250 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



have mainly sprung, and we owe to this basis the 

 demonstration of the suitability of our climate and 

 grasses to the growing of superior sheep, to which 

 we are now approaching." 



It is probably not generally known to this genera- 

 tion how energetically, enterprisingly and swiftly the 

 American pioneers lifted sheep husbandry in Cali- 

 fornia to greatness in State development and to 

 national importance. "California for sheep!" was 

 the cry which followed first the world-stirring out- 

 cry: "California for gold." It arose before the 

 greatness of either wheat or fruit was even dimly 

 foreseen. The following is a public exhortation on 

 wool-growing given by Colonel J. B. Crockett at 

 the California State Fair held at San Jose on 

 October 8, 1856: 



"In California, owing to our mild and equable cli- 

 mate, sheep are liable to fewer diseases and multiply 

 more rapidly than in any other portion of the world ; 

 whilst our mountains and valleys furnish them with 

 the most inexhaustible pasturage the year around. 

 The cost of rearing them is, therefore,, exceedingly 

 small, and, instead of importing them from abroad 

 for daily consumption, our mountains and valleys 

 should be dotted with sheep and every clipper ship 

 that leaves our ports should bear away tons of wool 

 to set in motion the looms and spindles of Great 

 Britain and New England. The time will come and, 

 in my opinion, is not very remote, when sheep culture 

 on this coast will become a great and most lucrative 

 branch of productive industry. Indeed, I am aware 



