*** Source: Thompson, Robert A., Historical and descriptive sketch of Sonoma County, California. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1877, 122 pgs. Notice: This data is donated to the Public Domain by TAG, 2004, and may be copied freely by anyone to anywhere. *** ---page 25--- this day. There were, perhaps, a few small orchards in Sonoma Valley, prior to the ones we have mentioned, but they produced nothing for export. From 1852 to 1855 the increase of population was large, and the growth of the agricultural interest was surprising. In 1855 we can leave the fields of conjecture and give a close approximate estimate of the condition of agriculture in Sonoma county. It so happened that the county that year had a faithful, intelligent and public-spirited assessor, Smith D. Towne, now a leading business man and pioneer druggist in the town of Petuluma. In the first number of the Petaluma Journal, issued on the 2d of August, 1855, we find carefully compiled, by Assessor Towne, the statistics of the county. Mendocino was then included with Sonoma. The number of acres enclosed is reported 37,052, of which 22,400 were in cultivation. The number of acres in wheat is given at 12,233, which will yield, it is estimated, 28 bushels to the acre. Mr. Towne then recommended the club- head as the best variety to plant, and experience since has proved his sagacity. The number of acres seeded to oats is given at 3,268, which, it is estimated, will yield 35 bushels to the acre. BARLEY.--This grain, says the assessor, has few friends this year. Number of acres sown, 1,561; average yield, 35 bushels to the acre. CORN.--Of this product there are 714 acres, most of which is in the Russian River and Dry Creek valleys, where it seems to flourish luxuriantly. Estimated yield, 40 bushels to the acre. RYE.--Eight acres planted for an experiment. BUCKWHEAT.--Ninety-nine acres planted. As yet, none harvested. Cannot estimate the yield. PEAS AND BEANS, 333 acres. POTATOES.--The quantity planted this year is 1,693 acres, against 2,600 last year. Probable yield, 40 sacks to the acre. (There was a falling off in the potato crop because many producers had been badly bitten the year before, among whom was the assessor.) FRUIT TREES.--There are 6,730 set out from one to three years old, comprising apples, peach, pear, apricots, quince, figs and plum, about one-third bearing. "I think," says the assessor, "our county will compare favorably, both as regards quality and quantity of fruits, with any other county in the State." VINEYARDS.--There are many fine vineyards, numbering, in the aggregate, 24,800 vines, which are loaded with grapes. CATTLE.--Number milch-cows, 3,350; total cattle of all kinds, 26,250; horses, total number, 4,958; hogs, total number, 19,459; sheep, total number, 7,065. Now, by way of contrast, we propose to give the figures of the assessor of Sonoma for the year 1876. The reader will please bear in mind that the sta- tistics are, in almost every case, below, rather than above the estimate, as there is always a reluctance on the part of the taxpayer to give information to one who levies or gathers a tax. *** end ***