“The next rancho on the west is owned by John Parrot.  It contains about seventeen thousand acres, and lies on the east bank of the Sacramento River.  It contains about four thousand acres of first-class wheat or corn land; the remainder is composed of excellent pasturage; there are only a few thousand sheep, and a few cattle and horses on this rancho.  It has for several years been cultivated by Morehead and Griffith, under a private arrangement with the owner.  It is understood that Parrot would sell, either in a body or in small tracts, to desirable purchasers; his prices would probably range from fifteen to fifty dollars per acre.

“The next large rancho is that of Henry Gerke, living twenty miles above Chico.  It now contains about eighteen thousand acres, of which a large portion is suitable for wheat or corn growing, and grazing purposes.  One of the largest and finest vineyards in the State is on this rancho; and the wine it produces has a large sale in the State.  The most of Gerke’s land is devoted to wheat raising; eighteen hundred tons of wheat were raised on it last year, and about twenty-two hundred tons this year.  It is mostly tilled by tenants.  The land is worth from twenty to fifty dollars per acre.  The owner would sell the whole rancho, but it is not known whether he would sell in small tracts or not.  He has a standing offer of six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars for the land, vineyards, and improvements.

“General Wilson owns several thousand acres of the original Gerke grant.  His land is altogether devoted to wheat growing, and is worth forty dollars per acre.

“A.G.  Towne’s grant adjoins Gerke’s on the north and west.  It now contains about twelve thousand acres; much of it is devoted to wheat growing, and is worth fifteen to forty dollars per acre, or an average all round of twenty-five dollars.

“At Tehama, on the west side of the Sacramento River, is Thome’s grant.  It contains about twenty thousand acres, one-third of which is of the very best quality of wheat land, the remainder good grazing.  It is understood that this land can be bought either as a whole or in small farms.  The best of it is worth about forty-five dollars an acre; the body of it about twenty dollars.

“The next grant, on the north, is that of William G. Chard.  It is nearly all cut up and owned in small farms.  Colonel E.J.  Lewis, a well-known politician, is one of the largest owners on the Chard tract.  He is extensively engaged in wheat raising.

“Ide’s grant is adjacent, on the north; it is also mostly divided and owned in small tracts of one hundred and sixty to four hundred acres each.

“The Dye grant lies east of and opposite to Red Bluff.  It was originally a large grant, but has been partially subdivided.  It contains some good bottomland, but is mostly adapted to grazing.