returns for 1866, which give the total number of vines of two years old and over as 1,555,321. In making this estimate the assessor based his calculations on an average of 600 vines to an acre of vineyards, while the average proper should be about 900. Very few vineyards had less than 660 vines per acre, while in the majority of cases there were from 880 to 1,300 vines. This style of making up returns is reported to be very common with county assessors and their deputies. In Sonoma valley one vinecultural society has 3,200 acres of vineland, some 400 acres being in bearing. This society (the Buena Vista) made the first true sparkling wine in California, which brand has a good reputation as compared with the second-class champagne wines of France. This wine was made from the native or Mission grape, and has not as good flavor as is expected from the foreign varieties just coming into bearing. Besides the claret and sauterne varieties common to this district, efforts are now being made to produce port and sherry wines; but the probabilities are against any very large quantity being made, as there is strong competition in these wines from the Los Angeles district. Should no unforeseen causes prevent, the wine crop of this district will in ten years exceed that of any other, the planting of new vines being in excess of the other two districts combined. Its proximity to the great export market of San Francisco, with cheapness of freight and adaptability of soil for grape cultivation, plainly indicate that the wine crop within the time specified will equal, if not exceed, that of all other agricultural products in the district. The brandy made in this district, also, is freer from faults of flavor, and will in time be a favorite with consumers. During 1866 there was made at least 1,000,000 gallons of wine in the Coast Range district, and, with a good crop of grapes, the coming year will witness an increase of full fifty per cent. in the product. The Sierra Nevada district.-This district possesses more land especially suitable for grape cultivation than any other. The range of mountains from Shasta to Santa Barbara, say 25 miles wide and 350 miles long, has no superior, if any equal, for grape cultivation. The quality of the soil varies materially, but its predominating character is a red volcanic debris, which produces abundant 'crops of grapes. The climate is also free from those alternations of heat and cold during summer which prevail in the Coast Range district, often damaging seriously the more tender varieties of grapes. In the Sierra Nevadas the winters are longer, and, as a consequence, the spring time freer from injurious frosts. The climate of the foot-hills is also drier, and during the summer maintains an equable temperature, which to a high degree improves the flavor and matures the grape. This, combined with the absence of rains from April to November, gives the wine-grower great advantages, which to a large extent offset the drawback of distance from an export market. With the construction of railroads through this section of the State the disadvantages of long transportation will in a measure be overcome, and the soil and climate attract wine-growers, while the quality of the wines will command the attention and favor of consumers. The wines made in the Sierra Nevadas, as a class, resemble those of Madeira and Teneriffe. They contain a larger percentage of alcohol than any others, and have a peculiar delicacy of flavor not found in the wines of other districts. So far as known it is almost impossible to make a claret or sauterne wine, although considerable wine made resembles the former, but has a larger amount of tannin and alcohol in it. Port, sherry, and some varieties of sweet wines are made, which find a ready sale in the vicinity of the vineyards. Wine-growers in this district vary greatly in their mode and treatment of wine, thus affecting the flavor of the wine produced, it being difficult to find two wines alike. A commendable feature in this district is the disposition of growers to propagate foreign grapes, with a view to ascertain the best varieties for wine-making. In this particular the district is far ahead of any other, and the result has been the making of superior qualities of wines, which command, with connoisseurs, prices equal to those paid for the best imported varieties. Among the wine-growers who propagate foreign grapes, B. N. Bugbey, of Natoma vineyard, El Dorado county, has been more prominent than any other, his experiments having been extensive, and made regardless of expense. His vineyard at Natoma valley, consisting of 56 acres of vines, contained 72 varieties of grapes, among which were to be found the rarest wine grapes of Europe. In 1865 this gentleman made 19 varieties of wine from as many different grapes. Of some of these the quantity did not exceed five gallons, but he was determined to test the quality of the different varieties, with a view of selecting the best, and reducing the number to from six to eight kinds. He succeeded in making excellent wines from the Los Angeles, Catalzac, White Pineaux, White Malaga, Red Traminer, Verdelho, White Riesling, Black Zenfindel, Black Prince, Flame-colored Tokay, Royal Muscadine, Fiher Zagos, White Tokay, Golden Charsalis, and White Nice grapes. The Black Hamburg, Muscat of Alexandria, Catawba, and Isabella, made fair wines, but considerably inferior to the others. Out of the entire number Mr. Bugbey selected five varieties to be cultivated in future, valuing them in the order named, the first being the best, viz: Black Zinfindel, Red Traminer, White Malaga, Verdelho, and Los Angeles. These varieties were valued in a monetary view, the Verdelho making the best wine, while the Black Zinfindel produced the largest quantity of grapes. The results of these trials has greatly stimulated the propagation of foreign grapes in this district, and many years will not elapse before wines from foreign grapes grown in California will be seeking market in the cities of the Atlantic coast. GENERAL REMARKS. In speaking of the wines of the various districts I have given the general characteristics of the bulk made. In every section there are wines which resemble no foreign varieties known. As a rule wine-makers vary their wines by the time of picking, pressing, manner of fermenting, and treatment while curing. As a consequence there are scarcely two makes of wine of exactly the same. flavor to be found. Wine-makers have generally gained knowledge of their business through personal experiments only, the European mode of wine-making not being adapted to the grape or climate. The success that has so far attended their efforts shows conclusively that in time the wines of California will not only supply the home demand, but come in vigorous competition with the wines of Europe in many foreign markets. From present appearances the wine interest of the Pacific coast will, by the close of the present century, outrank in importance all the other agricultural products combined. ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF AGRICULTURE. It is proper, before closing this article, to enumerate the many advantages our farmers have over those of other States, and the peculiar drawbacks incidental to California. In addition to the great superiority of climate, the vegetation in California is almost entirely free from the ravages of insect life, often so disastrous in the other States. With the exception of occasional irruptions of what are termed the army worm and grasshoppers, there is no insect life to injure vegetation. The ravages of those named are seldom of any great extent, the sections of country where they prevail at any time being limited. One cause for the comparative freedom from insects is the dryness of the summer season, and the immense quantities of small insect-feeding birds which are to be found all through the country. In many parts of the State, however, considerable damage is done to the grain crops by ground squirrels and gophers, which exist in great numbers. A little attention has already destroyed them in some sections, and the same care exercised by farmers generally would rid them of these pests. Another drawback is the high cost of transportation of produce to market, and the limited character of the home consumption compared with the crops raised. These difficulties, however, will vanish with the increase of population, which may reasonably be expected soon, and the construction of a network of railroads now projected and being constructed through many portions of the State. THE GREAT WANTS OF CALIFORNIA. The greatest want of the State, at the present time, is a large immigration. During the last ten years there has been comparatively little increase in the population. This state of things has been brought about by a variety of causes, which have prevented a flow of immigration on the one hand, and on the other drained the State of a large number of her best people. The Indian troubles on the plains, high price of ocean travel, the late rebellion, and the efforts of immigration agents of the so-called western States, at the Atlantic ports and Europe, have diverted the tide of population, which otherwise would have sought this State. The discovery of rich mining regions in adjacent States and Territories has drawn from California many of her best citizens, whose places have hardly been filled by immigration and natural increase up to the present time. California has contributed largely to the peopling of British Columbia, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Montana. The aggregate of these drafts upon the population is very large, and not properly estimated or known to the mass of her people. They only see that the State has not increased in population, and that immigration is needed to restore the prosperity of other days. Fortunately the vast increase of home manufactures has given employment to a large number of people, and kept the money which was formerly sent out of the country to pay for these articles when imported. By this means, in connection with abundant grain and wool crops, a vast drain on the finances of our people has been avoided, which otherwise would have caused a paralysis or stagnation of business that would have been most disastrous in its effects. California only needs immigration to make her rank as one of the wealthiest States of the Union. She has room for five times her present population, who could be profitably engaged in developing her unrivalled resources of agricultural and mineral wealth. She needs more varied crops, more prudence in living, and industry among her peo-, ple. Under the present system of farming our agricultural population are idle for nearly half the year, waiting either until nature prepares the land for ploughing, or the crops mature for reaping. As a rule there is no intermediate employment to occupy their time, or to profit their families. Nine-tenths, or rather nineteen-twentieths of our grain-growers do not raise a potato or vegetable of any kind for their family or stock. The general excuse is it will not pay them to do so, and, as a consequence, they purchase of others at high prices. It will hardly seem credible to the farmers of the Atlantic States that their brethren in California, while engaged in grain-raising, purchase their butter instead of making it themselves, yet this was a common habit a few years since. In 1860 the writer visited a farm in Sutter county, about twelve miles from Marysville. The proprietor had 170 head of fine American cows, which came daily to the barnyard; yet there was no milk for tea or coffee, and States' butter was bought for family use. This was not an exception, but was the general rule in that section of country. California needs prudent, economical, and enterprising immigration. Persons must not come with the expectation that fortune will smile on them without their personal efforts to succeed. To the honest, energetic, and industrions there are opportunities to acquire wealth, either by farming, mining, or 610 mechanics, that cannot be found in the other States. With the same energy, industry, and prudence that are exercised by the population of the middle States, California would, when properly peopled, outstrip in the value of her annual crops the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana combined. She has the area of soil, fertility, and climate that, if taken advantage of, will make the statement above no vain boast, but a reality. To those who are seeking homes in the far west, with intent to gain a competence through industrions labor. I recommend California as presenting advantages not to be found elsewhere the idle and shiftless, it is the worst place to which they can come. To |