Green Gold and Mint Juleps

Oro Grande alfalfa field along the Mojave River near Lane's crossing

Farmland in Oro Grande

During his years at the upper crossing, Captain Lane, as Aaron was known throughout much of his life in California, had ample opportunity to discover where the richest farmlands lie along the Mojave River. He thus far had grown crops on a small scale to feed his own stock and those of the travelers who stopped at his station, but the ever-increasing traffic on the Mojave Desert meant an opportunity for excellent profits if he could supply hay, barley and other crops in quantity.

There was also a profit to be made in marketing the grasses indigenous to the river. A variety of these grew luxuriantly in the lowland: bottom grass, blue joint, red top clover, and wire and salt grasses. On the benches along the overflow of the river, there was a proliferation of bunch, guyote and sand grasses. Many beefeaters swore that the cattle which fed on these grasses produced the best meat they had ever tasted.