Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

18 SCIENTIFIC SPREE Ss. [January 13, 1872. (GoRRESPONDENCE. Mill and Mining in Plumas Co. Eprrors Press:—The recent! beavy rains . eoming as they did upon a considerable body of.snoWw,.ensdres.plenty:of .water—for, mining operations during ‘the next. twelve. months, and indeed gives to mining matters generally in this county a more favorable aspeet than for many years past. Bs ! During the “past two years some very’ important discoveries have been made in various portions of the county, both in the way of quartz and placer mines, but have lacked development in a great measure for. the want of water. ” ‘Mills. ‘ A number of new quartz mills have heen, and are being erected, and will be ready to commence operations with the opening of spring. At tbe Indian Valley mine, reeeutly purehased by Messrs. Applegarth and Drake, of San Francisco, a thirtytwo stamp mill is being ereeted which will be ready for work ina few months, Of the old twelve-stamp mill, six stamps are now running, the rock yielding an average of ahout $15 per ton. IJlearn that the rew proprietors purpose to-push operations rapidly, and to thoroughly prospeet and develop the mine during tbe coming year. The . : + Greenville Mining Cc. Are at work upon roek from the Union ledge located near to, and supposed to be an extension of the Indian Valley ledge. This company have a twelve-stamp mill running upon roek paying from $15 to $28 perton. Mr. H. C, Bidwell, the Supt., informs me that upon the eompletion of the new tunnel, now being run at a depth of 460 feet, the mill will be removed to a poiut very near the mouth of the tunnel, the only trouhle now being the expense of hauling the roek overa mile from the mine to the mill. At Round Valley The new mill of J. D. Compton is ernshing some twenty tons of roek per day, the returns being from $15 to $18 per ton. This mill, altbougb of ouly six stamp eapaeity is oue of the new patents, being a douhle battery with a douhle diseharging apparatus, and crushes as mueh roek as the ordinary twelve-stamp mill. Mr. H. Gregg is running the old Bachelder will on roek taken from the Grass ledge, but with what result I did. not learn. The Crescent Mill has been icle for some months, only the pumps are kept running to keep the water out of the mines. The Supt., Capt. Bréneford, informs mé that tbe mine hes been sold to a compauy of Euglish eapitalists, who are now ou their way out to eommenuee operations, The Creseent bas proved itself to he one of the richest goldbearing ledgesin northern California, the yield up to the time of tbe suspension of work, being nearly one million of dollars. . Placer Mining Is not earried on very extensively in this portion of the eounty, though there are some claims on Indian Creek that are paying moderately well. Around La Porte,Port Wine, Gihsonville, Saiut Louis and Howland Flat extensive preparations are being made for next year’s mining, aud more gold will be taken out than for some years ‘past. At La Porte a tunnel is boing run under Bald Mountain, lying to the northward of be town, and a rieh gravel hed diseoyered. _tbis deposit has heen prospected at vavious points and found to extend all the way to Gihsonvillo, a distanee of some niue miles. Dr. Brewster sbowed me his claim ou Slate Creek, whieh he proposes o work next year. The doetor has at a very heavy expense, run a tunuel under a point of rocks, changiug the course of the stream, and gaining some 26 feetof fall. He is now puttiug in sluices for he purpose of sluicing out the tailings in the bed of the creek, that have aecumulated there since’49 and ‘50. He is very sanguiue. of success and no man better deserves it. ’ Other claims are to be miued on a more extensive seale than heretofore, of which I shall speak in my next. W. M, A. Crescent Mills, Dec, 22, 1871, .