212 Transactions of the 



and resources. To buy this amount of sugar requires the exportation, 

 at average yield and prices, of the entire crop from more than three hun- 

 dred thousand acres of wheat, while less than fifteen thousand acres 

 would produce the sugar, with far less drain upon the soil used. 



The experiment of making sugar here having proved an entire success 

 in every particular, it is confidently predicted that in four years from 

 to-day we will produce all the sugar consumed in the Pacific States and 

 Territories, and in ten years we will send to other States and countries. 

 of our own production, three times the amount we now import. 



There is now quite a large amount of flax raised in this State for the 

 seed alone, no use being made of the fiber. This is a great waste, which 

 should, if possible, be avoided. Cannot some cheap method be devised 

 for preparing this fiber for use, though it may be in the coarsest products, 

 such as grain bags or rope? He who can utilize this material and prevent 

 its waste will confer a great benefit upon the State. 



One experiment, at least, upon a scale sufficient by large to test our 

 climate and soil for raising cotton successfully, is being made. A field 

 embracing seventy acres is now growing, on the Merced River, five or 

 six miles below the Town of Snellings. When I had the pleasure of 

 visiting the field, some six weeks ago, the cotton was in a very thrifty 

 condition, with the early seedballs closed. The harvest of the fiber is 

 probably now about commencing, and will continue until November 

 or December. Experienced cotton growers from the Southern States 

 informed me that this field was a fair average of the crops in Louisiana, 

 and would probably yield three fourths of a bale of ginned cotton to 

 the acre. The entire crop was planted and cultivated by three men. 

 This is more ground, I am informed, than the same men could have culti- 

 vated in the Southern States. The experiment, therefore, bids fair to 

 prove a satisfactory one, and it is quite probable we may hereafter be 

 able to add cotton to our regular productions. 



The raising of grapes and the manufacture of wine and brandy seems 

 now to be firmly established as one of our leading and most profitable 

 industries. There is no longer, I am informed, any difficulty in market- 

 ing the entire product at remunerative rates, and it is quite probable the 

 demand will increase faster than the production can be increased. Last 

 year we produced six nnllion gallons of wine, worth three million six 

 hundred thousand dollars, and one hundred and fifty thousand gallons 

 of brandy, worth, duties unpaid, one hundred and twelve thousand five 

 hundred dollars. This year it is estimated we will produce from eight 

 million to ten million gallons of wine, worth say four million five hun- 

 dred thousand dollars, and two hundred thousand gallons of brandy. 

 worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and it is fair to calculate 

 that this ratio of increase in production and values will be kept up for years 

 to come. It is estimated by our principal wine merchants that one half 

 of our product is consumed by the States to the east of us, while they 

 are regularly shipped to Mexico, South America, Sandwich Islands, Aus- 

 tralia, Japan, China, England, and occasional lots to the continent of 

 Europe. From every part of the world to which they are sent fair reports 

 come back as to their excellence, ami orders increase, showing that they 

 have a better standing abroad than at home. Of course their reputation 

 has suffered somewhat from unskilled makers, and from counterfeiting. 

 Messrs. I. Landsberger & Co. are now putting up one thousand five hun- 

 dred dozen per month of their champagne wine, and are unable to supply 

 the demand. What may we not expect from this industry, when we 

 reflect that th© entire champagne district of France is not greater in era 



