Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-26
AGRICULTURAL.
NATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
THE RECORD UNION"
Agriculture the Permanent Industry-The
Cannery combi 1asion-The Fourth
Cutting Of Alfalfa-Etc.

Most Of the Western or Mississippi valley
States were originally settled by sturdy class
of pioneers, who had no other object or pur.
pose than to till the soil. These pioneers
struck cut into the wilderness with their OK
teams and their families. and having found
location that suited hem, pitched their tents
and begun with the ak and spade and hoe to
make home. An opening having been made
in the forest, few hills Of corn were planted;
few more trees cut down, and larger space
cleared up few more hills of corn were
planted, and few hills of potatoes. The
first season was scent in cul ivating the corn
and potatoes and some other common garden
vegetables, and in extending the little clear
ing A log hut was the work of the season,
only spare hour now and then being devoted
to hewing the logs and putting them ia place.
In this slow but cure and economical man
nsr the homes grew up in the wilder
ness, and farms were cleared OF timber
and fields were brought into cultivation.
In the course of years there were settlers
enough within radius of four or five miles
to warrant the b1ildine of school-house,
generally used jointly for q school and a
church. Then at some central locality the
country store was opened and the blacksmith
shop established. Then society was fairly
organized, and settlement began to progress
more rapidly. In the course Of eight or ten
years other industries were introduced-such
as a tin-shop, wsgon-shop a custom grist'
mill, tailor-shop and a shoe shop. All these
shops and stores were necssssries to supply
the wants of the farmers. No money was
needed or used for long time in these pio-
neer settlements. The farmer wanted his
horses shod, his piow and wagon mended and
his family supplied with boots and shoes.
The mechanic wanted little corn and wheat,
a few bushels of potatoes. little butter, and
these the farmers bad t. spare and the ex-
change was made, and the necessary
wants of all were supplied, and no
money Iassei either way; bit all &C.
accounts were squared, and everybody was
out of debt and happy. How differently was
California settled Within q year after the
discovery of gold the whole mining region of
the State was full of all classes Of people o n
every country in the world. Some were full
of life and excitement. hurrying from place
to place looking for gold. Others were equally
excited and equally eager to obtain gold, but
having found lead were bending every nerve
to digging and washing the gold from the bars
in the rivers. Others, with the same object
in view, had SCI up trading posts TO supply
the imme slate wants of the miners and pros
teamsters and stage drivers, to do the pas
senger and carrying business. No corn was
planted, no potatoes were put into the
ground and no log cabins were built No
one had any idea of making a home or per-
manent business in the country. To get
pile and go home was the al-prevailiug idea
No scbool-heuse was wanted, because there
were no children in the country. No churches
were established, because the church had been
left at home. There was nothing permanent
or settled In the State. But few years of
this itinerancy and uncertainty, however,
wore eff the excitement lit lie, and to some
the love of home and of Permarency began
to return to some the good old farm habits
of their earlier days seemed to come back in
their minds and tell them that there was a
better way TO live, better and more perma-
nent aad satisfactory business than mining to
follow even in this State. Under the influence
of these promptings, now and then man
staked off claim to piece of land in the
valley. built him primitive house, and
started in to make home and farm. Z ach
instance of this kind served as an invitation
or incentive to others to go and do likewise
Year by year mining grew less attractive and
less remunerative, and yesr by year more
abandoned the mines aud turned their atten-
ton to agriculture, which year by year grew
more and more successful and profitable. The
first families that came to the country found
their homes in the valleys. The first school
houses and churches were built in
the valleys. The first permanent societies
for benevolent purposes were formed in the
valleys. By degrees the population of the
State which for the first few years was near.
ly all In the mining sections began to move
to the valleys. By degrees people began to
abandon the idea of going home to enjoy the
fruits of few years of successful labor in
the mines, and turn their attention to max
ing their homes in the agricultural portions
OF the State. About third of century
has passed. and State that at the beginning
was thought to be good for nothing but min
ing has become one of the leading agricul
tural States in the Union. From State of
temporary mining camps, California has
grown TO be STATE ot permanent farms and |
pr ecous agricultural villages and cen.
mercial cities Thirty years ago we exported
gold, and imported all articles of food and
manufactured articles. To-day we send our
wheat and barley, our fruit and wine, our
manufactured cloths, and our agri-
cultural aud other machinery TO every
part of the world. Even the
sections of the State where mining was
originally prosecuted with the greatest src-
GEES Lave 9 n transformed into the best
orchard and vineyard districts. Even the
bar in which gold was first discovered is now
cultivated il orchard and vineyard that yield
taken from it when mined for the precious
metal. and the whole country surrounding is
dotted now with fruit trees and vines, and in
the place of the rough miners cabin there
have sprung up the neat and tidy cottages of
the orchardist and vintager. The water
bitches that were originally built to convey
water TO dry diggings are now used TO carry
water to irrigate vegetable gardens and small
fruit farms, meadows and grain fields, |
orchards and vineyards, dairy and stock |
farms, and to supply thousands of prosperous
homes with water for domestic purposes.
Thirty years ago California was astonishing |
the world vi b her yield and export of gold |
to-day the world is more astonished at her
yisld OF the products of her agriculture and
horticulture, while she is still producing gold |
in no mean or small quantities. But the pro-
ducts Of her miues are becoming less and less, |
while the products of her farms are becoming
more and more. Mining was the original
but transitOry occupation of our people
Farming was the secondary but permanent
and enduring industry of the State.
The Canuery Combination