236 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



LIVE STOCK. 



There are less now in the county than previous to last year; but the 

 destruction of stock has caused the remaining portion to bear much 

 better prices than heretofore obtainable. 



AGRICULTURE, 



There is a steadily growing interest. There is in this county a large 

 proportion of arable land, wliieh. in favorable seasons, produces most 

 abundantly of the cereal crops. Much has been gained in the past few 

 years by irrigation — in some cases by turning the channels of streams, 

 while others have obtained sufficient to irrigate man}^ acres fi'om arte- 

 sian wells, of which there are a number in that part of the valley where 

 they can be easily procured; but the latter course has a very injurious 

 effect upon the dryer portions by drawing from surface wells and from 

 springs in the mountairls. 



In fruit and vine growing, especially in the latter, there is a fast 

 increasing interest. It has been ascertained that the climate of this 

 valley is as well adapted to the culture of the vine as any locality in 

 the State, and more especially the lands near the foothills and near the 

 mountains, where there is a belt of land covered with a stunted growth 

 of oak, the soil of which is a red clay mixed with gravel, which, it is 

 found, produces a much superior wine to the rich black lands of the main 

 valley; and, so far as tested, has proved a remarkable success. 



In regard to minerals we have not much to boast, except quicksilver 

 and co])per. There are in this county some very good, and to all 

 appearance, permanent mines of cinnabar, the first and foremost of 

 w4iich is the New Almaden, now owned b}^ the Quicksilver Mining 

 Company of Pennsjdvania, for which they paid the modest sura of one 

 million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Guadalupe Mine, 

 situated about four miles from New Almaden, and ten miles from San 

 Jose, owned by a 'New York company, is turning out some rich ore, 

 under the able superintendence of Dr. J. E. Mayo, which ore was lately 

 struck in their sixth level, four hundred feet below" the bed of the creek. 

 Anotlier mine of cinnabar has lately been discovered in the hills ten 

 miles southeast from San Jose, where the company have an exhibit of a 

 large mass of fifty per cent ore. 



COPPER. 



There are several mines being opened, of which the Margarita stands 

 first and foremost; they have a solid w-ell defined lode of twentj'-five to 

 fift}^ per cent ore. It is located near the New Almaden Quicksilver 

 Mine. 



COAL AND PETROLEUM. 



There is also somethinc; beinc: done in these articles. Several wells 

 are in process of "going down," with flattering prospects in some cases. 



MINERAL SPRINGS. 



There are two that have been well tested and found to contain medi- 



