REPORT. xix 



plish, by private mccans, what might speedily be attained by offi- 

 cial investigation. No private individual, however wealthy, would 

 have the same faeilitics to investigate and procure seeds and plants 

 as an agent authorized by his government. This is the case in 

 civilized Europe. How much more necessary is such a prestige 

 in semi-civilized countries ? The passage of a law for the above 

 purposes may be opposed on the ground that we have a national 

 garden at "Washington, but it is well known that the few shrubs 

 and seeds we receive from thence are too often dry and useless. 



California ought to propagate only such vines, fruits, seeds, etc., 

 as are congenial to her soil and climate, and in large quantities, 

 so that our citizens can be promptly supplied. The Patent Office 

 represents too varied interests, climates, and soils, to do much good 

 to US here. One might as well say that California needs no Gov- 

 ernor, Legislature, or Judiciary, as that our public affairs might 

 be administered from Washington ; and, in fact, it would be easier 

 to govern us from Washington, than for the Patent Office to sup- 

 ply what we want for the speedy development of our agricultural 

 and horticultural resources. 



In my travels I endeavored to induce capitalists to come among 

 us and establish business places, to purchase the grapes from the 

 small producers as in Europe, and to erect manufactories for 

 making wine and extracting sugar from Sorgho, beet-root, and 

 Imphee. I also urged the formation of a joint-stock company, 

 with a capital of a million dollars, for the planting of vines, olives, 

 almonds, mulberries, etc., in the southern pact of the State. The 

 prospect for the consummation of these enterprises is favorable, 

 and especially if the apprehensions of a foreign war should sub- 

 side. 



Whenever there was an opportunity to get an article about Cali- 

 fornia and its immense resources in an influential newspaper, I 

 embraced it, and many government journals heralded our advant- 

 ages by publishing the letters your commissioner had written to 

 their officials. Permit me to say here that in no way can the ob- 

 ject of rapidly populating our State be more effectually accom- 

 plished than by authorized agents traveling in Europe, not for the 

 direct purpose of inducing emigration, but of noting the progress 

 of agricultural and manufacturing pursuits. These agents would 

 come in contact with all classes of persons ; questions would be 

 eagerly asked, and opportunities be thus afforded to publish the 

 advantages California possesses. Coming from an official source, 



