Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Agriculture 1877 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 24, 2006, 5:36 am Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California AGRICULTURE. Agriculture cut no figure in the minds of the pioneers, after the discovery of gold in 1848, in their estimates of the probabilities of the future California. Those who had been longest here did not know the capabilities of the soil they occupied; the general impression prevailed that crops could not be raised without irrigation. The old fathers brought that idea with them from Lower California, and had never gotton [sic] rid of it. It remained for the Americans, when the first eager thirst for gold was satisfied, to prove that California was to surpass the world in the field of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture, as she had surpassed it in the yellow harvest of her gold fields. Perchance some miner, when his work was done, Leaned on his pick, just as the setting sun With ever-changing hue, and ruddy glow, Illumed some peaceful vale that slept below,— And as he gazed, a vision fair arose Of what the unknown future might disclose; He saw neat homesteads rise upon the plain, Around them waving, yellow fields of grain. He seemed to hear the voice of lowing klne And bleating flocks, borne upward on the wind. He saw beyond the vision still unfold, And California was a land of corn, of wine, and gold. That the priests did not know the soil would produce without irrigation, is proved by an incident in the history of the founding of the mission of Sonoma by Father Altimira, elsewhere mentioned in this sketch. He camped the second night, after leaving San Rafael, with his party on the arroyo Lema, where the old adobe stands on the Petaluma plain,—now the valuable farm of W. D. Bliss, Esq., of Petaluma. We quote his journal: "We started from Lema on the morning of the 27th, about six o'clock, and explored the plain running east, which is extensive enough for a mission, the land being fertile, and covered with grass, but of little use for plants, requiring irrigation in the summer season, for in that season the springs are dried up, as is also the brook running on said plat, or plain, called Chocaiomi." It would be news to the present owner of the rich and fertile lands around the "old adobe," to hear there was ever a doubt about its producing anything that grows within the boundaries of California, without irrigation. The first agriculturists in Sonoma county, and north of San Francisco, were the Russians. They planted orchards and vines, and raised and shipped wheat from Bodega bay to Sitka, in the early part of this century. Some of the fruit treed which they planted at Ross, now more than fifty years old, are standing, and bear fruit. They did not cultivate what we regard as our best wheat soil, but, notwithstanding, made heavy annual shipments of grain to their fur-hunters in Alaska. The next farmers were the priests, and their success proved the wonderful capability of the soil of Sonoma. They founded the mission of San Francisco Solano, at Sonoma, in 1823; and in 1834, eleven years after, an official report credits the mission with three thousand horned cattle, seven hundred horses, four thousand sheep, and the harvest that year as three thousand bushels of grain. This was the product of the small tract they occupied around the mission in Sonoma valley. Up to 1851 the few Americans who were in this county raised only what grain they needed for their own consumption, depending mainly on cattle-raising for a support. The earliest trading here was for stock, and nine out of every ten of the civil suits before the first alcalde of Sonoma, ex-Governor Boggs, originated in disputes about cattle or horses. There was a wonderful craving on the part of the Mexicanized-American farmer to own a "manada," a band of worthless mustang mares and colts which run ad libitum over the plains. As late as January, 1853, there were but four or five farmers on the plain opposite to Petaluma. There was quite a settlement in Green valley, and there was also a few stock-raisers on the Russian river, around the "old adobe." on Santa Rosa creek, and at Bodega. The first considerable export of agricultural products from this county, under the American regime, was in 1850 and 1851, from the port of Bodega. The potatoes raised in that region became famous in the early history of San Francisco, and they have maintained their standing in the market to this day. Uncle Jimmy