57 
#8 the caterpillars are exceedingly healthy. Mr. Wilson Flint, of Sacramento, is now culti- 
yating thousands of the mulberry at that plac and establishing another plantation of a 
jnillion of trees at Los Angeles. Mr. L. Prevost, of San José, the pioneer of silk culture on 
this coast, has also a large plantation of the mulberry at that town, where an extensive silk 
factory is now being established. 
_\‘*The date palm of the Barbary coast has been grown at San Buenaventura and San 
Diego missions since 1790, and there is no doubt that, with government encouragement by 
grants of land, the entire plain of the Colorado valley could be cultivated with that invalua- 
ble\tree, as it succeeds in all parts of Sonora and Lower California, being introduced at the 
old Jesuit missions since before the year 1700. This tree is not only one of the most valua- 
ble in commerce from its fruit, (every tree in full bearing producing about $3 worth of fruit 
in Morocco, ) but it is one of the most useful known for hundreds of household, shipping, 
and cultivating purposes. The fruit alone sustains man and beast without any other nutri- 
ment. Its cultivation, with that of the acacias, would in a quarter of a century redeem the 
Colorado country of its fearful aridity and desolation, and be one of the greatest of blessings 
to the Territory of Arizona. . 
“The olive was introduced into Los Angeles and San Diego before 1780, and is now cul- 
tivated as far up as San José city and in many places in the Sacramento and San Joaquin 
valleys. It is a very hardy tree from the sapling to its eightieth year, and succeeds aswell 
as in Italy, Palestine, or Greece. The olives produced at the old missions of San Diego, 
San Gabriel, and San Buenaventura are not excelled in size or flavor by the best of Seville 
or Florence; and in the four coast counties mentioned there are not less than 15,000 trees, 
which are now over half a century old; many of them are eighty years old. The olive oil 
used in Catholic church service from 1800 to 1840, and also in family use, was all manutac- 
tured from the gardens of the old missions and those of private individuals. The olives cured 
at San Diego were said formerly to be the largest and best flavored in the world, even by old 
Italians, French, and Spaniards. There are probably now in the State not less than 200,600 
olive trees, from one year old up to eighty, all of which were planted from the gardens of San. 
Diego aiid Los Angeles, being introduced there from the Jesuit missions near Loretto and 
La Paz, as heretofore noted, ante 1780. 
‘*The almond also has been grown in the mission gardens since about 1800, but never: 
cultivated for profit until about 1854, since which year they have been extensively cultivated’ 
in the four counties named, from the almonds bought in the stores and also imported from 
southern Europe. It grows best in the strip of coast near the sea, between San Diego and: 
Santa Barbara, where frosts are never severe nor winds strong enough to destroy the buds 
and flowers in early spring, a fault to which the tree is greatly exposed in the country drained 
by the Bay of San Francisco. In Santa Barbara the almond succeeds to perfection, is very 
hardy and easy to cultivate, and produces abundantly, there being six-year-old trees in the 
town which have yielded thirty pounds of the finest soft-shelled almonds. By the assessor’s 
returns of 1865 there were 725 trees, and in 1866 these had increased to 4,860 trees, and it is. 
very likely it will in a few years become a valuable addition to the industrial interests of 
California.” 
THE CHEMICAL LABORATORY. 
Inconvenience having been experienced by persons forwarding samples for 
analysis which are not selected with care or in quantity sufficient, it is re- 
quested that the following instructions may be complied with when practicable: 
Soils.—For partial analysis of a soil, four ounces by weight will suffice; but 
for a complete examination, not less than two pounds are required. ‘The sam- 
ples should represent in texture the whole field. . 
Limestones, clays, and tronstones—If well marked and uniform samples, two 
to four ounces wiil be sufficient. 
Manures, artificial —Of those which are commercial, four ounces; made by 
the farmer, when uniform, four ounces; if not uniform, one pound. In the lat- 
ter case the sender should select two or three handfuls from different portions, 
well mixed, and one pound separated, to be forwarded. 
Waters —Not less than two quarts should be sent to ascertain its saline con- 
iution ; for a complete analysis two to three gallons are required; if it be a 
mitneral water it may be necessary to ascertain the gases present, in which case 
the bottles or jars should be filled while under water, with their mouths turned 
downward, and then stoppered in that positioa so tightly that the gases will not 
escape subsequently. 
