The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-31


Bell, the superintendent of the ranch, is
the brother of George F. Bell, now of
Burlington, and formerly lived in Mid
dlebury:
Next in importance to Governor Stan
ford's large farm and vineyard, mt Nina,
of which much has been said and writ
ten, is probably the Galatin ranch in
this county. This ranch is situated
about fourteen miles west of Red Bluff
and embraces an area of 30, 900 acres, II
part of which, about 81 200 acres, for
merly known as the Boggs and Champ
lin ranch, was purchased last January 10y
Albert Gallatin of Sacramento, whence
it derives its name. BY additional pur-
chases, made from time to time, the
ranch no embraces, rs stated before,
30, 600 acres The fortunate possessor
of this fine tract, Mr.. Albert Gallatin, is
resident of Sacramento, and has been
for number Of years member of the
large hardware firm of Huntington,
Hopkins Il Co., of that place, Mr.. Gal
latin is an old Californian, having come
here in early days, and has had II career
as varied as it has been successful. He
came here from his native State, New
York, early III the sos and engaged in
mining III some of the northern co1n-
ties, to which he diligently applied him
self. In his mining operations. howev-
or, he seems to have been unsuccessful,
for after giving them up he came to Red
Bluff, on his way to Sacramento, and is
perhaps remembered by a few of our
Oldest citizens. In measuring his tinan-
Il. - :.
the present day, we find a great deticien-
cy on the part of the former; for, as the
story goes, he had to solicit Il loan in
that early dav to enable him to continue
his journey. Arriving at Sacramento, he
accepted position us porter i'll the firm
of Huntington and Hopkins. After re-
naming in that capacity for some time.
he purchased IL stock of hardware and
opened Il store i'll Carson CITY, New,
where he was successful i'll building up a
large trade. He sold out his business in
Carson some years later and went east
and married, when he again returned to
California and accepted a position us
manager of the establishment of his old
employers, i'll Sacramento. He finally
became member of the firm. Mr. Gal
latin is yet comparatively young man
and may live long enough to fully real
ize the benefit of the many substantial
improvements he contemplates putting
on his farm in the near future. At the
time the purchase was made. i'll last Jan
uary, but very few Improvements had
been made ON the place, and but 4 small
portion of the land cultivated, for the
reason that it had always been used as Il
sheep range.
The area that had been cultivated dur
ing the past year is about 1000 acres,
but this year it will probably be doub-
led. A part of the land is very level,
but the larger portion is rolling and hill
| ly. 1t is only late thing that the farm
ers of this county have been attempting
to cultivate the billy land, as it has been
thought heretofore to be only good for
grazing purposes. 1t has, however,
proven itself well adapted to cultivation,
during the short period that its merits
have been tested, and the idea that the
broken or foothill lands will not produce
good crops has been dispelled. The
foothill land is more particularly adapt
ed to fruit. Some of the hills that have
been put in cultivation on the Gallatin
place are very large and steep, so much
so that it would seem impossible tC
drive a team up one side and almost
dangerous to drive down the other
But on these hills have been grown eX-
cellent grain, and the mode of harvest.
ing it is by taking circle around the
hill with the header by spiral route
rs the Gland" becomes gradually smaller
to the top, and by which means all the
grain is cut clean without the least diff
ticulty. The soil is black loamy sub
stance, evenly distributed over the en-
tire place, and is very rich. Last yeal
there were 1000 acres sown in wheat, the
average yield of which Superintendent
Bell informs us was twenty-five bushels
to the acre. making Il total of $4,000
bushels, or $4,000 sacks. Besides thi,
there were 2O79 sacks of barley harvest
ed, and n large amount of grain was con
verted into hay.
The improvements that have beeI
made so far are mostly of an experiment
al nature. Last spring Superintendent
Bell set out 1900 grape cuttings, all be
ing of the leading varieties, and 400 frui
trees, which look well. Next spring h,
lllOciuo w ti'ti w lllclll, COllNtltlilS dbOu
twenty-five acres into orchard. Fifty
acres have been planted in Egyptian
corn which has developed finely ant
looks very thrifty. This corn is of E
very prolific nature, grows about fou
and half feet high, and does not re
quire irrigation. The stalk very mucl
: resembles that of Indian corn. Its yiel(
is marvellous, often going as high as u;
bushels to the acre, seldom falling below
100. There is a legend connected will
it that dates back to traditionary times
it being identical with that spoken of il
the Bible, when perhaps Indian corn wa
not known. 1t is found useful as foo,
for stock of all kinds. and is recommend
> ed ms a substitute for rice.
) The stock on this ranch consists of
; large number of horses. mules and COWS
all of which are of the best quality
= Eighteen head of mules and very nearl,
I as many horses are required to do til
= work on the ranch. Mr.. Bell has in hi
n care two very fine horses one heinz