Watson, in 1850, with his partner, raised a big crop on land rented from Joseph O'Farrell, and realized enormous prices,—in short, he struck that year a potato "bonanza." The potatoes raised in Green valley were shipped, some by Bodega and others by way of the town of Sonoma. In the spring of 1851, William McReynolds paid two hundred and fifty dollars for a ton of potatoes, and planted them on his Green Valley farm. In the spring of that year he built a potato warehouse on Bodega bay for Jasper O'Farrell. In August of the same summer he hauled lumber to the present site of the city of Petaluma, and, in partnership with James M. Hudspeth, put up a warehouse on the bank of the creek. It had been discovered that the produce of Green valley could be shipped cheaper from Petaluma than Bodega. Two small vessels were trading at that point; up to this time they carried only game, of which there was an enormous quantity in this section. Baylis & Flogsdel run one vessel, Linus & Wyatt another. Some hay was cut that fall, baled, and stored for shipment. Game, potatoes and hay were the first articles of export via Pelaluma; the former item was perhaps of greater value than both the latter, for a fat buck was worth from an ounce to twenty dollars. Fruit culture was started very early in the history of the county. Among the very first to engage in this now large and important interest were Mitchell Gillem and Major Sullivan, of Green Valley. They came together to the county in 1850, and thought that it appeared to be a good fruit country. In 1851 they heard that a man named Weeks had brought out a lot of trees from the East, and had them buried in the sand where the old Zinc House stood, about three and a-half miles north of Petaluma. They purchased about one hundred and fifty trees at one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars a-piece, with Mr. Churchman, of Green Valley, and they were the first orchards planted. For many years after, the profit on these trees was enormous, and fruit culture soon grew into a trade of the first importance, and so continues to this day. There were, perhaps, a few small orchards in Sonoma valley, prior to the ones we have mentioned, but they produced nothing for export. From 1852 to 1855 the increase of population was large, and the growth of the agricultural interest was surprising. In 1855 we can leave the fields of conjecture and give a close approximate estimate of the condition of agriculture in Sonoma county. It so happened that the county that year had a faithful, intelligent and public-spirited assessor, Smith D. Towne, now a leading business man and pioneer druggist in the town of Petaluma. In the first number of the Petaluma Journal, issued on the 2d of August, 1855, we find carefully compiled, by Assessor Towne, the statistics of the county. Mendocino was then included with Sonoma. The number of acres enclosed is reported 37,052, of which 22,400 were in cultivation. The number of acres in wheat is given at 12,233, which will yield, it is estimated, 28 bushels to the acre. Mr. Towne then recommended the club-head as the best variety to plant, and experience since has proved his sagacity. The number of acres seeded to oats is given at 3,268, which, it is estimated, will yield 35 bushels to the acre. BARLEY.—This grain, says the assessor, has few friends this year. Number of acres sown, 1,561; average yield, 35 bushels to the acre. CORN.—Of this product there are 714 acres, most of which is in the Russian River and Dry Creek valleys, where it seems to flourish luxuriantly. Estimated yield, 40 bushels to the acre. RYE.—Eight acres planted for an experiment. BUCKWHEAT.—Ninety-nine acres planted. As yet, none harvested. Cannot estimate the yield. PEAS AND BEANS, 333 acres. POTATOES.—The quantity planted this year is 1,693 acres, against 2,600 last year. Probable yield, 40 sacks to the acre. (There was a falling off in the potato crop because many producers had been badly bitten the year before, among whom was the assessor.) FRUIT TREES.—There are 6,730 set out from one to three years old, comprising apples, peach, pear, apricots, quince, figs and plum, about one-third bearing. "I think," says the assessor, "our county will compare favorably, both as regards quality and quantity of fruits, with any other county in the State." VINEYARDS.—There are many fine vineyards, numbering, in the aggregate, 24,800 vines, which are loaded with grapes. CATTLE.