216 TRANSACTIONS OV THE 



forty bushels of wheat per acre, while I am sure that the land ploughed and 

 sowed in the common way has not yielded fifteen bushels per acre in the 

 same space of time, thus realizing a difference of nearly three to one in 

 favor of the fallow ground. Take, for example, the year eighteen hundred 

 and sixty-two, in which I harvested from a fallow crop, fifty bushels (sixty 

 pounds) per acre, while most of my neighbors, as well as myself, raised 

 about half of that yield, or even less, by the common method. Again, in 

 eighteen hundred and sixty-three, I had a piece, containing about ten 

 acres, that yielded, according to the best estimate I could make, thirty 

 bushels per acre, although imperfectly fallowed, while grain grown be- 

 side it in the same field, and sown at the same time, produced about six 

 bushels. Some of my neighbors have taken note of these facts, and those 

 who were formerly sceptical are now fully satisfied of the importance and 

 benefit of the fallowing process, and many have broken up their land 

 during the past winter, so as to sow early and receive the benefit of the 

 first rains. 



I consider this a subject of very great importance to the grain growers 

 of the State, and one that will scarcely be overestimated by them. It is- 

 decidedly the most economical method of farming j a farmer can (if he 

 chooses, and has the means to do so) double the quantity of land he cul- 

 tivates; or he can raise the same quantity of grain upon half the land 

 that is required by the common method, (and I am convinced that in 

 many seasons the difference would be greater than this,) thus saving half 

 the cost of tillage, seed, and harvesting. 



There is another difference in the two modes of farming: the farmer 

 who ploughs his land in advance of the season pushes his business before 

 him, is not pressed for time, but can sow his grain before the heavy rains 

 fall ; but he who pursues the other method is always in a hurry when 

 ploughing time commences, and the results, in many cases, are very un- 

 satisfactory. 



I consider the practice of summer fallowing peculiarly adapted to the 

 climate of California, especially on clay soils. Though it is as old as 

 Jeremiah, who takes notice of it, (Jer. 4, iii,) it has not been much in favor 

 in this fast country, because, by such means, a smaller number of acres is 

 brought under tillage in the same season, yet it must be admitted that 

 the advantages derived from it are so conspicuous that no reasonable per- 

 son will condemn it. It is, perhaps, too much to say that the original 

 vigor of partially exhausted soils is always restored by the fallowing 

 process. But there can be no doubt that land in this condition is fertil- 

 ized by becoming more absorbent of the ammonia and fertilizing gases of 

 the atmosphere, which are brought down by the rains, and contribute to 

 the nourishment of plants, as well as by the preparation of the chemical 

 agencies contained in the soil, which are thus preserved in a state for 

 future use. My experience in grain growing, and my opportunities of 

 judging by the experience of others, have not been extensive, but tho 

 results of my observation and experiments have been so gratifying, that 

 I am astonished that every farmer does not practice a system so conclu- 

 sively excellent and profitable. 



Yours, very respectfully, 



HEN'BY GADDIS. 



Mr. S. F. Hyde, of Solano County, says : 



" There was apiece of barley, of from thirty to thirty-five acres, near 

 the head of Lindc Slough, in this county, from which was harvested this 

 year, (eighteen hundred and sixty-four,) five hundred sacks, or very near 



