The hydraulic press., 1859-05-14

BUILDING SToNE-tt used to be supposed
that California lacked native supply of
fine building stone. Granite was always
known to be plentiful enough, bat no other
varieties were at first discovered in quanti
ties sufficient for extensive use. Within late
years, however, several kinds have been
found and introduced. Marble, especially,
proves to be very plentiful, having been
found in many portions of the State and Of
almost every variety. Ithas been for some
time past an article of manufacture in sew
eral places, and has already come into ex-
tensive use for many purposes, though not
yet cheap enough to be employed for build-
ing purposes, as twill be hereafter.
The discovery of other kinds of building
stone has been several times announced but
not with mach particularly. Sandstone and
slate both exist in considerable quantities,
but in rather inaccessible localities. A pc
culiar sort of rock, Of volcanic origin, is be-
ing extensively used at Placerville, as we
learn from the Observer, which paper pro-
nounces it an admirable building material.
1t is quite soft when taken from the quarry,
but becomes hard on exposure and cannot
be injured by fire. Its absorbent properties
are also such that it makes pipes riyalling
the famous meerschaum Another kind of
building stone was lately found in the Coast
range not far from TeAama. California ev-
identity lacks no necessary element of mate
rial greatness but coal and iron; and these
may eventually be developed somewhere in
her wondreas soil, which holds every other
kind of mineral wealth in profusion.
BRIGGs ORCHARD.-The Sacramento Union
gives some extracts from the unpublished
report of the State Agricultural Society,"
among which is the following description of
the orchard of Mr.. G. G. Briggs, near Ma
rysyille:
1t is situated on the north bank of the
Yuba river, about three miles above its mouth,
and covering l55 acres. The soil is dark
alluvial sand, remarkably friable aad easy of
culture ;the surface is slightly uneven, 1t is
so high as to be above the danger of any OBJ
jectionable overflow, and so low as to require
no irrigation. Mr.. Briggs came in posses
sion of the ground in 1850, and has contin-
ued to reside upon it and cultivate it. His
orchard contains 5000 peach trees, 5000
Apricots, 5000 Nectarines, 1900 Plums, "
500 Cherries, 5000 Apples, $500 Pears 500
ounces, and 1000 grape vines, He has, be-
sides, nursery of 80, 900 trees in great vari-
ETY. for his own planting, He has just plan
ted an orchard of 10000 trees fifteen miles
distant from his homestead, He has raised
and marketed this year from his home or
chard 5S7, ,62S pounds of fruit, for which his
gross receipts have been $94 ,O2O 4s, or about
an average of l6 cents per pound. The total
expenditures of the place for the year, in
Guiding cultivation, harvesting, marketing,
commissions, ETC., have been $35, $50 es, or
an average cost of six cents per pound-leav>
ing the proprietor the handsome sum of $685.
Se7 SO clear profit fer single year. Of all
the varieties Of the peach, none bear full
crops so young, it is Mr.. Briggs experience
as the Early Crawford and Crawford's late.
Mr. Briggs was awarded the first premium
for first class orchard.