and thus by arranging the lam
so that different sections of garde
contain crops in various stages c
progress, vegetables are provided t
the market every month in the year.
! Such is the delectableness, OF til
,s climate. Now, why not come to Cali
N fornia, every body, who is desirous G
mt a change or wishes to better his condl
&C ton Well, there are various reason
which should deter certain classes {
men from coming to this state, for Cal
y fornia is in a condition to discriminat
IN IN as to whom she will welcome with
lis her borders. The Ell Dorado bubbl
" has burst. The inordinately flush time
rs rs of the gold years are past. The tru
to- value of the land is becoming apprt
ciated. Time was when few dollar
would set man up as an extensiv
Of landed proprietor and many have bee
lb- made wealthy by the appreciation