156 
LETTERS FROM CALIFORNIA. NO. 3. 
ROLLING CORN IN TAR PREVIOUS TO PLANTING. 
This is by no means a new idea to many farmers, 
but some have discarded the practice from the 
opinion of its having an injurious effect upon the 
corn, by causing it to come up unevenly ; but such 
is the result of mismanagement in preparing it. If 
it is prepared according to the following directions 
it will effectually prevent it from being molested by 
birds, mice, squirrels, and domestic fowls, thus re- 
medying the necessity of putting up twine and 
other scarecrows to keep off the former, and of 
confining the latter when you have a field planted 
near thehouse. As for its immediate effect upon 
the corn, so far as my observation has extended, I 
think it acts as a stimulant to the young plants, 
causing them to assume a healthy appearance : — 
Soak the corn, say 12 or 14 hours, in water, or 
any solution which you are in the habit of using ; 
then, before applying the tar, pour off the water, 
and cover the corn with hot water — the hotter the 
better If it is boiling it will not hurt it, provided 
it is stirred as the water is poured on ; let it stand 
two or three minutes; then drain off the water, 
and put about two table-spoonfuls of tar to a peck 
of corn, and, by stirring it with a stick, the tar, 
which is softened by the heat of the corn, will 
diffuse itself throughout the whole mass, and every 
grain will receive a coating ; then, by rolling it in 
plaster of Paris, it will be in fine condition for 
dropping. If you should be preparing it in the 
vicinity of domestic fowls, it would be well to 
offer them a few grains. If they refuse it, they 
will not molest it in the field ; but if it is not suffi- 
ciently disgusting, add in small quantities more 
tar. " Isaac McReel, Jun. 
Yorktoivn,N. ¥., 3rd mo., 1849. 
» 
LETTERS FROM CALIFORNIA.— No. 3. 
Since the date of my last, I have come down to 
the coast, and taken up my winter quarters at this 
place, which will probably be the future emporium 
of this new territory. ■ With the exception of San 
Diego and Bodega, the bay of San Francisco is the 
only one available, as a safe and commodious har- 
bor, on this coast, though there are, in addition, 
several roadsteads, such as the bays of Monterey, 
Santa Barbara, and others. There are now con- 
gregated here some of our national marine, and 
numerous merchant vessels from all parts of the 
world ; and it is safe to predict that this number 
must be largely augmented by numerous arrivals 
during the approaching spring and early summer. 
The thrilling intelligence hitherto carried to the 
United States must inevitably act with great inten- 
sity upon the excitable spirits of our enterprising 
countrymen ; and thousands are now preparing to 
abandon for a time, at least, home, friends, and all 
the luxuries of civilized life, to seek, amid the 
sands of California, the precious dust which they 
vainly fancy will add to that solid comfort they 
already possess. I have often thought of the re- 
ply made by a friend to Pyrrhus, when about to 
leave his prosperous kingdom, in Greece, for an 
expected career of conquest abroad. After listen- 
ing to his plans for the subjugating of foreign pow- 
ers and territories, his friend inquired, " And what 
then ?" " Why, I will return and enjoy myself 
among my friends." "And cannot you do that 
now ?',' was the pertinent reply of his judicious 
friend. His defeat, the destruction of his army 
and allies by the Romans, his inglorious retreat, 
the beggary of his country, and his subsequent 
career, attest to the wisdom of his less ambitious 
counsellor. But words are thrown away upon am- 
bition ; it must have its run; success or defeat 
alone will satisfy it. 
Let us investigate the prospects of those who 
aspire to the acquisition of the treasures of Cali- 
fornia. The existence of large quantities of gold 
in this wonderful country, was demonstrated by 
the early settlers, many of whom amassed large 
fortunes by its collection. It is alleged, and with 
probable truth, that a knowledge of its existence, 
in considerable abundance was possessed by many 
of the Jesuits, who embraced t>y far the largest 
portion of the intelligence of this country, and by 
some of the principal inhabitants, who procured 
what they desired for themselves, and then suf- 
fered the secret to die with them. We can readily 
imagine why one sluggish Spaniard, or fifty design- 
ing Jesuits, whose ambition runs in a different 
channel, could thus suffer immense wealth to re- 
main concealed in the rich washings, or richer 
mines, when its acquisition was attended with con- 
siderable personal inconvenience. Its recent dis- 
covery by a single Yankee, has set the world agog. 
The present mania was started by one of Captain 
Sutter's men, a New- York mill wright, who was 
erecting a saw mill in the American fork, some 40 
miles above Sutter's Fort. Secrecy was attempted 
for awhile, but was not of long avail, and soon 
every man in California, and as far beyond it as 
the news was carried, came rushing up the valley 
of the Sacramento in pursuit of it. The Indians, 
wild and tame, like a herd of hungry Buffaloes 
with whatever stray hunters and trappers were 
accessible, poured down the mountains, and from 
the far north followed the Oregonians, while the 
Mormons from the east, and the recently-electrified 
Mexicans from the south were soon all upon the 
track for gold. The consequence of this wide- 
spread search has resulted in finding the gold dust 
scattered with more or less profusion throughout a 
great extent of country. 
The deposites are said to extend through a space 
of nearly 900 miles in length by 300 in breadth. 
But these statements must be taken with great re- 
servation. That deposites may exist at these dis- 
tances from each other .is very possible ; but that 
they are to be found in much abundance as wash- 
ings, except in the narrow valleys and beds of 
rivers, and a few of the still narrower gorges 
among the hills and mountains, is highly improba- 
ble. It is undoubtedly to be expected that these 
auriferous sands will hereafter be traced by an en- 
lightened science, till they reach the original depo- 
sites in the mountains; and veins and masses of 
gold will continually be found by excavation, in- 
stead of the light and scattered fragments which 
have heretofore so richly rewarded the explorers. 
The localities where the grain gold is now found, 
are called j>lacers. The existence of the gold re- 
gion was clearly indicated by Mr. Dana, when 
visiting this country with the United States Explor- 
ing Expedition. But his enlightened suggestion 
was not followed up by any attempt to verify the 
