which can be bought for one-eighth the price of land ir Europe, which will not produce one-half the yield.

Europe now derives most of her sugar from the beet, which for more than forty years has kept constantly increasing as a basis of permanent supply. More than one thousand beet-sugar mills are now in operation in Europe.

Two companies have recently erected beet-sugar mills in California; and a mill in successful operation at Alvarado, Alameda county, has placed a superior article of sugar in the market. The State should not only make all the sugar used on the coast, but soon become a large exporter of that staple of commerce.

In

COTTON AND RICE.-Some attempts at raising cotton have been made in California, with good success. some sections of the southern portion of the State cotton will grow well, and the soil and climate seem to be well adapted to its production.

Much of the tule and other low and overflowed lands of the State are suited to rice-growing, but so far no practicable attempt has been made in this direction, except upon a very small scale upon some of the islands in the Sacramento river.

SILK. The mulberry tree, upon the leaves of which the silk-worm feeds, grows in every county in California; there are half a million trees in the State. Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, Los Angeles, and Sutter are the chief silk-producing counties. The balmy, even climate of California, free from oppressive frosts, sudden changes, thunder storms, and protracted damps and colds, is peculiarly adapted to the growth of silk and

the breeding of the silk-worm. The Japanese worms thrive best in California, and the staple produced is longer and finer than the best varieties of France or Italy. An excellent quality of dress silk has been manufactured in the State; but a general ignorance in reference to the raising and feeding of the worms, and also of the cultivation of the mulberry tree, has greatly retarded an important branch of industry, for which California is eminently fitted.

A small factory, for the manufacture of silk, has been recently erected at San José, and one manufacturing thread only at San Francisco. The prospects of California, at some future day, becoming an extensive silk manufacturing district are very encouraging.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Sheep and wool-Horses-Cattle raising and branding-RodeosNative horsemanship-Lassoing grizzly bears-Poultry and bees.

SHEEP AND WOOL.-Both the climate and soil of California are admirably adapted to sheep. The even temperature, generally dry weather, freeness from destructive storms, wide range of pasture, and the fact that sheep do not require shelter or food other than what nature supplies, greatly reduces the cost and labor so necessary in the Atlantic States and Europe.

Flocks in California are free from disease, and the loss by wild animals not a quarter of that throughout the Atlantic States. Sheep grow fast and mature earlier in California than in any other part of America. Ewes generally have lambs when one year old, and twins and triplets are common.

The original stock of sheep was of a very inferior quality, and consisted of the remnants of the old mission flocks and bands of very inferior stock brought into the State overland from New Mexico. But as the importance of wool-growing begins to attract attention, the stock is exhibiting signs of decided improvement by the introduction of pure-blooded sheep. Still there are flocks of the old stock (Mexican sheep) yet in the State, roaming the sandy and dusty plains of the southern section of California, as much like wolves, as regards wool, as like sheep. This class averages a fleece of wool, sand, and dirt, as it is sheared, of only two pounds. Inferior American sheep in the State average a clip of four pounds; while merino and improved breeds yield