—Number milch-cows, 3,350; total cattle of all kinds, 26,250; horses, total number, 4,958; hogs, total number, 19,459; sheep, total number, 7,065. Now, by way of contrast, we propose to give the figures of the assessor of Sonoma for the year 1876. The reader will please bear in mind that the statistics are, in almost every case, below, rather than above the estimate, as there is always a reluctance on the part of the taxpayer to give information to one who levies or gathers a tax. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, 1876. Land enclosed—acres, 310,520; land cultivated—acres, 195,575. Wheat— acres 45,000, bushels 800,000; barley—acres 21,213, bushels 424,201; oats-acres 19,597, buahels 587,410; rye—acres 225, bushels 4,500; corn—acres 37,000, bushels 740,000; beans—acres 125, bushels 2,500; potatoes—acres 2,500, tons 6,000; sweet potatoes—acres 120, tons 3,000; hay—acres 43,744, tons 50,000; hops—acres 150, pounds 15,000. DAIRY PRODUCTS AND WOOL. Butter, pounds 2,125,000 Cheese, pounds 250,000 Wool, pounds 750,000 FRUIT TREES. Bearing lemon trees, 372; oranges, 1,994; olive trees, 227; apple-trees, 112,376; pear trees, 24,722; peach trees, 57,813; plum trees, 17,467; cherry trees, 12,310; nectarine trees, 1,510; quince trees, 2,100; apricot trees, 1,725; fig trees, 1,000; almond trees, 9,845; walnut—English, 5,300; walnut—black, 800; prune trees, 725; mulberry trees, 625. THE WINE PRODUCT OF SONOMA COUNTY. Wine-making is one of the leading industries of Sonoma county. Sonoma Valley is almost wholly devoted to grape-culture; on an average 680 vines are planted to the acre; the yield in grapes is from 10 to 30 pounds to the vine. It takes 14 pounds of grapes to make a gallon of wine. The system of "short pruning" is practised; the vines are cut back to the stump every year, and the finest clusters of grapes often rest on the ground. We give herewith a tabulated statement of the wine and brandy manufactured in the valley of Sonoma last year, with the names of the wine-growers, and estimates for the rest of the county. A law was passed by Congress last session which permits producers to store their brandy in bonded warehouses and pay the internal revenue duty of seventy cents per gallon when the brandy is sold or withdrawn for consumption. This will largely increase the production. WINE AND BRANDY MADE IN SONOMA VALLEY FROM THE VINTAGE OF 1876, AND BRANDY THAT WILL BE MADE NEXT YEAR UNDER THE NEW BONDED WAREHOUSE LAW. [The figures indicate gallons.] Wine. Brandy. Brandy under new law. Goess, Geo. A. 1,500 Hooper, Geo. F. 20,000 200 500 Wegener, Julius 3,000 20 100 Sonoma Wine & Brandy Co. 160,000 3,500 8,000 Lamotte, Alfred V. 30,000 500 Gibson, John 3,000 Warfield, J. B. 280,000 10,000 Justi, Charles 6,000 200 Clark, John E. 17,000 5,000 Williams, Jos. A. 25,000 260 5,000 Whitman, G. W. & H. H. 50,000 2,000 Watriss, Geo. E. 12,000 300 Mayers, L. W. 35,000 1,000 Aquillon, C. 12,000 350 Moorse, E. E. 200 Bradford, Ward 52,000 2,000 Glaister, T. S. 10,000 100 Haubert, Jacob 30,000 Dresel, Julius 32,000 300 Winkle, Henry 42,000 500 Ehrlich, F. 25,000 500 Simon, Jacob 3,000 Dominico, A. 15,000 500 Haraszthy, A. F. 35,000 200 500 Tichner, Estate of L. 75,000 700 3,000 Poppe,J. A. 17,000 350 1,000 Snyder, J. R. 12,000 200 Weyl & Leiding 15,000 1,000 Craig, O. W. 25,000 2,000 Carriger, N. 35,000 1,500 4,000 Rodgers, W. K. 25,000 800 Chauvet, J. 10,000 150 3,000 Stewart, Charles V. 25,000 Gundlach, Jacob 95,000 6,000 Hood, Wm. 80,000 3,000 6,000 Buena Vista Vincult'l Soc. 158,000 4,000 Kochler & Froehlick 45,000 4,000 Wohler, Herman 15,000 Wise, Christian 7,000 Winegardner, F. 8,000 Nau, Thomas 15,000 Asphalt, N. 4,000 Rommel, C. 4,000 Steer, G. 5,000 Guerne, F. 15,000 Manning, R. 2,000 Shaw, James 5,000 Total 1,335,700 22,230 60,000 The wine product of Santa Rosa and the Guillicos valleys is about 500,000 gallons. The wine product of Russian River township is about 400,000 gallons. The wine product of Mendocino and Washington townships aggregates about 500,000 gallons. The rest of the county 100,000 gallons. Total wine product of Sonoma county for 1S76, 2,535,000 gallons. LIVE STOCK. Horses, 9,246: mules, 717; cattle of all grades, 28,154; sheep of all grades, 250,000; common goats, 1,021; Cashmere and Angora, full blood, 500; hogs, 13,701. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, BY ROBERT A. THOMPSON, EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT." PHILADELPHIA: L. H. EVERTS & CO. 1877. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sonoma/history/1877/historic/agricult313nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 15.4 Kb