Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1871 — Letter from California. [ARTICLE]

Letter from California.

Rev. 11. A. Mayhcwf has written n letter to Thus. J. Spillcr, Esq. from which wo arc permitted to make the following extract: Red Bluff, Cal. Aug. 15, 1871. Ilcro I have been for five weeks; five weeks without any perceptible variation in the weather—no clouds, no dew in the mornings, no rain, of course, and tho thermometer rangI ing about the same, a little lower by night and a little higher by day. - j One day it was 105° in the shade I ami one or two other days 102°; generally it has been about 90° in daytime and 15° at night. There being no dew and no danger of rain, most who can, sleep on their verandas or out under shade trees —anywhere to bo shaded from the moon whose rays upon a sleeper arc very injurious. Wheat harvest, which began in May, is hardly more than ended. Farmers can take their time, for wheat will stand upright and await their pleasure. It docs not cripple down when ripe. Wheat in this county is a fair crop; butgcncrally throughout tire State it is exceedingly light, in consequence of spring drouth. It brings two (jpnts per pound in this market. I see little corn. Wheat and barley .are the principle grains cultivated. Horses are fed on the latter. Somo raise oats; bdt barley is worth in ore per bushel for feed and as many bushels per acre can be produced as of oats. Some wonderful crops are raised. One gentleman in town —Judge Bradley—had this year on his farm, a few miles out, 400 acres which yielded an average of 90 bushels of wheat per acre. Another gentleman harvested and cleaned up 900 bushels of barley from 11 acres. After all, the average for the county is said to bo only about 30’bushels per acre. While Cali- - forma-can beat the world in agricultural productions, when everything is favorable, it is the most uncertain place -you ever saw. —The richest lauds are nearly all subject to floods, and the whole country is quite subject to drouth iu early spring, either of which is fatal. Th/q early fruits are gone, incJ.’ading cherries, apricots and the fo rs t crD p of figs. We now have mellona, tomatoes, pears, applos, peaches, nectarines and The second crop of figs two-thirds grown. There is h at one garden of oranges in tQ wn aud they arc not ripe. My asthma seems to have departed entirely. The laßt I felt of it was at Salt Lake City. I fear lam not half thankful enough to a kind Providence that has granted me this great relief. I find here a good church building and an exceedingly intelligent and appreciative people. I trust God will bless my poor labors among them. I have been presented with three fine lots and have built me a nice study in which I qlso lodge. The Odd Fellows Lodge in this place is large and flourishing; it owns its hall, has it very expensively furnished, and has a good library, besides having a large general fund on hand.