USA > California > Yolo County > The Western shore gazetteer and commercial directory for the state of California Yolo County : one volume being devoted to each county of the state, giving a brief history of each county. > Part 7
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Briggs' Farm,
Near by, is also a noted place, and contains nine hundred acres of grain land, all under cultivation. The general character of the soil is the same as that just described. In addition, this farm possesses the advantage of having a large body of grazing lands connected with it, enabling the proprietor to divide his investments between grain and stock. These two farms may be taken as examples of the best farms in the township or county. There are many others of equal value according to size, but we do not think of any others which combine the advantages of soil with an equal or larger number of acres.
The grain lands of Buckeye which lie within the alkaline belt are not of very large extent. Situated as they are, they would be considered excellent by those accustomed to cultivate the sterile, rocky soil of the Eastern States. The alkali spots are comparatively worthless, yet the soil sur- rounding them produces equal to any. In some localities
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whole farms are rendered of little value by them; in others but one or two spots will be found on a farm.
The average grain yield of Buckeye is equal to any por- tion, according to the number of acres cultivated-in fact, when sections are considered, but little, if any, difference of yield per acre is noted.
Cottonwood Grain Lands.
The Township of Cottonwood comprises the northwest- ern and part of the central portion of the county. The quality of the grain lands is more equal, presenting but few places where alkali beds are found. On the other hand, the grain lands occupy more rolling, broken country than we have hitherto described. Immediately surrounding the Town of Cottonwood the land is excellent, though east- erly it soon loses its characteristics, and is merged in the belt of poor land which enters the township from that direction. Southerly, the land is good until Buckeye Township is reached-of which we have spoken. Westerly, the same quality of land extends, embracing the first low range of foot-hills, many of which possess a very superior soil. The general character of the soil is a gravelly loam in the lower lands, a clayish loam in the more elevated portions, with a clay subsoil supporting both sections. Along the borders of the small creeks we find some farms with soil composed entirely of mountain wash and sedi- ment, rendering them very prominent among the first-class farms.
Again, we find farms of clayish soil, thickly covered with slight elevations or knolls, having a harder crust and pos- sessing a colder nature, though yielding bountiful harvests. The marked difference in the grain lands of this township consists in these divisions, which are slight, when we con- sider the strong contrast existing in other localities.
Another division should be noted-that caused by Cache Creek, which extends through the township. The borders of this stream possess a soil similar to the river lands, though not as deep or lasting. The gravel-beds which underlie it
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are nearer the surface, and the loam partakes more of the character of mountain wash than river deposits. In color it assimilates with the river front, with but this difference- a reddish-brown cast abounds, which is found only along the banks of the mountain streams. The dark, rich tinge of decayed vegetation is here as strongly defined as it is on the banks of the Sacramento, with the addition of the de- composed slate and granite of the hills.
As fair representative farms, perhaps among the best of these three divisions, we will mention those of Scott, Stephens and McFadyen.
W. G. Scott's Farm
Contains about two thousand acres of grain land, all in cul- tivation. The main portion of this grain land lies in one body, southwest from Cottonwood, some two miles distant. This farm presents many advantages, and several varieties of soil. A portion of it belongs to the elevated portion of the plains, while a part borders a creek, dry in the summer, but of sufficient volume during the heavy rains to enable it to overflow its banks and deposit large bodies of sediment, enriching the land thus overflowed.
The advantage of a stock-range of several thousand acres connected with this farm, renders it very valuable in this re- spect. The grain land, as a body, presents but little differ- ence in returns in favorable seasons; but, when drought prevails, the lower sandy soils present a marked superiority in their returns, as compared with the more elevated and clayish soil.
This farm is but partially fenced, the grain land being protected by the stock laws; but, considering its size, there are few farms in the county better improved-none better supplied with the implements of farming. The machinery, wagons and stock, employed could not be placed there for less than ten thousand dollars. A blacksmith and wagon shop belong to the ranch, where all the farm work is at- tended to. The average number of men employed is fif-
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teen; the average wages paid is thirty-two dollars and a half per month.
