The union Democrat., 1869-01-16
The Eeot-Hiil. aud Their Uses.

The season for planting trees is at hand.
and the soil Is now in the fittest possible con-
dition to receive them. We again earnestly
recommend the mulberry. or slikworm fee d.
er, as the muSt pro6tble tree that can be
planted IN this country. A few acres of this
growth, at the age of one or two years, will
support small family from the start, and
with careful management in the treatment
OF the worms and eggs, enable them in few
years to derive handsome income from the
business. This opinion is not based upon
theory aione, but is abundantly substantiated
by the experiments made in the neiehhor-
hood cf Sacramento daring the last twe wears.
THIS is now proved to be the best climate in
the world for silk culture. Our cocoons are
larger, and eggs of California production are
more in demand in European markets than
any others. The demand is a thousand times
greater than our present ability TO supply, at
the high price of four dollars per ounce in
gold. There are thousands Of idle acres
among the foothills, along the lines watereG
by old mining canals now little in use fol
mining purposes, Which could be easily and
cheaply brought into remunerative use in the
cultivation of the mulberry tree and the pro-
ducton of cocoons. Ten acres of avera ea
land. planted in these trees in rows, say eight
feet apart, would yield handsome profit to
the cultivator. If oar foot-hil neishbors
would but turn their attention to this busi-
ness we are sure they would enlarge upon il.
and in few years change the whole aspect
Of that region. They have, if possible, a still
better climate for the worms than the valleys
IA hot, dry, Summer temperature such as
theirs being the verv desideratum REQUIRED
for the perfection of the plant and the health
of the worms. AT present there is a great
excitement in Central California about lands
IN the extreme South-Los Angeles and San
Diego counties-have within the past year
come into conspicuous notice and advanced
several hundred per cent. in price Yet we
are confident, from private information, that
those lands and the advantages popularity
claimed for that climate are greatly oversta,-
ed and we make little doubt that right at
home, in the regions of Placerv'le, Ell Do
RADIO, Folsom, Auburn, Grass Valley, Mokel-
umne lIill. Murnhys. Sonora. Mariposa,
knights Ferry, Orovlle, etc, are better
lands and quite as good q climate. whether for
silk culture, grapes, or any of the semi-trnp-
ical fruits. Yet these lands are lying idle
in millions of acres, though possession can
he had for no hing. and title is pretty sure
to be given hy the Government at no distant
day, as of the other lands of the United
States. All that is needed to secure from
Congress law for the survey and transfer un-
der the homestead and pre-emption laws, of all
these font-hill lands, is that we prove them
more valuable for agriculture than any other
use.s Silk and grape culture offer the eppor-
tunty for e good beginning in this respect.
In the main the f0ot-hills are too weak in soil
for grain, and besides they lack facilities for
transportation of heavy and bulky crops.
Nature indicates their proper use TO he IL
tie production of silk. wool, wine and fruits;
and for these commodities they have nc equal
in the world sacramento Union.