254 Traxsactioxs of the a me r wan Institute. 



decayed forest leaves. But wlien lie wishes ns to prescribe for a 

 worm lie must give us more specific information. There are some 

 twenty worms that do more or less harm to the strawberry. Some 

 attack the roots, others devour tlie leaves, others eat the berry, 

 another stings the fruit, so it never comes to perfection. A little salt 

 may drive one enemy. Wood-ashes will repel a certain kind of grub, 

 but it would be unsafe for us, without knowing more of the mischief 

 to prescribe either salt or Avood-ashes to Mr. M. He could easily kill 

 iiis vines by a too free application of either. 



California. 



Mr. Wm. C. Blackwood, Haywood, Alameda county, Cal. — Mr. 

 Woodhouse wrote about our State to the club, which was reprinted 

 in one of our local journals here, and the false impression should be 

 confuted. I have been here sixteen years, and am a farmer. I have 

 twice revisited the Atlantic States, and after a careful survey of all 

 the various industries I give a decided preference for California. It 

 is true we are taxed two or three per cent on valuation, but the valua- 

 tion is low. For instance, I bought a farm for $2,700, and the tax 

 was $14.81. It is equally true that the crops are injured some years 

 for want of winter rains, but there are failures from other causes else- 

 where. Rust and mildew here are unknown. During the few 

 seasons before the wet one of 1862 tlie valleys of Santa Clara and San 

 Joacan suffered more than other portions, owing to the courses of the 

 mountain ranges, attracting or repelling the clouds ; but there was 

 no failure in counties removed from tliese influences. For ten years 

 the crops of wheat and barley of California exceed those of any other 

 State by at least twenty per cent. The English walnut is a magni- 

 ficent tree, bears eight years from planting, and its first crop is about 

 fifty pounds of dried fruit. Los Angelos, celebrated for oranges and 

 ■other fruits, has many orange groves coming into bearing, and thej 

 sell in the orchard at thirty-five dollars per thousand. Vast quantities 

 of land, every way excellent for fruit, can be had as low as $125 an 

 acre. Mr. Woodhouse speaks of the great cost of lumber and fencing, 

 but the same is to be said of tlie western praries ; while the winters 

 there are terribly severe. For one to begin with advantage he 

 should have his land paid for, and $2,000 beside to build a small 

 liouse and to buy farm implements, teams, &c. Industry and economy 

 will do the rest. 



