The San Francisco call., 1905-01-03

I adobe, $4,000 acres of which are ly-
ing west and south of Willows. There
| is also a large area of black adobe
| OF slightly different character, in that
| 1t contains large percentage of or
ganlc matter, northeast of Willows
| along the west side of the Glenn
ranch. Near the north side of this
| ranch and extending back to the mid
die of the plain is a large body of
reddish clayey soil that is recognized
as being the best wheat land in ex-
istence.
Just north of willows. Willow
! Creek has built UP a broad belt of al
luvial soil closely allied to that along
the river, and has carried it across
the plains from the hills to the river
land. Just north of this, near the
center of the plains, is a great bed
Of whitish clay soil which produces
| abundant crops of cereals.
These six soils-the two adobes, the
two clays and the two loams-are for
! grain growing of almost equal value
and are held at about the same prices
Besides these there are smaller bodies
OF different grades, such as gray grav-
ell, red gravel, white silt, etc, each be-
ing the soil par excellence for some
particular crops, as alfalfa citrus
fruits, grapes, etc. Back among the
hills are many small valleys contain
ing several hundred acres with soil
similar to the best along the western
rim of the plain.
Just south of Willows, along the
bottom of the depression referred to as
the trough, is narrow strip of very
nat land OF poorer quality, which can
be classed only as grazing land There
are only about 10000 acres of this in
Glenn County, but as the railroad runs
along 1t and through it visitors fire.
quently get the impression that south
or WILLOWS good land is rather scarce.
The truth is that on either side of this
is TO be found the richest land in the
valley
The latitude of Willows is SO degrees
80 minutes north, which Is practically
the same as Baltimore and Cincinnati.
This fact makes it hard for people
from the Eastern States tn understand
why there is mild, semi-tropicaI eli
mate in the Sacramento Valley. To one
familiar with the elements of physical
geography little reflection explains
the matter The western side of each
continent is warmer than the corre-
spending latitude on the eastern side.
and when comparison Is sought the
Pacific Coast of America should be
compared, not with our Atlantic States.
but with the western coast of Europe'
Glenn County is three degrees farther
south than the extreme southern point
OF France, and most Of Spain and all of
Italy lie farther north than Willows
The records of the Government observ-
ers show the climate of Glenn County
to be very similar to that of Sicily. the
island so famous for it's lemon groves.
LUxURIANT VEGETATION.
To visitors the climate is vouched
for by stately palms. by bearing olives
oranges, lemons and even lines. by
mammoth fig trees producing tons of
fruit each season; by the luxuriant
growth In the open air of thousands of
semi-tropical shrubs and vines. and bv
ever blooming flowers. Roses bloom in
December and January-though not in
such profusion as in May and June,
when every bush is large bouquet.
Glenn County is well watered and it's
opportunities for irrigation are ideal.
Butte Creek, already referred to as the
southeastern boundary, is a living
stream, carrying a large volume of wa
ter from the Sierras. The Sacramento
River, which at all seasons carries suf-
ficient water to irrigate the whole val
ley, is tapped near the north line of the
county by the Great Central canal.
This great canal was begun about fif-
teen years ago by the Central Irriga-
ton District. which comprised $4,000
acres In Glenn County and over 10000
in Colusa County, all being plains land
lying west of the trough
Owing to some defect in the organ
ization and consequent legal tangIe, |
the ditch was not completed Two
years ago 1t came into possession of
the Central and Irrigation Company. /
which is now about ready to deliver |
water to these lands. Not content !
however, with furnishing water for this /
vast area, the company has already a |
big ditch down the river which will |
serve 10000 acres In Glenn County. in |
cluding the famous Glenn and Packer |
ranches, and much more in Cousa /
County. including the great ranch Of |
Senator Boggs.