STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



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STANISLAUS COUNTY. 



Stanislaus County forms a part of the great San Joaquin Valley. It is 

 bounded on the north and northeast by Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mari- 

 posa, on the south and southeast by Merced, on the southwest by Santa 

 Clara and Contra Costa, and on the north and northwest by San Joaquin. 

 Its eastern boundaries extend into the foothills of the snow-capped Sierras, 

 and its western to the summit of the Coast Range near Mount Hamilton. 

 Passing through its very heart, within sight of each other, wending their 

 way to the great Pacific, are the San Joaquin, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus 

 Rivers. The two former are navigable at certain seasons of the year. The 

 county was organized in 1854, being formed out of a portion of Tuolumne 

 County. It comprises an area of 1,850 square miles, or about 800,000 acres 

 of land, three fourths of which are susceptible of cultivation. Within its 

 boundaries is situated one of the most fertile valleys in the world, yielding 

 productions varied in their character and marvelously vindicating the 

 nature of her soil. 



Wheat, barley, oats, rye, corn, and potatoes are the staple products. Cot- 

 ton and hops are cultivated successfully in some parts, and the rich bottom 

 lands along the rivers are well adapted to their cultivation. All kinds of 

 fruits are successfully raised — oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, olives, 

 peaches, apples, pears, almonds, walnuts, chestnuts, hickory nuts, peanuts, 

 and grapes of the finest quality. From the latter is made some of the 

 best brands of wine in the State. 



The summer heat ranges between 80° and 110°, seldom reaching the lat- 

 ter extremity. The winters are mild and purely temperate, the thermom- 

 eter varying from 30° to 70° and 80°, rarely going below 30°. 



CALAVERAS COUNTY. 



On the western slope of these mountains, nestled among its foothills and 

 extending into the great valley, is the county of Calaveras. Its situation, 

 midway between the north and south boundaries, makes it one of the most 

 advantageous in the State. It is central, easy of access, and possesses an 

 admirable variety of climate. In area, it comprises over one thousand 

 square miles, being about equal in size to the State of Rhode Island, ex- 

 tending east and west in length a distance of about 60 miles, with an 

 average width of about 30 miles. 