{the month continued so dry until the night The Succession of Seasons. Eprrozs Press:—Following is the raiufall in tbis locality for Deeember, 1871. With the exception of a shower on the 2d, were the predictions of ‘‘ anotberdry year.” (hs o Sen abundant tains which bave-fallen-through~ out our State, to make glad the hearts of our people. The heavy rains commenced hetween 7 and 8p. mu. the 17th. The re~ gult for the mouth is'as follows: 7 DATE. INCHES. Dec. 2—Showers between 5 and 9 4. M.,.0.04 ‘« 187-Tag A. Maes ae 2.61 COTS SS Ye Rocio n SSMS Sogrone oir 1.93 ¢ QUPEL OAs Nia GW. Oe. oes « oles ox 10.58 ‘t 21—To noon... OO oc ONO 0,12 ‘© 93-—To 8 PB. M,.0. SRP. See 0.5: ‘« 94 Showers to 7 A. Meeseecececsecees 0.02 « 27-—Between 7 and 12 a. uM. we. 0.17 CNG ASIN cer ieee ae = «let e = seks 0.11 eS eae ee ee 0.44 “230—To't Ar Mester ne ee Nore Oe 43010 midnight ee. 22). sevens 0.47 Total for December, ’71... a Add for October and November, ’71..1.33 Total to date for the season... . 8.52 This makes an inck and a quarter more than fell all last season; the entire amount then being 7.24 inehes. In Deeember, . aloue, we have had almost as much as fell }in the season of '70 and "71. If those who bave a complete eopy of . Dr. Logan’s Rain Table giviug the rain 'for each month, at Sacramento, since ’49, will compare the amount of rain this De.cember, with the number of inches each December suceeeding a dry year, they will find another remarkable agreement that tends to eonfirm the prineiple of a regular suecession in our seasons, which was pointed out in the Ruran Press for November llth. Attention has already heen ealled to the fact that as far as past ohservations go, the Sacramentu rain-tahle answers very well for our valley. That table gives fo Dec., 1851..7.07 inches ie 1857 ee 6.63 ‘* 1864.. “eG tf Now we have for Dec., 1871..7.19 That is, for each Deeember immediately after a dry year, our valley bas had a little more or less than 7 inehes of rain. Is this not a striking eorrespondenec in seasons, to say the least? 5 It is very easy to say, ‘‘ It just happened so.”, But does it not look as if there is a prmeiple of sueeession here that has its origin in the laws of nature which produce the seasons in our valley? And does it not tend to eonfirm the inferenee that we may eonfidently expeet: 2rainfall this winter ranging at least from 17 to 22 inehes? While speaking of these agreements, notiee another, though not an important one, between tbe seasons of ’64 and ’71. Whole rain at Sacramento in winter Of GS ar . GH. iia. « csnsege «cle 7.86 inches Whole rain at Sacramento, Dec.,’64.7.86 ‘ Wholerain here,winter of 7Oaud’71.7.4% <‘ Whole rain here, Dec., °71...7.19 ‘ Close raee that,-between these Deeember rains and the preceding seasons. ‘ OP: WAL We Turlock, Stanislaus Co., Jan. 1, 1872. “ &e Unfermented Juice of the Grape. . _ Eprrors Press:—I have reeeutly seeu it, stated tbat Dr. B. IF. Headen of Santa Clara, bas invented a process hy whieh the juice of the grape may be preserved sweet or without fermentation any length of time. What the invention eonsists of I do not know. I will give you, however, and the readers of tbe Press our mode of preserving: the juice of the grape, or the juice of any other fruit, free from fermentation for any length of time. The procsess, as praetieed by my wife, is original with her. She has so preserved the juice of the grape for the last ten or twelve ycars. That is to say, she has put up more or less of it every year for that length of time. It has not kept so long, however, because it is too good to keep. She has it-now two years old, and I thiuk some that is three. You, and more partioularly those ‘‘mak-. iug inquiries as to where this unfermented,. juice is manufactured,” will perhaps be a little surprised to learn that the proeess ig identieal with the one practiced by almost every housekeeper in the land in tbe preservation of fruit in tin cans, glass jars, 6 . best—till they are full. bottles—that and nothing more. Both depend for sueeess on the same prineiple— the exclusion of the air, Any without fermentation, a bettlo of grapes, oue who ean put up, and preserve, . hulls, seeds and‘all, can, in the same way,’ rink,-puré and wholesome, and~ ¢ontai not a partiele of alcohol. Cl e3 ripe grapes; strip them from the stems; put them-into a stew kettle and bring to the hoil; turn them into a‘sack, pressout > tthe juige; ! put. tbe” jatice back into tho’ ‘. kettle and bring it agaiu to the