Year: 1861

can in Iowa. am going to try farmin!
next season. My friend Starring has Gn'
Rancho. one and half miles from this
city. lie has eighty acres broke and intend:
to break as much more in the Spring. W,
will farm in s'cohoots'-I furnish the seed
and he tho ground. Aside from that in.
tend to sow 20) acres Of Hungarian grass
on place that have three miles from the
city. If that does well shall make ten O,
twelve thousand dollars by it. Hay is very
high here; in fact, you cannot buy it shor,
of twenty FIVE dollars per ton and, in some
places, it is worth sixty dollars. Hay land
is scarce here, although it is the creates,
stock countryl ever saw. Itbears strong
similarity to Western Iowa-roIinr prairie.
and numerous small streams running from
the IN ountains, with boulder or rock bot.
toms-thc finest water ever saw-clear as
crystal and cold as ice-abundantly supplied
with mountain trout.


These prairies produce what is called
mountain grass; it grows in bunchcs, and
is too scattering for hay. This grass is of
white or yellowsh color, and has a head
something similar to blue grass, and, what
astonishes everybody, is, that stock winter !
on it, although it looks dead and worthless.
know Of instances where oxen were turned
out last Fall on it, in a poor and worn out
condition--that have not had a moutt ful
Of anything else to eat thus far this Winter
that are now good beef. 1t beats anything
Of the kind ever saw in all my trav els.
will relate little incident which occurred
during my trip to Boulder. While at Mr..
Brooktiald's, Starring observed to Mr.. B.
that his supply of hay was not sufficient fo'
his stock during the Winter-there being
not more than two or three tons Of it alto.
gether. Mr.. Brookfeld has about 50 head
of cattle and some mules. Mr.. 3. replied
that he had more hay than he should need
| was standing near at the time, and re.
marked to them that should write to you
and inform you of the small amount of feed
necessary to winter stock in this country.
The idea Of two or three tons of hay being
sufficient, or all that is required to winte,
sixty head Of stock in the Rocky Mountains
will not readily occur to any one who does
not know it from actual observation. Now,
this Mr.. Brook field is not lazy nor indoent
but sober, hard working, money making
man.


The conversation above related took place
about dusk. made up my mind to inspect
the stock in the morning and ascertain how
they looked. The first thing thar greeted
my eyes in the morning, was about 20 cows
in the pen. looked closely at them and
found them all in good order, and giving
large quantities of milk for the lst Of Janu-
ary. looked into another pen, and saw
about dozen young calves, all fat. lis
Mr.. Brookfeld is in the dairy business
About O'Clock was invited to go out and
look at lot of yearings that Mr.. B. talked
of trading to Mr.. Starring. There was not
one Of them but what was good beef, and
among them were some of his work oxen
that were shaking with fat. 1t is worth a
trip out here this time of year, to enjoy the
fine weather, and see the fat stock running
on the range. Judge, this is The country,
notwithstanding you will encounter many re-
Eco bor, Lo : n "a n y
its evils, and do not hesitate to pronounce
it a humbug. But, Judge, tell you this is
the country. Twill 60 further, and assert
that in case there was no gold to be found
this side of California, it would still be a
great country. lu one particular at least,
it surpasses any country was ever in. 1t
is q great stock raising country.


Our friend Starring described to me last
Summer the Winters Of this section.
laughed at his description, thinking it i'm
possible for the weather to be so fine as he
described it at this season Of the year. But
have since seen and experienced the truth
of all he told me. The Winter thus far fully
jastifes his predictions. lie tells me that
the worst of the Winter is over, and if such
is the case, the world can't beat it. There
are climates where the Winter is warmer,
but the weather here is dry, the roads dusty
and have been thus far through the Winter
with very little exception. We have no colo
rains, such as you often experience in Iowa
No sleet, no deep snow, no nothing, bu
delightful weather. When we went up te
Brookfed's, we had no use for gloves, MOI
over-coats; We took them along, but die
not use them. Starring has 6ne boy, ter
months old. lie sat between US most of thu
way with nothing on but his ordinary cloth
ing. He did not cry. wish you could have
such a day in Iowa. Tat was an average
day of this Winter. Judge, it suits me frs
rate. have found the country have beer
looking for all my life. THERE'S plenty of it
Ii you want some of it, come right along
We will divide with you. know it will sui
YOU. The climate is great consideration
A good climate and a good soil is all that I
man should require. This climate beat
California in the Winter, because it is dry


In California it rains all Winter and j


muddy and disagreeab'e. 1t is little colde


here than there, but dry and fine. If tn


remainder of this Winter don't turn out n


expect, will inform you. But, Starrin;


has been right in everything he has told m


since came here last Spring. He has nc


misrepresented anything to me, and, Q


course, must and do place all confidence i


him.


ali mai ..ad a.d Am Ia; r.