G. D. Stephens' Farm.
This farm lies on both sides of Cache Creek, and contains about four thousand acres. The main portion is excellent grain land, well wooded and possessing a soil easy of culti- vation. On the margin of the stream, the soil is deep and very productive. A portion of the land, lying between this belt and the lands of Kiethly, partakes of a colder nature, being interspersed with alkali spots, and sedgy, adobe patches. This is used for pasturage; also, a low portion adjoining, on which the water stands at intervals during heavy rains. For a large body of land, it may be consid- ered very uniform in quality, and very valuable. It is all, or nearly all, inclosed by a substantial fence, and other- wise well improved. It is used as a stock and grain farm, and could be made one of the best stock farms in the county.
McFadyen's Farm.
This farm, well known as the old Ben. Dennis place, lies between the farms of Messrs. Scott and Stephens, and is probably one of the most productive farms of its size in that section of the county. It contains four hundred acres, and is-all of it-formed from the deposits of Cottonwood Creek. It is well wooded, having a large grove of noble oaks-the largest of which are seven feet in diameter.
The made soil on this farm has been demonstrated to exceed ten feet in depth, and in places it is deeper. Oak stumps have been burned out which left pits ten, twelve and even fifteen feet deep, before the walls showed a sign to mark where a root had formerly sprang from the tree, showing conclusively that the land had been made around them to that depth. In productiveness, this farm is unri- valed, and it deservedly is classed among the best in the county.
From this short discription of three farms, representing three varieties of grain lands, we can form a fair estimate
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of the country under consideration. It is true that a few fields are found in this vicinity, the surface-soil of which is a variety of adobe; but little known or understood excepting that, in favorable seasons, it yields good returns of grain. It is not like the vegetable compound, which is the main ingredient in the adobe soils of the marshes; neither is it similar in color or quality to the adobe hills found near by, but rather seems to partake of the nature of sedimentary deposits, beat back into its present position by long and continued action of wind-driven waves. But of this we propose to speak in another place.
Capay Valley.
This lovely valley is better known under the name of Cache Creek Cañon-a name it bore until a few years since, when it was christened by the name it now bears. The val- ley has an average width of one mile, and a length of about twenty miles-according to its windings. This body of land is among the best grain lands of the county, and with the adjoining hills furnishes many fine stock-farms. It is well wooded and watered, Cache Creek extending through its entire length. The main body of the valley is under cultivation, and crops have been considered very safe and sure in this locality, despite droughts and sudden changes. It is sheltered, in a great measure, from the north winds, which frequently do great damage to the crops on the more exposed portions of the plains. But a few years since this land was offered for sale at four dollars per acre. It now rates at from eight to twenty, showing the rapid increase in value of real estate in the county.
Hungry Hollow,
As a portion of Cottonwood Township is called, lies to the westward of Cache Creek, bordering the foot-hills which skirt that portion of the county. There are some excellent farms in this vicinity, and we believe that the farmers of this locality are entitled to the credit of having grown the
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best wheat in the county for the two last years. The gen- eral character of the soil differs but little, if any, from the main plains, of which the valley is but a continuance-an arm of the vast body which covers so large a portion of the county. The grain lands sweep away to and embrace the low hills, presenting only this change in the general appearance. There are places where the prevailing gray- elly loam gives place to adobe mixture, but these changes are neither frequent nor marked sufficiently to deserve es- pecial mention. The available land in this section is all claimed and mostly under cultivation. Within a few years we may confidently expect this section to become one of the wealthiest in the county.
Prairie Lands.
This body of land, lying north of Cacheville, ranks among the first-class grain lands, possessing the general characteristics of the land described and requiring no fur- ther description. The same can be said of the body of lands lying between the foot-hills and the tules, from Knight's landing to the Colusa line. With few exceptions, the soil is sandy or gravelly loam with clay subsoil, and produces well. It is one vast grain-field, which, in the summer, is one vast field of grain, and that is about all the difference worth mentioning. At Prairie, Antelope or Damiegan's, the same scene greets the eye, the same qual- ity of soil appears and equal advantages for successful. grain-culture are apparent.
