for the San Francisco market in 1881. In 1882 he erected a milk house, with all the necessary appurtenances, and when his plans are entirely carried out, he will have a model, if not a large dairy farm.

STEELE BROTHERS' DAIRY FARM. R. E. and Isaac Steele are the pioneer dairymen of California. They came from Ohio, and made their first location on this coast at Point Reyes, Marin county, July 4, 1857. There they remained until 1862, when they came to San Mateo county and rented a large tract of land from Clark & Coburn, in Pescadero township. They had as partners Horace Gushee and Charles Wilson, the latter of whom is now a prominent lumber dealer in New York City. The Steele brothers bought out their partners and carried on business on their own account until a division of the property was made.

On their arrival here they established five dairies, with one hundred and sixty cows on each dairy farm. Some years later they bought a portion of the land they had leased from Clark & Coburn, rented out a part of it, and on a portion they still reside. In 1864, they made an enormous cheese, weighing nearly two tons, which they gave to the Sanitary Commission at San Francisco, for the benefit of the soldiers' fund. It was exhibited that year at the Mechanics' Institute fair, in the latter city, and was afterwards cut up, pieces being sent to President Lincoln, General Grant and General Steele, a brother of the manufacturers. Isaac Steele has now in his possession a receipt from the California Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission, stating that two thousand, eight hundred and twenty dollars was the net proceeds from the sale of the cheese. The receipt is dated January 11, 1864, and signed by F. F. Low, president. The Steele brothers are still engaged in the dairy business but on separate accounts.

R. G. SNEATH'S "JERSEY FARM."-Near San Bruno, on the old Mission road, about thirteen miles from San Francisco, is the famous " Jersey Farm," celebrated wherever the dairy products of California are known. It extends from the Mission road, which forms its eastern boundary, westward nearly to the ocean, having an area of four miles in length, by three and a-half miles wide, and embracing twenty-six hundred acres of highly cultivable land or splendid pasture. From the eastern boundary, the ground rises with a gradual slope toward the west, to the mountains that divide the bay lands from those bordering on the ocean. The waters, sweet and limpid, from the fine streams and springs that abound on the mountain's flank, are conducted by pipes and conduits to distributing reservoirs, from which the power for all the machinery on the ranch, and the water for irrigating and domestic purposes, is supplied. So numerous are these springs, that in every field there is a trough into which pours constantly, throughout the year, a stream of pure cold water,

from a pipe connecting with a contiguous spring-a benison that is vastly appreciated by the herds that roll in luxury on Mr. Sneath's broad acres. About a quarter of a mile from the Mission road is situated the neat dwelling of the proprietor, surrounded with everything to give it an air of comfort, and of being the home of happiness and contentment. A short distance west from the house is the blacksmith shop, where all the smith-work of the ranch is done. It might also be called the hospital, where all the wounded and battered of the regiments of milk cans are repaired. Near by is the mill for grinding feed for the stock. It is both a wind-mill and a water-mill, either motive power being used. It is also supplied with a steam engine, which however, is only employed in very rare instances when from any cause the other motion is not for the time being available. To the west of this, at a convenient distance is the barn, a brief description of which may give an idea of the scale on which business on the great dairy farm is done. The barn completely covers an area of two hundred and forty-eight by forty-eight feet; the middle or main part faces north and south, and is three stories high, while the east and west wings are two stories. On the lower floor, two hundred and eightyeight cows are stalled separately every night, while the upper floors of the wings are filled with hay.

Milking is commenced at eight o'clock in the morning and eight o'clock in the evening. The milk is carried by the milkers to the center of the barn where it is poured into a large, double cooler. This is made of tin, having an inside and an outside wall; and there are two sections, one placed above the other. The central part or basin of each cooler is filled with cold spring water, which is constantly running in fresh at one place and out at another. The milk is poured through a strainer fixed to the upper section, around which it is made to flow in a current, following a system of wires until it reaches the bottom, when it passes through a faucet into the lower section, continuing its motion along the wire guides until its temperature is reduced almost to that of the body of cool spring water in the center of the coolers. From the lower section it passes into a tank from which the cans in which it is taken to market are filled. This cooling apparatus occupies the ground floor of the central part of the barn. On the second floor is the hay cutter, and also a large tank for soaking the ground grain on which the cattle are fed. The grain is elevated to the third floor and is poured into the tank below as it is needed, through spouts, the flow being started or shut off at will, by means of little gates or slides at the bottom of each spout. Adjacent to the barn is a building where the cans are daily put through a process which keeps them clean and perfectly sweet. The plan is original with Mr. Sneath, and is entitled to more than a passing notice. Near the center of the building is a long iron tank, with a furnace underneath. The tank is divided into three sections, one of which contains boiling hot water; the second, water moderately hot; and the third,