Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-28
NO. 30.
The Migratory pairymen

The migratory dairyme1 of Califor-
mia some time ago started for
their summer homes in the Sierra.
| Their cows have have all had calves
and butchers have made away
with them for veal. These migra-
tory diarymen, though the name we
have applied 10 them does not indicate
| it, are the most prosperous of California
dairymen. Their winter homes are To-
Gated in the foot hills at about the
altitude of Folsom, Latrobe, Shingles
Sirgands, Jackson and Oroyille, and
their summer homes, aud really
active dairy farms, are high upon the
summit of the Sierras on the elevated
plains watered by living springs, gush-
ing out of the surrounding elevations
in the secluded wales and gulches and
| on the shores of the numerous lakes
that bound in those regions. Their foot
hill homes are the real homes of the
| family. Here are their comfortable
family residences. nestled in some OF
the numerous cosy and picturesque To-
calities so frequent in those sections.
| The first experiments in this new en-
terprisc were made but Il few years
since. These experiments proved so
successful and profitable that they
were followed up by the enterprising
| pioneers in the business, and others
| followed suit, until to-day migratory
| dairies of the foothills and Sierra sum
mits are not only numerous bnt extern
sive, and their owners are among the
most successful and wealthy dairymen
in the State. The business is conducted
about as follows: The cows have their
calves from February to the middle OF
April. such of the heifer calves a.
are desirable on account of their prom
ising dairy qualities TO keep, are raised,
all others are turned of for veal. From
the time the cows begin 10 come in, till
about the lst 10 the 18th of May, some
of the dairymen make butter while
some make cheese. At about this time
including cows, herders, mixers, but
termakers and all the necessary dairy
tools and furniture are started for the
mountains, the owner and such of his
family as intend to spend the summer
with the dairy accompanying them.
Arrived at the place of destination the
spring is just opening and the grasses
are tender and luxuriant, and in great
variety. Red clover, white clover and
various California wild clOvers, also
nearly all the natuI al grasses of recogn-
lied value as forage plants, such as tim
othy red-top, wild rye grass, orchard
grass. bunch grass, are found in great
abundance. Water for stock is plenti-
full everywhere and of the best quality
in every respect. The weather is cool
and delightful and the climate healthy
and invigOrating. The summer resi-
dence and butter house is put in order,
and the business of the season is COM
menced at once in earnest. With such
feed and such water and in such a eli
mate, the yield of milk comes up To the
utmost capacity of the cows, the cream
rises rapidly and fully and the
butter comes readily, and Is of the
very best quality in every respect. The
location is a most favOrite one, not only
naturally but in a business point of
view. Being on the divide between the
mining localities of Nevada and Cali
fornia, the very best market for butter.
is at hand on either side. The bulk of
the butter is generally sold each week,
as it is made for Immediate use. But
IL q. fa1 ,,,t IL
manner is readily contracted and packed
for winter consumption. The season
lasts from MAY to November, when
the campaign closes and the party re-
turns to the foothills and goes into
winter quarters. The foOt-hill home is
made the main base of supplies and
operations. And these homes generally
show the result of thrifty enterprise
and frugal prosperity. The cows are
dried up when brought from the
mountain in the fall and are kept upon
the dry feed of the meadows and stub
bic till the rains set in, when they all
are fed with hay till the early
grasses make their appearance after the
first rain. These grasses generally
help very materially in wintering the
cows and bringing them out in fine
condition for the next summer cam
paign in the mountains. We have thus
given an outline of one of the many
successful INDUSTRIES of the interior of
this State which is prosecuted where
but few years since, but little inyi-
ting for home or business was sup
posed to exist. Each year develops new
values for the foothills and mountain
Gus regions of the State, and the time
is not far distant when these sections
will be among the most desirable local
titles for residences and business.