Cache Creek Lands.
We have already referred to these lands when speaking of Carey Valley and Stephens' Ranch, and therefore we will brief glance at the grain lands around Cacheville. Those farms bordering the creek and possessing the advan- tage of water are held at high figures. They are well wooded, the soil is deep, strong and lasting. By many the land about Cacheville is considered the best in the
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county ; it certainly possesses great advantages. This lo- cality as well as Woodland possesses the advantages of irrigation, a ditch having been constructed which conveys the water of Cache Creek over the fields in that vicinity.
From what we have said regarding the grain lands of the county an estimate may be made of the advantages of each section; also the extent and value of the grain lands of the county.
We will now glance at the principal
Dairy Farms.
The dairy interest is now attracting considerable atten- tion in all parts of the State, and of late years several citizens of Yolo County have turned their attention solely to this branch of industry. Butter and cheese command a good price and will for many years to come, sufficient to render the business more remunerative than grain-raising, taking one year with another. The average price obtained for cheese is about seventeen cents per pound, though fa- vorite brands often rate higher. A fair average of the range of butter prices would be about forty-five cents, though prices range from fifty to sixty and as high as sixty- five cents per pound during the winter. Many of the dairymen are adopting the plan of milking their cows in the fall and winter months, when butter commands a high price, and allowing them to become dry when the open- ing of spring grazing brings a large number of competitors in the field and the price of butter becomes reduced to thirty or thirty-five cents per pound.
A very large sum finds its way to the East from our State, annually, that might be retained here, would our farmers but avail themselves of the advantages offered by Nature in this respect.
It is evident that where the business is conducted sys- tematically, dairying cannot fail of being profitable. When we compare the prices obtained for butter and cheese (first class) here with the price realized by Eastern dairymen for their products, the proof in favor of the correctness of our
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proposition is ample. We are all well aware that the dairy counties of the Eastern States are the wealthiest portions of those communities, and that the individuals composing that class are far in advance of their neighbors of the same localities who follow the more precarious occupation of cultivating grain.
We have every natural facility for successful dairying, with the sole exception of tame grasses; but this is easily remedied in many localities, as has been demonstrated by farmers near Woodland and on the Sacramento River. They have overcome this objection by seeding their lands with alfalfa, which secures to them green pastures during the year.
Besides this method of securing green feed, we have large tule ranges which furnish green feed during the sum- mer, when the hills and plains are parched and bare. These fields are now occupied by bands of stock that might readily be replaced by milch cows.
Along the Sacramento River, Elk Slough, and the tules bordering the grain lands, are several very fine dairy farms, possessing the advantages of continual green feed, though this is in a measure counteracted, in the minds of many, by the danger to stock from floods; hence, they prefer the foot-hill farms or ranges.
Green's Dairy.
Among these farms are some worthy of special mention, as being noted for the excellence of their products, the number of the cows milked, and the value of the locations. The farm of J. B. Green, on the Sacramento River, in Mer- ritt's Township, is peculiarly adapted to dairying, and its natural advantages have been much improved by system- atic cultivation. The grazing lands are situated on both sides of the Sacramento River-a large portion of the farm lying in Sacramento County. That portion which lies in Yolo County is situated on the island formed by Elk Slough and the river, and extends from the river to the slough, af- fording abundance of water, independent of the tule swamps.
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A large portion of the ranch is covered with tule swamp, which affords excellent range during the summer months. The high lands along the river bank are protected by a levee, and a large portion of them are sown to alfalfa, which produces luxuriantly. Here can be seen the advan- tages of green feed and root feeding, as applied to milch COWS. Mr. Green depends on the winter trade principally, hence his cows bring their calves in the fall. Through the fall and winter, when butter commands a high price, espe- cially if it is yellow, fresh and sweet, he has a large share of the market to himself, as but few of the dairymen are similarly situated.
