284 



THfRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



THE SYMPOSIUM. 



(a) CALIFORNIA. 



One of the most complete replies came from E. C. Driver, living in 

 the Sacramento valley. Mr. Driver owns and operates 1,200 acres twelve 

 miles northwest of Sacramento . He has no irrigation and has an aver- 



Precipitation. 



age annual precipitation of less than fifteen inches, the moisture coming 

 mostly in the winter months. His farming operations on the Dry Creek 

 Stock Farm, as it is now known, began early in the sixties on a limited 

 portion of that which the owner at present poisse&ses. According to 

 his present plans of operation as briefly gi-ven, 800 acres are used for 

 cropping to grain and fruit, and 400 acres annually used for pasture 

 purposes. Between 300 and 400 acres are given summer culture each 



Summer Fallow. 



year (this is included in the cropping area). This ground is plowed rn 

 the spring, given culture treatment through the summer and crop sown 

 in the fall. The next fall, after crop is taken off, the ground is usually 

 disked up and seeded to oats to be cut for hay purposes. Thus, the 

 owner says he gets two crops with one plowing. As soon as crop is 

 removed the field is pastured. 



Cereals and Grapes. 



Wheat, barley and oats are the grain crops, while grapes are con- 

 sidered the cash crop of the ranch; the most of the hay and grain being 

 fed to live stock on the farm. The grapes are grown without irrigation 

 very successfully. An average of thirty acres rs maintained in grapes, 

 with a usual yield from one hundred to one hundred and eighty tons of 

 grapes per crop year, the grapes being worth about $15.00 per ton. In 

 pruning, the vines are cut back to three to five buds per vine and five 

 to six vines per root. Early in the spring vigorous cultivation begins. 

 This conserves the moisture which has fallen through the rainy season, 

 invigorates the grape vines, and keeps down the weeds. This cultiva- 

 tion is kept up as long as possible, without injury to the vines or setting 

 fruit. 



Live Stock Fattening. 



The live stock of the ranch consists of 40 horses and mules, 50 short- 

 horn cattle, 50 hogs and 100 chickens. Forty acres of barley is sown 

 each year for the hogs. This field of barley finishes the hogs for market. 

 They are turned off about the middle of December each year, being sold, 

 at a premium, for Christmas porkers. 



Estimated Profits. 



The running expenses of this ranch approximate $2,000 each year, 

 and the annual proceeds are upwards of $8,000. 



