CALIFORNIA. 159 



refusal of the crop at the market price. In the July following, he de- 

 livered him three thousand bushels, and on its delivery, he found that 

 the farmer had reserved six hundred bushels for himself; and this, 

 without estimating the loss from bad reaping and treading out with 

 horses, would give one hundred and twenty for one. This is not con- 

 sidered a fair criterion or average, as the land was remarkable for its 

 richness and was well attended to ; but Mr. Spears and several others 

 assured me that the average would be as high as eighty bushels yielded 

 for one planted. 



Indian corn yields well, as also potatoes, beans, and peas. The cul- 

 tivation of vegetables is increasing rapidly, and supplies in these latter 

 articles may be had in abundance and of the finest quality. 



The country appears to be well adapted for grapes. Those that 

 have been tried at the missions yield most abundantly ; and about two 

 hundred casks, each of eighteen gallons, of brandy, and the same quan- 

 tity of wine, are made. The cultivation of the grape increases yearly, 

 but is not sufficient for the supply of the country, as large quantities of 

 foreign wines and liquors are imported, which pay an enormous duty; 

 and although California may not boast of its dense population, every 

 intelligent person I met with agreed that it consumed more spirits in 

 proportion than any other part of the world. Brandy sells for sixty to 

 seventy dollars the cask, or four dollars a gallon, while the price of 

 wine is only eighteen dollars. The wine of the country which I tasted 

 is miserable stuff, and would scarcely be taken for the juice of the 

 grape. 



The salmon-fishery, if attended to, would be a source of considerable 

 profit, yet I was told that the Californians never seem disposed to 

 attempt to take them. The general opinion is, that they are too indo- 

 lent to bestir themselves, and they naturally choose the employment 

 which gives them the least trouble. Above every thing, the rearing 

 of cattle requires the least labour in this country, for it is only neces- 

 sary to provide keepers and have their cattle marked. This done, they 

 can support themselves by the increase of the stock. At the missions, 

 the manufacture of various coarse articles had been undertaken by the 

 missionaries as a step in the education of the neophytes. Among these 

 were blankets and wearing apparel sufficient to supply all the Indians ; 

 but, with the decline of these establishments, the manufactures have in 

 great part been discontinued. Soap of a good quality is manufactured 

 in considerable quantities, and it is thought that it might be exported 

 at a profit, if the proper arrangements were made to use the grease 

 that is now thrown away. The necessary alkali is very abundant. 

 Leather of an excellent quality is also made and well tanned, but in 