boilin point; then set it off and witb a funnel, fill it into bottles—ehampagne bottles are My of sealing is as follows:—Have some strong eds. {Why not? It is a temipenaiiag 7 is preserve the juice without the ‘hulls and . fof Sunday, 17th, that many and grave: : . —-Sinea.thén, we have-had dur-shate of.the. —Phat-noné may fail who-desire to try ite] rLigive the: moder in ; detail:——Gather clean; Eureka Lakes. Were the reader traveling in Nevada County, climbing up tho hills and pausing in the gorges to take a:drink: from 2 dancing streamlet, then on again up among the increasing houldors andl eatioues as tg ‘prise would burst upon, him in AE fahabe of a’group of Lakes—tweuty-four in’ all— clustering around each other Tike the set. ting of a-cluster-ring;and~“niore beautiful ‘in appeatance then all the diamond elusters in the world. 2) Twenty-four —the largest. only three miles long and scarcely a mile wide—ail sizes aud shapes, set in the hills with sueh a variety. of scenery that one hardly knows where to look first, or what particular point to admire most Pines and oaks orwife’s mode . nament the strips of land between them, while a numerous variety of, gorgeous musliu eut into pieces two inches square, . flowering-shrubs, such as the wild lilac as/-many as there are bottles to be filled; . and manzanita, perfume the élear air with then melt some resin in a.convenient vessel; add thereto sufiicient tallow to render it slightly elastic, so that it will not break or . orack in eooling and admit air. melted resin cover one side of. the twoinch square cloth; lay it over the mouth of ‘the bottle and with the hand press it down around tbe neck of the bottle; tic a little string around it, then put a little more resin overtnetop. If the work is properly done I will guarantee, it to keep from one to a thousand years—if not sooner drank. Hiram Pomeroy. Milpitas, Dee. 25, 1871, Reproduction of Forest Trees, Ete. ‘Epirors Pressi--I noticed sometime since an artiele in your paper in rogard to tbe reproduetiveness of certain native timber. I have been a resideut of this State twenty-two years, during which time I have had ample opportunity for observing the growth and reprodnetive qualities of our different forest trees, Hedwood—Whieh is the principal material used for nearly all ordinary building purposes in this State, aud whieh is being so rapidly used for tbe purposes mentioned, that the day is not far distaut when it will he among the seareest of our timber trees, reproduces.itself by suekering, whieh proeess is so slow that it ean only beeome beneficial to generations in the very distant future. In proof of this I will mention a stump from whieh the tree was cut 18 years ago. This stump is six feet iu diameter, and has put forth three suekers or shoots—the largest of which has attained a higbt of ahout twenty feet, aud is ten inehes in diameter at the hase. Now, if we eut this eighteen-year old sapling down, we will diseover that the solid wood part is only about one-fourth the thiekness of the whole trec, and tbe balanee, owing to its spongy nature, is unfit for any use, and will deeay a short time after being cut. The Oaks—Of whieh we have several varieties, ineluding what is known as white oak, hlaek oak, red oak, live oak, and tanbark or ehestuut oak, are all, with one exeeption (white oak), reproduetive hy suckering; but none of which thus far—owing perhaps to elimatie influenees—have to any great extent been utilized, exeept for fuel aud for tanning purposes. The chestnut oak, is*a very beautiful evergreen, much .resembliug the European ebestnut in foliage. It is a rapid grower and can easily be raised from the aeorns whieh are found scattered in abundanee beneath the trees, in the months of September and Oetober, J think when this tree becomes better known it will take tlle place of many other sorts now planted for shade and ornamental purposes. The California Laurels also sends up shoots from the stump when the old tree is destroyed. Of tbis tree too mueh ean not be said to encourage its propagation among husbaudmen throughout the State. It is well known that the wood of no tree in the world takes a finer polish, and