The Shasta courier., 1862-03-01
they will be forwarded in time, to hs dis
patched from Havre with the others.

they will be forwarded in time, to hs dis
patched from Havre with the others,
1t may not be irrelevant hsre to mention
the fact that in California, as we'll as in the
Eastern States, the public mistrust the pu-
rity Of California made wines in the hands
of merchants. Whether merchants do or
do not adulterate the wine, such doubts in
jurc its character, and restricts its sale
greatly. Therefore, to insure confidence,
and prevent such adul terations, / would re-
specially submit whether it might not be
wise policy to pass an Act appointing gen.
eral agent for the State, who should reside
in San Francisco, and to whom the wine
producers could send their wines to be sold, !;
theagent to sell the wine at prices fixed 81
the manufacturer, with the proprictor's la
bel on the bottle, or, if in barrels with his
name attached thereto. This agent, so ap-
pointed, TO receive from the owners of all
wines or brandies sold, commission to be
fixed by law, and not to exceed the COM
missions usually received DO the merchants.
the agent to defray the expense Of Office and
cellar out of the commissions be may receive
The law creating said Office might also i'm
pose heavy fines and confisnation of the
liquor belonging to any individual who
should send for sale adulterated articles
Such an Office should be no burden to the
State, nor to the wine growers. as it would
be optional with them to send their wines to
this Office or dispose of them il another way.
Every producer, however, would find it to
his advantage to avail himself of this medi-
um, as he would meet ready sale and pay
no more than regular commissions,
while he would aid in preventing
frauds, and thus create confidence in the
genuineness of our wines. The agent would
have to be strictly impartial. All the sam
pies should be indifferently exposed and ac-
cessible to purchasers, who could select the
wines best suited TO their tastes. The agent
should be required to give bonds for the
faithful and impartial performance of this
duty, and for the prompt payment of all re-
ceipts on account of sales. This plan would,
l believe, restore confidence and be at least
a check upon poisoning our people by our
own productions. His Excellency the Gov
ernor requested me to propagate the vines
expected to arrive here from Eorope at So
noma, and hold them and the increase sub.
ject to the future disposition of the Legisla-
ture.
have the honor to annex to this report,
a condensed statement, which will show the
contents of a work l propose to publish,
and which will contain full account Of what
l personally observed and inspected in Eu-
rope, with extracts from foreign works, re.
ports of Committees, eminent writers, prac-
teal winners, farmers. herticglturists, man.
ufacturers, etc. This work will consist of about
eight hundred printed pages, with several
hundred illustrations, wei executed, repre-
senting maps, implements Of wine making, for
pruning and training vines, for drying rails
ins, currants, figs, prunes and fruit of all
descriptions, apparatus for making sugar
from sorgho, imphee and beet root and for
draining and redeeming orerfowed and bar
ren lands,
My contracts were made in all places in
presence of the United States Consul, leav-
ing tha money with him, to be paid when
the vines were delivered. and instructing
the Consuls to send them so as to arrive in
Hayre on or a few days before the lst of
December, 1861. A gardener whom en-
ployed will attend to their proper shipment,
take charge of them on the voyage, and re-
pack them in New York, where arrange
ments have been made with Wells, Fargo &
Co., for their fnture transportation to San
Francisco, under the care and supervision of
the gardener.
All necessary precaution has been taken,
and am confident they will arrive in the
best order. They are expected to arrive in
January, 1862. As | do not know the exact
freight and expenses, lam not able to state
the exact amount of cost and charges to
your honorable body, but will do SO as soon
as possible.