The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-12-15

Will we ever weary of the story OF
CalifOrnia's golden haryeSts? In the
states 150 miles Of breadth and her
thousand miles of extent are to be
found very nearly every conceivable
product of the soil. II is some so
years since the whole world was ring.
ing with the startling tales of the
great gold discoveries in California,
and at that time the country had little
other industry than pastoral pursuits.
After the first gold fever had some
what abated immigrants began to rec
Ognize the immense fertility of the
soil and the era of the great wheat
farms commenced many Of them be-
ing from 10000 acres to 10000 acres
in extent. Some of these still remain,
though the tendency now is to divide
these big holdings and invite settle
ment by small farmers, fruit raiscrs
and cattlemen. On such big areas as
these wheat farms wholesale methods
are imperative, and harvesting can
only be accomplished by the and Of ma
chimes, drawn by as many as 50
horses or mules, which cut and thrCsh
the grain, delivering it in sacks ready
for shipment. Large gang-plOws, haul
ed by traction engines, are also en-
ployed. But great as was the produC-
tion of gold and wheat. it was soon
to be surpassed by that of the or.
chards, for which the state has earned
such worldwide fame. Although 20
years ago California production made
but little impression upon the fruit
markets of the United States, last
years shipments from her orchards,
vineyards and gardens to points be.
yond the state aggregated some 1000.
600 tons, California is, above all
things, a land Of horticulture-of or.
anges, lemons, grape fruit, apricots,
peaches, pears, olives, prunes, ounces,
guavas. bananas, loquats, nectarines,
pOmegranateS, cherries and plums,
1t is a land of many products-gold
and SILVER, fruits, vegetables, flowers,
wool hay, cattle, Cranbernes, wanuts,
almonds. sugar beet, melons and wine.
This is not to be wondered at when the
fact is grasped that the climate gives
3Ou days of sunshinC every year, and
that no rain falls from June to Noyem-
be-. In the northern part OF the
state you may stand beside a field Of
CON Of as fine growth as can be found
anywhere in the world which has
nCyer had a drop OF rain since it was
sr wn, has not been irrigated, and will,
in all likelihood be harvested without
b wing been touched by any moisture
" latever. Although the climate OF
& northern, central and southern pOr.
t )ns Of the state are substantially the
me-i. e, agricultural and hOrticul-
trial products being found in attitudes
100 miles apart-the rainfall dmin-
hes as YOU go to the south. ranging
fom a total rainfall Of some 40
inches in the north to some six inches
in the south, the temperature differ
ing but little In the local..
es OF least annual rainfall
irrigation has been resorted to. and al
the present time something like 1000.
90 acres. comprising 80. 900 irrigated
arms, are thus beng watered.
The canning and sun-drying Il fruit
re big industries and the pl oducts
re known the world over. The proc.
IS Of sun drying peaches, april lta
nd pruue8 proves the dryness Of the
Innate, az were thcr. much mOistur,
the atmosphere Z would be impos
io!s for The sun to abstract as 1t does