nono that ean be converted into more beautiful artieles of eabinet work than tbis laurel. It is bound to beeome one of our most valuuble forest treas. This tree is also easily grown from the nut, whieh ean he proeured in auy quantity from the old trees in the fall of the year. The laurel flourisbes best in moist places, thongh often seen on high ground. It is most frequently met with along the banks of all_the pereunial brooks of our State, where it rejoices in the fullness of its glory, its sweet, aromatic fragranee reminding ns of its presence hefore we hehold its glossy heauty. Cuzwrirus Kame. San Jose, Jan. 3, 1872. . an exquisite fragranee. There is nothing partieularly marked about any one of thése Lakes, but the entire group of watcrlets With this . (if we may coin the word) presents adre markable scenc to the eye. ‘They are situated in the eastern part of Nevada County, and ongbt to be one of the fashionable resorts of the State. Nothing so really lonely aud unique ean be found elsewhere on the coast’ as this group of twenty-four pure-water Lakes; at a distance some of tbem look. as if one’s arms eould span them— “So wondrous wild, the whole might seem The scenery of a fairy dream.”’ From any approaeh they seem to smile a weleome, and they really possess the look of ‘‘intelligent nature.” If ‘‘the air hath yoices,” Eureka Lakes have smiles, and countenances that seem to change ina variety of sweet expressious as one changea position. Tbe smallest appears from a distanee like “A narrow inlet, still and deep, Affording scarce such breadth of brim As served the wild duck’s brood to swim; Lost for a space through thickets veering, But broader when again appearing.” Another, but a trifle larger, hemmed in with flowering shrubs, its quiet face refleeting the shadows of the clouds; then still another, sparkling with glimmering rays of sunshine that rest in silver lines across it from shore to shore, And so we may spend days among them, hardly knowing whicb to admire tbe most, and wonder if other lands ean have anything more lovely.— Lisle Lester. ArpLrs Without Buossoms.—Some time last spring there was considerable talk about apple trees that uever bloom, and whieh have been very produetive. During the summer Mr. Ely, of Norwich, Conn., sent some of these apples to the Farmers’ Club of New York. The apples eame originally from the farm of Mr. Ely’s fatber, in Litehfield county, of the same State. The original tree has borne for over 50 years and still has never shown a pereeptible blossom. The shape of the blossom end is very peculiar, and Mr. Fuller was requested to disseet one, and make such remarks as he might see fit and which might be of interest to all who participated in the former diseussion or read about it in the papers. Mr. Fuller remarked that Mr. Ely had not examined elosely, or he would have found that his trees do bloom. We have in these speeimens the proof that these are blooms—not perfeet, however, beeause there were uo petals, and this is why tbe man thinks there are no blossoms. ‘The petals in almost any flower is merely an ornamental organ and not essential to the production of fruit or pulp. These apple blossoms had 2 calyx, for it is now upon them; they had also pistils, for they eontain seed aud probably stamens, as I find the dried up fragments of the same within the calyx. If our eorrespondent will examine his apple trees very earefully he will find that tbey do really bloom, although tbe flowers may be ineonspieuous on account of an eutire waut, or deformed petal. Frnu Coromos.—The ehromo lithographic art has now beeu brought to such perfeetion in Ameriea by Mr. J. Hoover, of Philadelphia, that lovers of beautiful pictures can supply their homes with ‘‘ perfect counterfeits” of the rarest touehes of the most gifted artists of both old and modern days. The popular pictures are uumistakably cultivating a new and elevating taste for fine arts in the American community. Mr. Hoover is constantly adding to his alrcady long list of bome prints. We have examined those mentioned in his advertisement in the Press and can say they are among the most attractive and popular of any yet published in this country. ;

