Modesto Snapshots: Stacking Alfalfa

While Modesto is known for its present-day orchards of peaches and almonds, as well as walnut groves and grape vineyards, before the advent of irrigation, the land supported wheat and grain. Shown above are farmers stacking alfalfa from the fields. This photo is in the late 1800s. The land has always been a rich resource for the area and agriculture is still a big part of the economy.