Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-08
LAND AROUND BIGGs.
The Soil and Uses to Which 1t is vari-
Ously Adapted.

ously Adapted.
Biggs is situated about equally distant
from the foothills of the Sierras on the
east and the Sacramento river on the west.
The Feather river courses in southerly
direction four miles to the east. The
topography of the whole section is level
plain, with slope enough toward the water
courses to afford perfect drainage To the
near west and north there is nothing in
the way of forestry, but to the east and
south the monotony Of the plain is re-
lieved by most magnificent growth of
white-oak trees. These stand at dis
tances from each other varying from few
feet to several rods. There is not nor was
there ever, any underbrush or other tree
growth, and the tops are raised from the
ground a sufficient hight not to interfere
with cultivation, and to a total hight of
from 50 to 60 feet. As they stand with
their sturdy trunks and immense and
dense balloon-shaped tops they present a
landscape peculiarly Californian-a vast
and yeritable natural park.
VARIETY OF SOILS.
There are in this immediate vicinity
three distinct varieties Or classes of soil.
From the railroad track, which runs
north with variation to the west of about
one mile in four, the distance to the Sac
ramento river is about fourteen miles.
Nearly all that between the track and to
within short distance of the river is
known as 'dobe pronounced "doby'), an
abbreyiation or provincialism from the
L., If IL
sand, is a cold soil, very black and very
hard to work. When wet, as it always is
in winter, it is very sticky and makes
about the most undesirable road to travel
upon imaginable. 1t is, however, very
strong and productive soil and for wheat
is considered equal to any. The yield in
| favorable seasons is sometimes sixty bush
| els to the acre.
North Of town the soil is of a reddish
| color, being tinged with .erruginous ochre.
| There are, however, scattered all through
| it, without any apparent reason or regu-
larity, patches of adobe, varying from
few square rods TO several acres. East of
town is section dotted over with the
oaks. This land is all rich, light sandy
loan, with just enough clay to make it
most desirable. Along the Feather river
the alluvial lands vary in width from one
to three miles.
VARIOUS PRODUCTS.
On the alluyial lands mentioned grow
unexcelled crops of corn, hops, alfalfa and
all kinds of vegetables, melons, etc, with
out irrigation. Also every variety of fruit
and ornamental trees and flowers and
shrubs of temperate and semi-tropical
climes. On the uplands, the one staple
crop in every direction and on any variety
of soil, is wheat. wheat, wheat-noth-
ing but wheat. Many of the farmers
have excellent small orchards, gardens
and vineyards around their houses raising
all the vegetables and fruit that can be
used for home consumption, which demon
strates what these lands will produce, and
their adaptability to fruit-growing.
/ THE LAND HOLDINGS.
| Owing to the satisfactory prices received
for wheat and barley, and the large de-
mand for the same until quite recently, the
owners have paid little or no attention te
the growth of any other crops. and de-
voted their time and means to the accumu
lation of more acres for that purpose. But
the recent opening and enlarging of com
petiDg wheat fields in foreign eountrie.
and the consequent decline in the price @
that staple, reveals to them the fact tha
when they must produce something beside.
wheat and barley they have larger posses
sions than they can proGtably cultivate fol
any purpose other than that recited.
/ The proper time to dispose of what ma,
, then be termed "surplus" will be when