room communicates with the ante-room in front, and the dining-room and the hall in the rear. The kitchen, with closets, wash-rooms, &c., to suit the taste or convenience of the proprietor, is intended to occupy the basement of the building. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO THE EDITORS OF THE PLOUGH, THE LOOM, AND THE ANVIL. ASIDE from mining inducements, it appears a large class of persons in the Eastern States design ultimately to emigrate to our western coast, because of its agricultural advantages, and its mild, salubrious climate. To such, a two years' experience among the mountains and in the valleys of California may be of interest. Valley, hill, and mountain may be said to represent the country's surface, the latter of which exists in much the greatest proportion, having poor soil, and producing an abundance of pine timber. The hill land, intermediate between the valley and mountain, and varying from five to twenty miles in width, is usually covered with various species of scattering oaks, having short trunks and large tops, among which the live oak is abundant. The soil is light and porous, of a reddish color, and well adapted to grazing, and probably to the production of small grain. It has little sward, and most of its grasses spring from the seed of the previous season. Clover (of various kinds) and oats in places grow spontaneously and in abundance. The oats, however, are lighter and inferior to those cultivated farther east. The valley country between the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada, mostly lies along the San Joaquin and Sacramento and their tributaries, and varies from one to fifty miles in width, having a soil similar to the hills, but richer, and mostly destitute of timber, except along the streams. By irrigation, these plains doubtless would produce most agricultural products abundantly, but not to the extent of the Mississippi valley. Small grain may be successfully produced without any more moisture than that caused by the ordinary seasons. The winter months, with November and March, compose the "rainy season," excepting which, we have but few showers. The climate in this latitude, westward near the coast, admits the growth of the tenderest of plants at all seasons, the heavy dews superseding the need of irrigation, but most of the latter region is supposed to be under valid Spanish grants to individuals. Stock cannot be as extensively grown as in many of the Western States, but with much less expense. Swine fatten finely upon the clover, oats, acorns, &c. The rainy season has continued one week, and at this time the young clover and grass give California the appearance of spring, and our stock are just commencing to thrive upon grass. The climate of this State appears decidedly healthy, being neither subject to the lung complaints of the changeable Eastern States, nor the bilious diseases common to those of the West. Diarrhoea, so common to the changes the constitution of the emigrant undergoes, is almost unknown to those acclimated, or to the native Californian. I have visited the gold range for some three hundred miles, and feel assured that for many years they will prove a source of immense wealth, especially when the price of labor becomes reduced to that of other parts of the world, so as profitably to work the poorer diggings. If, therefore, gold mining is extensively to be prosecuted for many years in this region, agricultural interests also must be good, considering the small portion of country that is tillable. Good agricultural implements are much needed, and command a high price; and ploughs, reapers, and threshers, such as are used upon the Illinois prairies, are the kind we want. I send you a few grains of Russian barley raised on Bear river, said to have averaged seventy bushels to the acre, and selling for seed at twenty cents per pound. CHAS. F. INGALS. Sacramento City, California, Dec. 28, 1851. REMARKS BY THE EDITORS. We are under obligations to our obliging correspondent for his attention, and hope to receive further communications from his pen in regard to the present resources, productions, and future prospects of California. The barley referred to in this letter we have received, and it is really a beautiful specimen, although a friend recently returned from that State remarks that he has seen it still heavier and more plump. It is quite different from the barley usually produced here, the grain being larger, more full and smooth, and more nearly resembling the Australian wheat in appearance. If it can be made to produce forty bushels (instead of seventy) to the acre here, it will be a very fine yield. We trust some of our California friends will forward a sufficient quantity for trying the experiment by some of our farmers in this section, as we believe it would abundantly repay them for the trouble of introducing it into the Eastern States. Will some one be so kind as to do it? THE POLICY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ITS EFFECTS. "THE fact is, that South Carolina has been directing all her energies and talent to federal politics so long, and neglecting the improvement and best interests of the State to such an extent, that hundreds and thousands of her citizens are leaving, and forced to leave. This is seen and felt; the disease is obvious, and political quackery has suggested a remedy, which is still further to paralyze the energies of the State by entailing poverty on a certain class of her citizens, and then inducing that class to remain within her limits, to the exclusion of a more industrious, energetic, thrifty, property-holding, and crediting class. "If South Carolina wishes to retain all of her citizens, and cut off that tide of emigration which has been depopulating her for the last thirty years, she ought to commence developing her resources, creating a demand for labor, extending her railroads and plankroads, building up manufactories, erecting public buildings-a new State-house like that of Tennessee or North Carolina, and a penitentiary where criminals may be made to work like honest men; and, above all, fostering and cherishing, in every prudent way, her schools, academies, and colleges. Instead of sending abroad for her iron, and granite, and marble, let her procure these things at home. Let her stop appropriating her money in the purchase of guns, munitions of war, and for military purposes. She has sent enough of her treasure to the North. Let her encourage the direct importation and exportation of our products and merchandise. And last, though not least, let us have done with our political excitements, and be at peace, paying our debts like honest men, and living together as friends, all anxious for the honor, glory, and prosperity of our State."Greenville [S. C.] Patriot. For the last half century, South Carolina has dictated the commercial policy of the Union, and having been determined not to permit the plough and the loom to come together within her own borders, she has been unwilling to permit them to do so elsewhere in the Union. The celebrated "forty bale theory" was