The garden land on his place produces squash and root feed for his cows, while the alfalfa fields are.ever green and inviting. If, as is sometimes the case, high water drives his cows from the fields for a few days or weeks, the pro- duce of the garden supplies the animals with nutritious food suitable for their situation. By this means his stock is healthy, and capable of producing an excellent quality of butter, which at all times commands an extra price, be the market ever so dull; for good table butter is not the rule in this State, whatever it may be elsewhere. Eighty cows are milked on this farm.
Cave's Dairy.
Mr. Cave, on Merritt's Island, has a fine dairy farm, also well stocked with choice cows. He has the advantage of green feed also, having fields of alfalfa as well as the tule lands. The range is smaller than that of which we have . spoken, but it is not inferior in quality. Butter is the principal product, little or no cheese being made along the river.
Other Dairies in Merritt's.
On the ranch of Mr. Chiles, a large dairy is kept, averag- ing about forty cows. On this ranch alfalfa is grown on the high lands. Following up the river, we find Messrs. Trumpler, Babel, Payne and several others, engaged in
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dairying, to a greater or less extent. On Elk Slough, Messrs. Feeon, Goan, Hindsdill and others, are working into the same business, in connection with stock.
Choice Cows.
Mr. Curtis, eighteen miles below Washington, has a choice lot of cows, which comprise selections from the best stock in the county. The cows of Mr. Babel are principal- ly Durham and rank second to none, and those who desire to improve their stock should visit his ranch and examine them.
Conrad's Farm.
From this locality to Washington we find several small lots of cows, but none of any particular note, until we reach the ranch of Mr. Conrad, one mile below Washington. Here is one of the best dairy farms on the river and we find it occupied by a small but choice lot of cows. With a suf- ficient stock, this farm could be one of the first dairy farms in the county.
Bryte's Dairy.
About one mile above Washington is the dairy farm of Mr. Bryte. One hundred cows are milked on this place, the milk being sold in Sacramento City. This is a very valuable farm, with a large extent of good pasturage. The tules and river range supply green feed during the greater part of the season. Further up the river is the dairy of Mr. Comstock, where a small and choice lot of cows are kept and butter manufactured. The cattle range cf this farm partakes of the general characteristics mentioned-tale and alfa la. We might enumerate several small lots along the river, but enough has been mentioned to show the gen- eral character of the dairy farms along the river and the quality of the stock.
Tule House Dairy.
Leaving the river, we will glance at the dairy of S. Enos, at the old Tule House. From eighty to one hundred cows
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are milked at this place. The proprietor has turned his attention to manufacturing cheese and has achieved an en- viable reputation in that line. The cheese room and dairy are well worth visiting by those who wish to be initiated in the mysteries of cheese making. It is without doubt one of the finest cheese dairies in the State and conducted in the most systematic manner. The evidences of this fact consist in the reputation established and the prices obtain- ed for the products of the dairy. On this ranch the feed of the cows during the summer is the tule range-nothing but wild feed. In the winter the cows are removed to a hill ranch in Buckeye Township, where their feed is the wild hill grasses and wild oats. There is no alfalfa or tame feed of any kind, yet as good an article of cheese is made as can be purchased in the State or elsewhere.
Swingle's Dairy.
About five miles from the Tule House Ranch is the dairy farm of G. W. Swingle, at the sink of Putah Creek, where one hundred cows are kept and butter manufactured. This ranch also possesses the advantage of green feed, having a large tule range.
Carey's Dairy.
Some three miles beyond Swingle's is the dairy of Mr. Carey, where upwards of a hundred cows are kept and but- ter manufactured. This ranch also possesses an extensive tule range, affording ample green feed for the stock. These are among the largest dairies located along the river and on the swamp lands, with the exception of the
Grand Island Dairies.
On this island there are three dairies, owned as follows : J. P. Bullock, sixty-six cows ; Gwinn & Long, one hun- dred; Hanna, thirty. These dairies are all engaged in butter-making and meeting with deserved success. The stock is also fed on the tule marshes.