18 SCIENTIFIC SPREE Ss. [January 13, 1872. (GoRRESPONDENCE. Mill and Mining in Plumas Co. Eprrors Press:—The recent! beavy rains . eoming as they did upon a considerable body of.snoWw,.ensdres.plenty:of .water—for, mining operations during ‘the next. twelve. months, and indeed gives to mining matters generally in this county a more favorable aspeet than for many years past. Bs ! During the “past two years some very’ important discoveries have been made in various portions of the county, both in the way of quartz and placer mines, but have lacked development in a great measure for. the want of water. ” ‘Mills. ‘ A number of new quartz mills have heen, and are being erected, and will be ready to commence operations with the opening of spring. At tbe Indian Valley mine, reeeutly purehased by Messrs. Applegarth and Drake, of San Francisco, a thirtytwo stamp mill is being ereeted which will be ready for work ina few months, Of the old twelve-stamp mill, six stamps are now running, the rock yielding an average of ahout $15 per ton. IJlearn that the rew proprietors purpose to-push operations rapidly, and to thoroughly prospeet and develop the mine during tbe coming year. The . : + Greenville Mining Cc. Are at work upon roek from the Union ledge located near to, and supposed to be an extension of the Indian Valley ledge. This company have a twelve-stamp mill running upon roek paying from $15 to $28 perton. Mr. H. C, Bidwell, the Supt., informs me that upon the eompletion of the new tunnel, now being run at a depth of 460 feet, the mill will be removed to a poiut very near the mouth of the tunnel, the only trouhle now being the expense of hauling the roek overa mile from the mine to the mill. At Round Valley The new mill of J. D. Compton is ernshing some twenty tons of roek per day, the returns being from $15 to $18 per ton. This mill, altbougb of ouly six stamp eapaeity is oue of the new patents, being a douhle battery with a douhle diseharging apparatus, and crushes as mueh roek as the ordinary twelve-stamp mill. Mr. H. Gregg is running the old Bachelder will on roek taken from the Grass ledge, but with what result I did. not learn. The Crescent Mill has been icle for some months, only the pumps are kept running to keep the water out of the mines. The Supt., Capt. Bréneford, informs mé that tbe mine hes been sold to a compauy of Euglish eapitalists, who are now ou their way out to eommenuee operations, The Creseent bas proved itself to he one of the richest goldbearing ledgesin northern California, the yield up to the time of tbe suspension of work, being nearly one million of dollars. . Placer Mining Is not earried on very extensively in this portion of the eounty, though there are some claims on Indian Creek that are paying moderately well. Around La Porte,Port Wine, Gihsonville, Saiut Louis and Howland Flat extensive preparations are being made for next year’s mining, aud more gold will be taken out than for some years ‘past. At La Porte a tunnel is boing run under Bald Mountain, lying to the northward of be town, and a rieh gravel hed diseoyered. _tbis deposit has heen prospected at vavious points and found to extend all the way to Gihsonvillo, a distanee of some niue miles. Dr. Brewster sbowed me his claim ou Slate Creek, whieh he proposes o work next year. The doetor has at a very heavy expense, run a tunuel under a point of rocks, changiug the course of the stream, and gaining some 26 feetof fall. He is now puttiug in sluices for he purpose of sluicing out the tailings in the bed of the creek, that have aecumulated there since’49 and ‘50. He is very sanguiue. of success and no man better deserves it. ’ Other claims are to be miued on a more extensive seale than heretofore, of which I shall speak in my next. W. M, A. Crescent Mills, Dec, 22, 1871, .