the invention of one of her citizens, determined to prove that the South not only paid all the expenses of the Union, but also supported the people of the Middle and Eastern States. The State needs now to develop her internal resources, but, to enable her so to do, she must make a market for labor that is now wasted, and must make a market on the land for its products, and save the manure that is now wasted. That done, she may have "direct intercourse" with the world; but until it shall be done, she will be compelled to remain dependent upon Northern merchants and Northern ships. Direct trade with the world she can never have until she shall determine to protect her citizens in their efforts to bring the loom and the anvil to take their places by the side of the plough and the harrow. RAISING PORK IN VERMONT. A WRITER in the Green Mountain Farmer, in answer to some inquiries proposed by the editor of that paper, in relation to six hogs slaughtered by him last December, states their weight to be as follows: "Heaviest, 628 lbs. ; the remaining five as follows:-572, 554, 472, 470, 468; aggregate weight, 3,164 lbs. The five heaviest I sold to J. M. Chadwick, of Newbury, for seven cents per pound. They weighed 2,696 lbs., at 7 cents, $188.72, delivered at Fairlee Depôt, one mile from my house. "The above hogs were twenty months old when slaughtered, and were of a cross between the Berkshire and native breeds. They were pigs selected from three litters of my own raising. The sows which brought the pigs were about one year old at the time, and were judged by the listers to weigh 225 lbs. each; they were neither fat nor lean at the time, but in fair merchantable order, which, I think, is the proper condition to bring strong, healthy pigs, with least danger from accident. "With regard to the expense of raising and fattening the above hogs, I cannot give correct or particular information, as they were managed in my usual way with store hogs, and in no particular manner for experiment. I think, however, it has not been a losing business, taking all things into account. They were fed regularly three times a day, and kept in a thriving condition. Three of them were sows, and were the lightest, having been kept much poorer for the purpose of breeding. Only two of the sows had pigs, and raised ten each, in April, 1851, and were kept mostly on slops from the kitchen, and meal through the winter previous." The value of the manure he estimates at fifty dollars, from which he deducts five dollars for the expense of carting dirt and muck to the yard. This is very important for absorbing the liquid manure, which is of nearly equal value with the solid. The item of manure is quite an important one in fattening pork. The writer further remarks: "You ask my opinion as to the manner of raising pork as a source of profit to the farmer. I think the raising of pork, at the present prices of pork and grain, independent of the slops from the kitchen and dairy, would be a losing business for the farmer; but I think it for the interest of every farmer to keep a sufficient number for that purpose. I think no more shoats or hogs should be kept than can be kept in a thriving condition. I am perfectly satisfied that my heaviest hogs have been the most profitable. "My opinion as to the best and cheapest food for hogs will be of little importance, perhaps. I think, however, that two parts of corn, one of rye, and one of oats, ground and made into pudding, would be the most economical food for hogs a great share of the time. "In answering your question, whether it is better, on the score of real profit, to keep hogs close, or to let them run in summer in large enclosures, to feed on grass, I will say that I have no doubts upon the question. I think it best to keep them in a pen and small yard the year round.” RATS DESERT A SINKING SHIP. IRISH EMIGRATION TO SPAIN.-A deputation of London merchants, interested in the trade with Spain, and of certain members of the projected Peninsular Colonization Company, waited on Mr. Labouchere, on the 21st ult., for the purpose of submitting for his consideration the grounds upon which they requested a charter of incorporation. Mr. Labouchere, after having given the statements made to him the most courteous attention, said, a difficulty, which appeared to him almost insuperable, arose on a point of constitutional, or rather international law, as connected with the grant of a charter incorporating a company having for its object the colonization of any portion of a foreign territory. But though on this head he entertained a very strong opinion, he was not adverse to giving a subject of such interest to Ireland the best consideration in his power. The deputation was accompanied by Mr. Fitzstephen French, M.P., the only representative from Ireland who happened to be now in London. The most valuable and expensive of machines is man; and his numbers always increase as the land is enriched, and the land-owner is made rich. That they may so increase, it is indispensable that the loom and the anvil take their places by the side of the plough and the harrow. When they do not do so, population diminishes, and the land-owner is impoverished. For centuries, England has spared no effort to destroy the manufactures of Ireland; but it was not until the Union, in 1801, by which the people of the latter were deprived of all protection, that her efforts were completely successful, as will be seen by the following extract from an excellent work that has within a short period passed through no less than eight editions in England : Before the Union, Irish protecting duties existed on many English manufactures. Among others, there was a duty on English woolens; a duty on English calicoes and muslins, so high as to be nearly prohibitory; a duty on English silk. There were duties on English cotton yarn, cotton twist, and cotton manufactured goods. The Act of Union continued the duties on woolens and several other articles for twenty years. It continued the high duties on calicoes and muslins till 1808. They were then to be gradually reduced till they should fall to 10 per cent. in 1816, and to nothing in 1821. The duties on cotton yarn and cotton twist were continued till 1808, and were then to be gradually reduced to nothing in 1816. The linen trade was encouraged by a parliamentary grant, withdrawn in 1826. Now see the effects, first, of protection, and next, of its withdrawal, or rather a specimen of the effects: It has been stated by Dublin tradesmen, acquainted with the facts, that in 1800, they had 91 master woolen manufacturers, employing 4,918 hands. In 1840, the master manufacturers were 12; the hands, 602. Master woolcombers, in 1800, were 30; the hands, 230. In 1834, masters, 5; hands, 66. Carpet manufacturers. In 1800, masters, 13; hands, 720. In 1841, masters, 1. Blanket manufacturers in Kilkenny. In 1800, masters, 56; hands, 3,000. In 1822, masters, 42; hands, 925. Broad silk loom weavers in Dublin. In 1800, at work, 2,500; in 1840, 250. Cotton spinners, bleachers, calico printers, thousands employed—utterly extinct. |