40 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



embarrassments in attempting the accomplishment of the objects for 

 which it was organized. Every business man's experience teaches this. 

 Therefore, every friend of the society and of the State will say : " Let 

 the debt be paid." But the practical and more difficult question is : How 

 shall it be done? A few thousand dollars placed in the Eedemption 

 Fund of the society to be used by the Board, as required by the Fund- 

 ing Act of last winter, would redeem every obligation, and set free the 

 hands of the society to enter upon the much needed work of assisting 

 and encouraging the drooping interests of Agriculture of the State. 

 This is a State institution, and through the channel of this society, 

 when properly conducted, will the people of other States and countries 

 become acquainted with our agricultural capacities, our mineral wealth, 

 and the elements of our material prosperity of every description. 

 Through its exertions and transactions will capital be invited to our 

 shores, and emigration will seek here certain and abundantly remunera- 

 tive labor. Then it is a State necessity, a demand of political economy, 

 that this society should be prospered and assisted in its present embar- 

 rassment. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the State could appropriate 

 the same amount of money in any other direction, or to any other insti- 

 tution within her borders, and meet with so rapid and certain a return, 

 with interest added. Without further comment, we respectfully com- 

 mend the subject to the favorable consideration of our Legislature. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIETY'S LIBRARY WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. 



By W. C. Stratton, State Librarian: Journals and Appendices of the 

 Assembly and Senate of California, for the first, second, fifth, sixth, 

 seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth, sessions; 

 also, the California Statutes for the years eighteen hundred and fifty- 

 four, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, 

 eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, and 

 eighteen hundred and fifty-nine. In all forty volumes. 



By the late W. H. Weeks, Secretary of State : Statutes of eighteen 

 hundred and sixty-two and eighteen hundred and sixy-three. 



The above were to supply the loss of the society by the floods of 

 eighteen hundred and sixty-two, when they lost almost their entire 

 library. 



By William H. Barton : The President's Message and diplomatic cor- 

 respondence of eighteen hundred and sixty-two. 



By William R. Staples, Secretary : Transactions of the Bhode Island 

 Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry for the year eigh- 

 teen hundred and sixty-two. 



By Hon. A. A. Sargent : Thirteen copies of Patent Office Beports for 

 eighteen hundred and sixty-one. 



By Prof. A. D. Bache, Superintendent : Report of the progress of the 

 Coast Survey for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one. 



By J. Forbes Watson, A. M., M. D. : Reports on the products of In- 

 dia — a classified and descriptive catalogue of the Indian Department, 

 twelve volumes. 



By the Proprietors and Publishers : The following papers have been 

 forwarded regularly to the society, free, during the year: 



The California Farmer; 

 The Spirit of the Times; 

 The Red Bluff Beacon; 