{the month continued so dry until the night The Succession of Seasons. Eprrozs Press:—Following is the raiufall in tbis locality for Deeember, 1871. With the exception of a shower on the 2d, were the predictions of ‘‘ anotberdry year.” (hs o Sen abundant tains which bave-fallen-through~ out our State, to make glad the hearts of our people. The heavy rains commenced hetween 7 and 8p. mu. the 17th. The re~ gult for the mouth is'as follows: 7 DATE. INCHES. Dec. 2—Showers between 5 and 9 4. M..,.0.04 ‘« 187-Tag A. Maes ae 2.61 COTS SS Ye Rocio n SSMS Sogrone oir 1.93 ¢ QUPEL OAs Nia GW. Oe. oes « oles ox 10.58 ‘t 21—To noon..... OO oc ONO 0,12 ‘© 93-—To 8 PB. M,..0. SRP. See 0.5: ‘« 94 Showers to 7 A. Meeseecececsecees 0.02 « 27-—Between 7 and 12 a. uM.. we. 0.17 CNG ASIN cer ieee ae = «let e = seks 0.11 eS eae ee ee 0.44 “230—To't Ar Mester ne ee Nore Oe 43010 midnight ee. 22). sevens 0.47 Total for December, ’71...... a Add for October and November, ’71...1.33 Total to date for the season..... . 8.52 This makes an inck and a quarter more than fell all last season; the entire amount then being 7.24 inehes. In Deeember, . aloue, we have had almost as much as fell }in the season of '70 and "71. If those who bave a complete eopy of . Dr. Logan’s Rain Table giviug the rain 'for each month, at Sacramento, since ’49, will compare the amount of rain this De.cember, with the number of inches each December suceeeding a dry year, they will find another remarkable agreement that tends to eonfirm the prineiple of a regular suecession in our seasons, which was pointed out in the Ruran Press for November llth. Attention has already heen ealled to the fact that as far as past ohservations go, the Sacramentu rain-tahle answers very well for our valley. That table gives fo Dec., 1851...7.07 inches ie 1857 ee 6.63 ‘* 1864... “eG tf Now we have for Dec., 1871...7.19 That is, for each Deeember immediately after a dry year, our valley bas had a little more or less than 7 inehes of rain. Is this not a striking eorrespondenec in seasons, to say the least? 5 It is very easy to say, ‘‘ It just happened so.”, But does it not look as if there is a prmeiple of sueeession here that has its origin in the laws of nature which produce the seasons in our valley? And does it not tend to eonfirm the inferenee that we may eonfidently expeet: 2rainfall this winter ranging at least from 17 to 22 inehes? While speaking of these agreements, notiee another, though not an important one, between tbe seasons of ’64 and ’71. Whole rain at Sacramento in winter Of GS ar . GH. iia. « csnsege «cle 7.86 inches Whole rain at Sacramento, Dec.,’64.7.86 ‘ Wholerain here,winter of 7Oaud’71.7.4% <‘ Whole rain here, Dec., °71.....7.19 ‘ Close raee that,-between these Deeember rains and the preceding seasons. ‘ OP: WAL We Turlock, Stanislaus Co., Jan. 1, 1872. “ &e Unfermented Juice of the Grape. . _ Eprrors Press:—I have reeeutly seeu it, stated tbat Dr. B. IF. Headen of Santa Clara, bas invented a process hy whieh the juice of the grape may be preserved sweet or without fermentation any length of time. What the invention eonsists of I do not know. I will give you, however, and the readers of tbe Press our mode of preserving: the juice of the grape, or the juice of any other fruit, free from fermentation for any length of time. The procsess, as praetieed by my wife, is original with her. She has so preserved the juice of the grape for the last ten or twelve ycars. That is to say, she has put up more or less of it every year for that length of time. It has not kept so long, however, because it is too good to keep. She has it-now two years old, and I thiuk some that is three. You, and more partioularly those ‘‘mak-. iug inquiries as to where this unfermented,. juice is manufactured,” will perhaps be a little surprised to learn that the proeess ig identieal with the one practiced by almost every housekeeper in the land in tbe preservation of fruit in tin cans, glass jars, 6 . best—till they are full. bottles—that and nothing more. Both depend for sueeess on the same prineiple— the exclusion of the air, Any

