The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-07
University of Paris, Dec. 1891.
Agriculture In California, 1850 and
1890.

To the Editor Of the Scientific Amsri.
can: Probably NO part of the world con-
tains such vast agricultural resources as
our Pacific Coast, and none has ever
displayed greater genius than her people.
Necessity during her earlier periods gave
birth to her great work. In 1858, when
I ir.t visited her golden hills, agricul-
!ure was ia but swallng clothes. All of
us sought her mountains of gold, aud not
her vast aud rich fertile valleys, then
rich with guano where sea fowl had
swarmed for ages, and wild cattle and
other Wild animals had roamed over
them. The men who went there then,
and only remained a short time till-they
"got their pile," as they called it, never
stopped to investigate her agricultural
possibilities. A few, however, engaged
in agriculture in very small way, and
soon discovered that to supply the grow
ing cities, villages, and mining camps
was very profitable, and safer really
than prospecting for yellow metal. Pota-
toes soon became so abundant that hun.
dreds of tons rotted in sacks or were
emptied to save them for another years
sacking. 1t only cost the blowing and
sowing to get good crop of wheat, but
the straw was so enormous, end grew so
even in height, that instead of the old
reaper the heading machine was substi-
tuted. Then came the attachment of the
thrasher and winnower, and before l left
in 1859, saw sixteen horses to one ma
chine going through these vast fields,
clipping off the heads, which fell into a
hopper and were thrashed, winnoWed
and bagged and dropped along the field,
team following to pick them up.
During the summer droughts, as the
ground shrank in drying it became full
of cracks. Into these would fall sufficient
of the grain in harvesting, so that when
the rainy weather came, and the. cracks
partially closed up, volunteer" crop
followed, which often was quite produc-
tive for the third year before a second
cultivation was necessary. But the wheat
fields then contained considerable oats,
scattered by cattle fed on wild oats, that
was spontaneous and natural product of
the foot hills.
About two years ago I visited the Pa.
cific coast again, and spent several weeks
at Paraiso Springs. In Spanish Paraiso
means Paradise, and in these hot springs
the old Spanish monks bathed for their
health. One day while there gentle
man invited three of US to take ride
with him. The day was beautiful, and
behind two flying horses We soon rode
about fifteen miles, and came to the edge
of a wheat field. "This is my place."
said our friend. As we rode on mile
or two could see no end and I asked !:
elbow long is this wheat field, sir ?"
He replied: "About nine miles, and 8
mile wide." "How much will it average
to the acre ?" "Oh, about sixty bushels" !"
said he. I saw nothing but clear wheat,
without spear of oats, although l had
senn oats in other fields which we passed
on the road. GLOW doyou keep out the
oats ?'' asked "Well," said he, II work
about four hundred horses and mules to
net in my crops, and am very careful
never to allow them to eat whole oats,
for if do, then they drop them along as
| cultivate the fields" "WEere do you
cell all this wheat ?" said I. "Oh, I ship
it all to Europe, as can Go better with
it there than here.''
After changing our team aud taking
another fast pair, We rode over the re-
mainder of bis vast estate, which actually
contained thirty square miles. In one
section was his forest for wild deer, and
in another an extensive field for grazing
cattle and horses, where I vas shown one
fat COW that he told me weighed 1880
pounds. We were soon on the way
back to our PARADISE" which we reach.
ed about sundown, after one of the most
interesting rides that I ever had the
pleasure Of enjoying. I afterward learn
ed that this gentleman's property was
valued at over S5,000,000.
J. Z. EMERSON.