RECLAMATION OF SWAMP LANDS IN CALIFORNIA. 179 



the black-knot of both plum ami cherry trees is produced by the eamo species of 

 fuui:ju8, viz, Sphwria morlosa, Schw., aud that it can and does spread from cherry to 

 plum trees and from plum to cherry trees, aud therefore that there is no safety for 

 some cherry-trees in the vicinity of affected plum-trees, nor for some plum-trees in the 

 vicinity of affected chcrrj'-trees. We admit that there are certain species both of 

 cherry and of pium trees that do not seem to be liable to the attacks of this fungus, 

 which perhaps is the origin of the theory of distinct species of black-knot. Having 

 thus brietiy noticed the prominent features in the discussion of this question and added 

 our own observations and conclusions, wo dismiss the subject, hoping that ere long wo 

 shall be prepared to combat this foe to our fruit in a judicious aud successful manner. 



Respectfttlly submitted. 



GEO. VASEY, 

 Hon. Frederick Watts, Botanist. 



Commissioner. 



RECLAMATION OF SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED 

 LANDS IN CALIFORNA. 



The great ceutral valley of California, drained by the Sacramento and 

 San Joaquin Elvers, together with the low lauds bordering San Fran- 

 cisco Bay and its branches, is sometimes called the " Delta of the Pa- 

 cific."' This region embraces a vast area of swami)y aud i)artially sub- 

 merged lands, Avhich, till lately, were esteemed as practically worthless 

 for agricultural purposes. Within a few years, however, the opposite 

 opinion has gained ground, and the public mind has been occupied with 

 numerous projects for reclaiming these lands, thus materially enlarging 

 the productive area of the State. Partial expeximents in cultivation had 

 shown them to be richly endowed with elements of fertility. Their cen- 

 tral position near the great commercial mart of the Pacific coast, aud 

 the facilities for the cheap marketing of agricultural produce presented 

 by the navigable waters upon which they are located, had long attracted 

 the attention not only of agricultural men seeking an opening for farming 

 enterprise, but also of the people of San Francisco, who were especially 

 interested in securing an increased production. When, therefore, the 

 idea of reclamation began to assume a practicable asi)ect, it found a 

 very favorable reception, aud has since attracted an increasing public 

 confidence. 



Large amounts of both native and foreign capital have been enlisted 

 in reclamation enterprise, which has assumed the character of a great 

 financial movement, causing many persons to look upon it as simi)ly a 

 gigantic scheme of speculation. This view is strongly urged by an in- 

 telligent correspondent of this Department, who is satisfied " that no 

 system of reclamation, the cost of which will justify the end, can be in- 

 augurated in our State." But such conclusions, merely negative and 

 untested by esperiment, will have but little weight. The prospective 

 advantages of the proposed improvement are so obvious and great that 

 the public mind cannot be persuaded to resign them without a worthy 

 effort for their realization. A certain amount of feverish speculation, 

 such as embarrasses every gTcat industrial or commercial movement, 

 will be accepted, in advance, as part of the price at which this great 

 public benefit is to be secured. 



PRELEMlNARr EFFORTS AT RECLAMATION. 



The policy of reclamation having been accepted, at least tacitly, by 

 the public as one of the necessities of progress, the preliminary efforts 

 to realize it in practice were such as might have been ex])ected from the 