without fermentation, a bettlo of grapes, oue who ean put up, and preserve, . hulls, seeds and‘all, can, in the same way,’ rink,-puré and wholesome, and~ ¢ontai not a partiele of alcohol. Cl e3 ripe grapes; strip them from the stems; put them-into a stew kettle and bring to the hoil; turn them into a‘sack, pressout > tthe juige; ! put. tbe” jatice back into tho’ ‘. kettle and bring it agaiu to the boilin point; then set it off and witb a funnel, fill it into bottles—ehampagne bottles are My of sealing is as follows:—Have some strong eds. {Why not? It is a temipenaiiag 7 is preserve the juice without the ‘hulls and . fof Sunday, 17th, that many and grave: : . —-Sinea.thén, we have-had dur-shate of.the. —Phat-noné may fail who-desire to try ite] rLigive the: moder in ; detail:——Gather clean; Eureka Lakes. Were the reader traveling in Nevada County, climbing up tho hills and pausing in the gorges to take a:drink: from 2 dancing streamlet, then on again up among the increasing houldors andl eatioues as tg ‘prise would burst upon, him in AE fahabe of a’group of Lakes—tweuty-four in’ all— clustering around each other Tike the set. ting of a-cluster-ring;and~“niore beautiful ‘in appeatance then all the diamond elusters in the world. 2) Twenty-four —the largest. only three miles long and scarcely a mile wide—ail sizes aud shapes, set in the hills with sueh a variety. of scenery that one hardly knows where to look first, or what particular point to admire most Pines and oaks orwife’s mode . nament the strips of land between them, while a numerous variety of, gorgeous musliu eut into pieces two inches square, . flowering-shrubs, such as the wild lilac as/-many as there are bottles to be filled; . and manzanita, perfume the élear air with then melt some resin in a.convenient vessel; add thereto sufiicient tallow to render it slightly elastic, so that it will not break or . orack in eooling and admit air. melted resin cover one side of. the twoinch square cloth; lay it over the mouth of ‘the bottle and with the hand press it down around tbe neck of the bottle; tic a little string around it, then put a little more resin overtnetop. If the work is properly done I will guarantee, it to keep from one to a thousand years—if not sooner drank. Hiram Pomeroy. Milpitas, Dee. 25, 1871, Reproduction of Forest Trees, Ete. ‘Epirors Pressi--I noticed sometime since an artiele in your paper in rogard to tbe reproduetiveness of certain native timber. I have been a resideut of this State twenty-two years, during which time I have had ample opportunity for observing the growth and reprodnetive qualities of our different forest trees, Hedwood—Whieh is the principal material used for nearly all ordinary building purposes in this State, aud whieh is being so rapidly used for tbe purposes mentioned, that the day is not far distaut when it will he among the seareest of our timber trees, reproduces.itself by suekering, whieh proeess is so slow that it ean only beeome beneficial to generations in the very distant future. In proof of this I will mention a stump from whieh the tree was cut 18 years ago. This stump is six feet iu diameter, and has put forth three suekers or shoots—the largest of which has attained a higbt of ahout twenty feet, aud is ten inehes in diameter at the hase. Now, if we eut this eighteen-year old sapling down, we will diseover that the solid wood part is only about one-fourth the thiekness of the whole trec, and tbe balanee, owing to its spongy nature, is unfit for any use, and will deeay a short time after being cut. The Oaks—Of whieh we have several varieties, ineluding what is known as white oak, hlaek oak, red oak, live oak, and tanbark or ehestuut oak, are all, with one exeeption (white oak), reproduetive hy suckering; but none of which thus far—owing perhaps to elimatie influenees—have to any great extent been utilized, exeept for fuel aud for tanning purposes. The chestnut oak, is*a very beautiful evergreen, much .resembliug the European ebestnut in foliage. It is a rapid grower and can easily be raised from the aeorns whieh are found scattered in abundanee beneath the trees, in the months of September and Oetober, J think when this tree becomes better known it will take tlle place of many other sorts now planted for shade and ornamental purposes. The California Laurels also sends up shoots from the stump when the old tree is destroyed. Of tbis tree too mueh ean not be said to encourage its propagation among husbaudmen throughout the State. It is well known that the wood of no tree in the world takes a finer polish, and nono that ean