The San Francisco call., 1899-03-09

REDDING, March S.-Reports from
Hetten, the stock region of Southern
Trinity. indicate that the winter has
been unusually favorable for stock
The heavy fall of snow was confined
principally to the mountains, and bu
little feeding of stock had to be done
in the valleys. In the Long Ridge re
gfon of Mendocino County, adjoining
Southern Trinity, about the same con
ditions are met with, the winter so fal
having been the best for stockmen II
many years. A sale of $4,000 clips OF
fall wool was effected in Tehama Coun-
ty last week This is worthy Of note
because it is the first sale that has
been made in some time. The 15,OGC
clips weighed $1,000 pounds, bringing
IL cents a pound. Charles Mores was
the purchaser. There is more unsold
wool stored in Tehama County at the
present writing than for several years
The cattle market in Northern Califor-
MIA, is so buoyant, the demand exceed
ing the offerings with rising prices
that stockmen are convinced that ar
era of high prices has come to stay
The man with big herd of cattle and
relative position with respect to profits
as the mine owner with paying prop
erty.
GUERNEVILLE, March 8.-Cloudy
weather prevailed all yesterday and
last night. This morning light showers
set in, wetting down vegetation and
laying the dust. Barring late March
frosts. Western Sonoma is now sure OF
enormous yields.
WOODLAND, March T. - Copious
rains this month and April showers are
necessary to insure the usual crop OF
hay and an average yield of grain in
Capay Valley. Many farmers are appre-
hensive that the rainfall Will not be
sufficient and that these crops Will be
short and may possibly be total fail
ure Twenty-three tests made in va
rious places and in different qualities of
soil show that after digging through
dry surface of from four TO eight lnches
plenty of moisture is found in the soil.
In every instance at the depth of TWEEN
ty-four inches the soil was so damp
that it adhered to the shovel used IN
digging. This would indicate that con-
ditions are favorable for fruit trees and
that they can stand several weeks OF
continuous dry weather. Good rains
next month will be in ample time TO
insure heavy yields in both orchard
and vineyard, but there is danger that
the showers may come too late TO save
the hay and grain crops. If there is no
exaggeration in the reports sent IN
from VacaYille, Winters and other ear
ly fruit belts, conditions for good
fruit crop in Western Yolo are more
favorable than in any other part of the
State Early in the season there was
y,cin1 =
growers that the apricot, peach and al
mond trees were dropping their bloom,
but the season is far enough advanced
to show conclusively that these fears
were not well grounded. The indlca-
tions are now favorable for heavy
yield Of apricots and peaches and the
prospects for a good almond crop were
never better. Indeed, all trees look
we'll, and old settlers agree that horti-
cultural prospects were never more
promising than they are this season.
There is no longer any danger to be
apprehended from late frosts. With
out more rain there will be at least a
partial crop of fruit. The normal rain
fall for March and April will insure the
largest crop in the history of the val
ley.
PLACERVILLE, March 8.-The long
continued drought has given way to
welcome rain, the precipitation COM
mencing at p. m. Indications are for
a copious rainfall in the western part
of the county and heavy snowfall on
the mountains. The past month was
the dryest February in over a quarter
of a century. The rain is timely, but
crops could have Withstood the drought
for month longer.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, March SIT is
cloudy and threatening tonight. Crops
in this section look fine and are grow
ing well. Late sown grain is especial
ly promising.
BAKERSFIELD, March SIT has
been cloudy here this afternoon. but
there are no other indications of rain
The barometer remains above the rain
point and no rain may be looked for for
several days at least. Crops are suf-
fering much for want of moisture. Sew
eral grain growers sold their crops tc
sheep men for feed at so cents an acre
Ranches in the northern part of the
county are absolutely bare. Rain would
do no good now.
NEVADA, March 8.-Began raining
briskly late this afternoon and this
evening the indications are favorable
for a continuance of the storm. Only
thirty inches has fallen in this city, *
per cent short of the previous average
of seasons to date When to-day's
storm came farmers in the lower part
of the county were complaining OF
scarcity of feed and miners were
alarmed as to the outlook for next sum-
mer's supply of water. Confidence is
now restored and everybody is happy
and hopeful.
EUREKA, March S.-There has been
total rainfall thus far this season OF
24.27 inches, as against 26 inches to the
same date, last year. The crop pros
poets are excellent, there never having
been a better outlook in this county.
The dairy interests were never in better
condition, but the outlook for lumber
is not so favorable owing to the scarcity
of rain in other portions of the State.
A dry season in California means less
sales of lumber for Humboldt millmen.
OROVILLE, March S.-Two light
rains have fallen here lately and the
grain crop is looking exceptionally well.
Pasturage is so far scant. With spring
showers both grain and hay will be
good. The fruit crop is very promising,
but all depends upon late frosts so far
as deciduous crops are concerned.
Without frost the crop will be very
heavy. There is every promise of a
magnificent olive and orange crop. The
orange trees are full of buds. The snow