48 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



in the production of barley, the second, if not the first, in the produc- 

 tion of wine, the sixth in the production of wheat, may we not confi- 

 dently expect that in the census of eighteen hundred and seventy she 

 may take a front rank as the producer of other important staples of the 

 farm ? 



The law of April twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, for the 

 encouragement of agriculture and manufactures in California, is calcu- 

 lated to awaken a deep interest in those branches of industry which 

 have accomplished so much in building up and maintaining the wealth 

 of some of our sister States. This law, which appropriates one hundred 

 and fourteen thousand four hundred dollars in premiums of various 

 amounts for the development of our agricultural and mechanical 

 resources, should be examined by eveiy farmer in the land. Premiums 

 to the amount of fifteen thousand five hundred dollars are offered in dif- 

 ferent sums for the production of cotton plantations and the growth of 

 cotton ; seven thousand two hundred dollars for hemp and flax ; three 

 thousand seven hundred dollars for molasses and sugar; three thousand 

 six hundred dollars for tobacco ; four thousand seven hundred dollars 

 for rice; two thousand two hundred dollars for hops; twelve thousand 

 dollars for tea and coffee, besides large sums for manufactured articles. 



This bill is in all respects a practical one, and it would be a benefit to 

 California if her Treasurer was called upon this year to pay every dollar 

 of premiums recognized by its provisions. It was thought by some 

 that the premiums were too numerous and too high ; but in my opinion 

 they should rather be increased than decreased. For instance, in pro- 

 portion to our population, the State of California will have, in five 

 years, more orchard productions than any other State or country in the 

 world, and it will be a question with the farmer what to do with them. 

 I would therefore suggest a liberal premium for the first hundred bar- 

 rels of dried apples, and the first hundred half-barrels of dried peaches 

 or plums, so packed as to keep through a California season. I would 

 also suggest a premium for the first hundred firkins of butter, and the 

 first two hundred barrels of beef and pork, put up in a manner that 

 would stand the test of our own or any foreign climate. At 'the same 

 time it would not be amiss to offer liberal premiums for raisins, figs, 

 nuts of all kinds, and choice wines, to take the place of foreign varie- 

 ties. To stop the importation of these articles would be adding vastly 

 to the resources of the State ; and when the gold that goes abroad to 

 pay for them is kept at home, we shall have money for internal improve- 

 ments, and shall not be obliged to follow our shipments of treasure into 

 foreign climes, in order to beg it back again at an enormous interest, for 

 the purpose of building our much needed railroads. 



That the provisions of the Act may be freely understood, and that 

 our farmers may be apprised of the fact that the Legislature of Califor- 

 nia is disposed to do all it can to foster and promote their interests, it 

 would not be out of place for the agricultural papers of the farming 

 districts to copy it entire for the benefit of their readers. Its provisions 

 should also be known in the farming communities on the Atlantic side, 

 that their attention may be directed, not to our resources alone, but to 

 the means taken, by a liberal policy, to develop them. 



Possessing, as we do, a State having a soil and climate capable of 

 growing the products of every other State in the Union, we are in a 

 position to invite emigration from every portion of our country, and to 

 add to our invitation the assurance that whoever comes to us may 

 indulge in the congenial pursuits that obtain in their native districts. 



