The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-09-27

a decrease Of but hfteen thousand and
threV dollars, which amount will be much
reduced on the return Of the supplement
tai roll
Who can estimate the valuation Of the
property in this county at the end Of ten
years, should the cultivation Of the grape
continue to increase in similar ration
Why, we have at this lime over three
times the number Of grippe vines cultiva-
ted in the State six years ago, and to-day
it is supposed they number twelve mil.
ions of the choicest varieties, OF which
one. twelfth is within our boundaries, -
whilst the orchards increase rapidly, re-
paying an hundred fold for the labor be-
slowed upon them by their fortunate own
ers.
This county, extending from the foot
hills over the SierraS, and embracing SO
large n portion Of what has heretofore
been considered as worthless land, in an
agricultural capacity, merits detail, for
the benefit of those who design embark
ing in agriculture or grape growing, as to
the amount, locality aud altitude Of that
portion susceptible Of cultivation. The
lower or western portion of the county,
known as the foothills, has an average ell
ovation Of 600 feet above the level of the
SEA; the prevailing timber is u sluntcd
variety of white oak, spotted over the
country in considerable numbers, yet
never sufficiently SO to assume a forest
character; the lex or liveoak is found in
the same locality, more abundantly near
the streams; OH this portion, all edible
t:--rziar, vegetables, fruits and the grR- :
grow in proluSon, and when properly ir
rigated, yield immense crops.
At an altitude of one thousand feet, the pine
first makes its appearance among tue oak, par
tIcularly The PinuS .SdbihidAd, Al tree which, in
form, almost appears 10 be u NnG SesT res pines
proper and deciduuus Trees. The cereals per
iecl ut this height finely, but are not cultivated
10 much extent This variety Of pIue is rarely
found ut an altitude Of two thousand feet.
where it is replaced by the pitch pine, Ptnas
BrdchVpterd, which, for another thousand feet.
Is the prevailing tree white oak. at this eleva-
ton is seldom seen, but black oak, with
struggling branches, represents the QutrcnS
fanny, The bdlsam hr, PthaS BdtSdbttd, Hlsu
grows 10 the pitch pine district. The sugar
pine, PthUS Ldhbejt'dnd, the pride ut the Cal
lIOruu forests, the white cedar, or LlbTUcetr uS
Utcuhtas and the spruce hr are bound IN the
eastern portion Ut the county, III II parallel ex-
tending North aud south, commencing with an
elevation Of two thousand hundred and
seventy four feet, aud ascending IL 1t height Uf
four thousand thISe hundred and ttlN eight
ieeI; The best OF the sugar pine is found AT a
mean altitude Of four thousand feet above the
sea level.
| have not been able to procure the statistic :
OF the lumber trade at this county, but II Is es-
timAted b. competent judges that the forty six
saw mills IN the county Turn out from SIX t.
seven millions Of feet of lumber annually, and
rs vet they have scarcely encIMchrd ON the
magnificent forests ut sugar pine IN tue nOGn'
tuIuS.
Respecting the altitude in which fruits ma.
ture, II has been demonstrated by actual cape
iinient that apples perfect timely at un clcva-
tipn Of four thousand teet as in d less altitude,
beng that height IN winch tine sugar rIue at
talns MS largest growth.
Peaches, uears, piuuS, and nactarirts, with
the general variety II garden Vegetables, vii
mature and Yield as abundant crops at II hei ghi
Of Two thousand SIX hundred feet US in Il lower
range, being the brIght at " hIcm the pitch pine
prevails Grapes, n!ll"utS, hgS aud uinundS,
al IL higher altitude iAan Two Thousand feet, do
not perfect rcguarl,. they br,ng liable U be
objected bv frost; " iIt below that punt the IN
iuence oi the frost II rarely detrimental, seem.
INK 10 be greatly uIuIIdGd III eA,eal and severn
". |! can safely he assumed 10y hose inter
ested in cullvating vineyards, that any portion
Of III Dorado county, assembling 10 All alIitude
uf Two Thousand feet, that Is covered With sur
face soil, viii pr"ducr the grapeIi he as luXu-
riLulh, Welding as luscious Iruit. aud M more
liable 10 uillLeW, than At il mach lower eicva
lIun. in any other puttion Of the State.
" the garden vegetables, putatueS Ot the
finest quality, have been uInSt successfully
grown, aruIdlng al abundant yield. at an cIc
vLtlun Of five thousand tour hundred feet above
the level OF the sea. OF cereals, heat aud
barley, TN our mountain ranches, yield as tar
cruus at All elevation OF three thousand feet, as
in any portion OF the county. Oats are mote
usually cultivated tor hay, aud do net perfect
as well at 81 great AN elevation.
As applicable 10 this county have TRANSCRIPT
ed IL paragraph from the opening address OF the
President Of the San JuaguIu Wiley ASrlcu.-
tural Society
"a new element and a profitable one is be-
up in reduced IN our farm products the rLiS-
ing of .Spryham or Chinese sugar cane for tor
aye and particularly Tor mulaSSrS aud sugar.
Experiments enough h We been made already
in this State 10 prove that II can Ue successfully
raised IN all old uiiuvium, or uu all sulls that
produce earn, from fifteen To thirty tons per
acre, producing from three hundred To lve
hundred gallons 81 syrup, or Two thousand ave
hundred pounds vi sugar, To the avn. This
sugar can he made with Cook ErapHlitur tor
three cents per pound. Tie annual c"nsump-
ton OF sugar ia the States Is about 3en."uU tons
--CatornlL and Oregon consuming over t,uve
tons, au item for our farmers iu consider aud
prutt by.
That The sorghum eaH he successfully CALI.
yal.d in this county, 10 as high an altitude as
this city, is iudistuIa0le; though not :" extern
Siye "A return to the acre can be expected as IN
the valleys, vet sufficiently 50 as II make II
very profitable to Our farmers aud quite Woriny
Fuf their attention.
The above few facts offer vast field to the
intelligent and industrious farmer. Let the
fact that no skies are tarer, anu II" climate su
perior to ours, urge us Ia every active effort III
behalf of the already rapid progress ct asrIcui-
tural advancement and let US remember that
he who contributes most 10 secure That enu'
will be donbly rewarded III the future.
But. fellow.citizens, I must close. As a res
iden, Of placerville, permit me, ladies and gen
tlemen,-y0u whn have met from the distant
portions of our ample domain to bid you vel,
cnme IL our city, hoping that It's h"nnrS ana
hOspitaitics NAV in some measure minister 10
the enjoyment of this occasion. The exhibition
Of the products of the SOIL of mineral treasures,
of the useful and elegant arts, with suitable re-
wards for superior skill aud industry, nnqnes-
ti0nably promotes greatly the progress" civil
cation and the comfort OF society. Expecting
that we will continue, year by wear, IN giving
zest and infhsing II new spirit of life into ag'l
cultural pursuits, until we attain tina! nigh
position in this important branch of Industry
The excellence of our climate, the adaptnbliy
of our soil, and the intelligence Of our people
enritle us to occupy" will leave Won with SIN
cere and heartfelt thanks for your kind atten-
tiun.
~, hi h At the Fair