be converted into more beautiful artieles of eabinet work than tbis laurel. It is bound to beeome one of our most valuuble forest treas. This tree is also easily grown from the nut, whieh ean he proeured in auy quantity from the old trees in the fall of the year. The laurel flourisbes best in moist places, thongh often seen on high ground. It is most frequently met with along the banks of all_the pereunial brooks of our State, where it rejoices in the fullness of its glory, its sweet, aromatic fragranee reminding ns of its presence hefore we hehold its glossy heauty. Cuzwrirus Kame. San Jose, Jan. 3, 1872. . an exquisite fragranee. There is nothing partieularly marked about any one of thése Lakes, but the entire group of watcrlets With this . (if we may coin the word) presents adre markable scenc to the eye. ‘They are situated in the eastern part of Nevada County, and ongbt to be one of the fashionable resorts of the State. Nothing so really lonely aud unique ean be found elsewhere on the coast’ as this group of twenty-four pure-water Lakes; at a distance some of tbem look. as if one’s arms eould span them— “So wondrous wild, the whole might seem The scenery of a fairy dream.”’ From any approaeh they seem to smile a weleome, and they really possess the look of ‘‘intelligent nature.” If ‘‘the air hath yoices,” Eureka Lakes have smiles, and countenances that seem to change ina variety of sweet expressious as one changea position. Tbe smallest appears from a distanee like “A narrow inlet, still and deep, Affording scarce such breadth of brim As served the wild duck’s brood to swim; Lost for a space through thickets veering, But broader when again appearing.” Another, but a trifle larger, hemmed in with flowering shrubs, its quiet face refleeting the shadows of the clouds; then still another, sparkling with glimmering rays of sunshine that rest in silver lines across it from shore to shore, And so we may spend days among them, hardly knowing whicb to admire tbe most, and wonder if other lands ean have anything more lovely.— Lisle Lester. ArpLrs Without Buossoms.—Some time last spring there was considerable talk about apple trees that uever bloom, and whieh have been very produetive. During the summer Mr. Ely, of Norwich, Conn., sent some of these apples to the Farmers’ Club of New York. The apples eame originally from the farm of Mr. Ely’s fatber, in Litehfield county, of the same State. The original tree has borne for over 50 years and still has never shown a pereeptible blossom. The shape of the blossom end is very peculiar, and Mr. Fuller was requested to disseet one, and make such remarks as he might see fit and which might be of interest to all who participated in the former diseussion or read about it in the papers. Mr. Fuller remarked that Mr. Ely had not examined elosely, or he would have found that his trees do bloom. We have in these speeimens the proof that these are blooms—not perfeet, however, beeause there were uo petals, and this is why tbe man thinks there are no blossoms. ‘The petals in almost any flower is merely an ornamental organ and not essential to the production of fruit or pulp. These apple blossoms had 2 calyx, for it is now upon them; they had also pistils, for they eontain seed aud probably stamens, as I find the dried up fragments of the same within the calyx. If our eorrespondent will examine his apple trees very earefully he will find that tbey do really bloom, although tbe flowers may be ineonspieuous on account of an eutire waut, or deformed petal. Frnu Coromos.—The ehromo lithographic art has now beeu brought to such perfeetion in Ameriea by Mr. J. Hoover, of Philadelphia, that lovers of beautiful pictures can supply their homes with ‘‘ perfect counterfeits” of the rarest touehes of the most gifted artists of both old and modern days. The popular pictures are uumistakably cultivating a new and elevating taste for fine arts in the American community. Mr. Hoover is constantly adding to his alrcady long list of bome prints. We have examined those mentioned in his advertisement in the Press and can say they are among the most attractive and popular of any yet published in this country. ;