Amador ledger., 1906-12-28
Washington
Letter.
Washington, December IA, 1906.

Another effort will be made at thi
session OF congress to preserve from
destruction the Calaveras Big Ire,
Grove. 1t is now, as will be re
mem mbered, in private ownership, anc
mem bers of the California delegation
have tried to secure cungressiona
authorization for the purchase of tn,
grove by the government. But it ha,
been found that congress is unwilling
to appropriate money for that pur
pose, evidently thinking that the
grove was purchased for the purpose
OF reselllng to the government at {
high figure, and the general opinion
is ayerse to encouraging specuIations
OF That kind. Another way will now
be tried, and Senator Perkins has
made beginning in writing to the
secretary of the treasury suggesting
that the grove be exchanged tfol
timber land in some of the forest
reserves, where can be secured by the
owner of the Big Trees timber OF
value equal to that contained in the
trees OF the Calaveras grove. If the
secretary of the Interior accepts this
suggestion, resolution will be
offered authorizing the exchange, and
there is hardly any doubt that it will
pass both houses.
Last month the people OF Monterey
oegan a movement looking to the
improvement of shipping facilities on
Monterey bay, and urging the CON
struction of breakwater. Senator
Perkins and congressman Needham
were invited to attend a meeting at
Monterey at which this matter was
discussed and IN which both take
lively interest. All the benefits
derivable from the proposed improve
ments were gone over thoroughly and
their advisability canvassed. The
matter will be taken up here and a
beginning made, though there is no
chance that an appropriation can be
secured at this session. 1t is one of
the strict rules of congress to author
lze no work of this kind until sur.
vey has been made by the engineers
OF the war department and they have
recommended that the work be done.
and have submitted estimates of cost.
This, of course, will take time. but
an effort will be made to secure from
congress authorization that the ex-.
animation and survey be made.
Ihe annual report of the secretary of
agriculture presents some interesting
facts. The total value of tarm pro
ducts during the year is Sc, 794. 600.
600, an increase of s4S5, 900, 600 above
that of 1905, and 81, OFT, 900, 600 above
that of 1899. The production of beet
sugar has been increased from 1000,
900 in 1899 to s34, 900, 900 in 1906. In
this total the production of California
cuts large figure, and the showing
made in total production should be
an encouragement to California sugar
beet raisers. In the fight against the
Texas fever tick, the government in
spectors examined 126, ,406 cattle in
California and found $3.50 infected.
The inspectors treated infected
animals with crude petroleum and
instructed cattle men in the most
practicable way of getting rid of the
ticks. An Investigation has been In.
stituted to develop strain of chick
ems with increased egg laying capac-
ity. Several hens have been found
that lay over 200 eggs year, and it
is believed that new strain for
breeding purposes can be secured.
Investigations into cheese making
have rendered it certain that roquefort
and camem bert cheese can be made
in this country Identical in all re-
spects to the European product.
One of the most important of the
discoveries of the year is that of
Siberian alfalfa by Professor n. E.
Hansen, which fourishes in dry, cold
regions. a quantity of seed has been
secured and thorough test of it will
be made. Senator Perkins has re-
quested the secretary of agriculture
to place some of the seed in the hands
of W. h. Mills, land agent of the
Central Pacific Company, for plant
ing in the high, cold, arid regions
traversed by that railroad, and his
request will be complied with as soon
as there is sufficient supply at the
disposal of the department. Another
class of PLANTS which may be OF
peculiar benefit to California is that
of aquatic rushes for manufacture
into floor coverings. The explorers
Of the agricultural department have
secured living plants producing a
fine, strong spear, which can be
worked up into the finest and most
durable quality of mattings. 1t would
seem that such plant would find a
natural home along the marshy
borders of the Sacramento and San
j oaquln rivers.
The pear blight in California has
received most careful attention, and
it is the opinion OF the department of
agriculture that il will be possible to
save the remaining pear trees. y
remedy has also been discovered for
the shut-hole fungus OF the peach. A