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Scott's Dairy.
From these lands we will glance at some of the hill dairy farms and then leave the subject. In Buckeye Township, we find several small lots of cows, kept for dairying pur- poses. C. Scott, near Cottonwood, has a choice lot of twenty cows, from which he manufactures both butter and cheese, according to the season. His range is the wild feed and wild oats of the surrounding hills, yet he finds no difficulty in preparing an excellent article of butter, thus demonstrating that, with proper care, the quality of butter or cheese is not impaired by the wild grasses indigenous o California.
It may be well to consider whether the introduction of foreign grasses suitable for dairy stock is essential to suc- cessful butter-making ; but, whether it be so or otherwise, it is evident that econony demands a change for the better, if such be possible. Under another heading, this subject will be considered more in detail.
The number of dairy or milch cows in the county is three thousand three hundred and thirty, valued at one hundred and sixty-six thousand five hundred dollars. The value of the dairy product is one hundred thousand dol- lars.
The Grazing
Interest of the county next claims our attention. As the matter now stands, this interest is mainly confined to the tule marshes, the foot-hills and mountains. The tules present the best summer range, the hills are better adapt- ed to winter and spring grazing. But little space on the grain lands is occupied by stock, owing to several causes, chief of which is the fence law, which provides that stock- men shall guard their stock. In accordance with this law, it becomes necessary for stock-men to either guard their stock or fence their ranges. The former method being very uncertain, the latter very expensive, the plains were gradually given up to grain-culture and the stock sought the tules and mountains.
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The grazing lands of the county are all claimed or occu- pied. There is a vast range of unsurveyed lands in the mountains, but, owing to the fact that enterprising men have entered the land lying along and commanding the wa- ter courses and springs, it is of no value or use io any one but those owners.
The main reliance for feed in the hills is wild oats, which grow luxuriant'y in the first ranges. In the small valleys and along the water courses, a species of clover grows in great abundance. The hillsides produce very early feed, which becomes ripe and dry about the first of June, in which state it retains its nourishment, possessing the prop- erties of well-cured hay. In favorable locations in the mountains the stock do well throughout the year. Such has been the case heretofore, with the exception of the re- markable droughts of '63-4.
On the plains, or portions of them, the wild oats would thrive remarkably, were it not for the continual plowing to which they are subjected. Clover, salt-grass and bunch- grass, with a few other varieties, form the body of indige- nous grasses of the State, and thus the plains of Yolo County present no exception to the rule. The yield of natural grass per acre averages about one-fourth the amount of feed real- ized from the average Eastern grazing farms. We do not include the tule marshes, which present a better showing in quantity, if not in quality. The grazing lands of the county, if properly reclaimed and seeded, would provide sustenance for a body of stock far larger than they now support. In- cluding as they do a large part of the county three hun- dred and sixty thousand acres), it is evident to all that they could and should be made to provide a large share of the county's wealth. Were they in the proper condition for pasturage, the stock interest would soon outweigh ail others, and the county would be rich in the herds alone. As it now is, the grazing is barely sufficient to maintain stock for home use. In this connection we will consider the value of a clover, still but little known or cultivated.
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Alfalfa.
It has been but a few years since this clover came under consideration in this State, yet it is already creating con- siderable attention among stock-growers and dairy-men. It forms the only green feed we have during the dry season, apart from the tule marshes. Farmers are rapidly adopt- ing it in various parts of the county, and already look upon it as being indispensable to the future prosperity of stock- growers. It is claimed for this clover that it is perennial, furnishing an equal amount of green feed in wet and dry seasons. It will yield as much or more feed on one acre of ground as is produced from six acres of the natural grasses. It will yield in hay an amount equal to six acres of natural grass, and many claim to cut as much hay from one acre of alfalfa as can be cut from ten acres in a wild state. Ten tons to the acre of alfalfa, when well rooted, is not uncom- mon, while an acre of natural hay rarely gives over one ton.
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