Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-03-28
California Letter.

LIE Slounu Is 100 uTy LOT SdTuell WoTk,
in poor condition for garden seeds. 1t
has been IA week since we have had
any rain. Late grain is not doing
much good. Most of our crops are
late as the last rains came SO heavy
they kept the ground too wet for about
four weeks. Thus far the prospects
for good crops are not favorable. Vol
unteer grain that promised so well for
a time is now failing, and some are
blowing up for summer fallow crop
next year.
| have only about 20 acres of vol
unteer barley that still looks well. [
dry plowed the land and narrowed it
well, which perhaps accounts for its
looking better than my other left
standing without work.
1t is yet too early to predict what
our crops will be, but am pretty sure
if we do not have rain soon there will
be short crop in MERGED county. 1t
is generally the case that late seeding
does not get in in time, and volunteer
will not stand dry weather. My own
crop looks about as well as any | see
except summer fallow grain, but there
is not much summer faIlow grain grow
ing in this county.
Last year was so favorable that near
ly all the ranchers put in all their
land, but this year great deal of land
will lie idle unless it should soon rain.
Some have just finished seeding. Il
finished the 2lst of last month. Some
of my neighbors have not seeded any,
and unless it rains more will not get
but little broke for summer fallow.
There are five sections adjoining me
not put in. But we will not suffer for
bread. Our warehouses are not empty.
A large bulk of last years crop is still
stored in this county. A little over
ten thousand tons we're stored in the
grange house alone in MERGED and the
most of it is there yet. There is one
other large warehouse in MERGED be-
side this, and several others in the
county.
Already there is better feeling in
the markets on account of the dry
weather and unfavorable reports from
other grain growing States. Those
that were forced to sell their wheat
have done so. We could make wheat
at S1.l6 per 100 pounds, but we do
not like to do it. We have heretofore
been able to obtain better prices than
this. If California would live as eco.
nomically as the average Tennessean,
they could make wheat at S1.00 per
100 pounds.
My last crop is still in the ware.
house. | could see nothing ahead
when | stored, but thought it could
not go much lower. If we have fail
ure, (and it looks little that way
prices will get better.
About three weeks ago myself and
wife visited Borden, mainly to see the
Hon. H. S. Patterson, brother of Rev
S. 5. Patterson. He was very sick
We remained with him three days
When we left him he was better We
hope he will recover. He is a. mos
excellent gentleman ; a good christian
and one of the leading men in thai
vicinity, He is among his friends
who need no prompting to duty to-
ward the sick. fl had to be sicE
away from home would want to b.
at Borden. We sprent one evening
with brothers S. S. Patterson and H
r. Etter and family. Albert Elite
had Just arrived but a few days
We spent very pleasant little Will,
in Albert's company. As he was jus
from our old home, you may guess how
much we enjoyed the little while W,
were with him. His brother Sam haC
been here some time, but we had no
met him before
II. r. Etter was down to see us OF
short visit. Albert Etter is with u
now. He will leave for Modesto 10
morrow. Our friend, H. S. Patterson
is now improving slowly.
NJ. NJ. RITCHEY
MERGED, March 16, 1885.