5.—­The American Line.  Liverpool to New York—­
    Second class, L6.  Third class, L3 16s.

Steamers leave Southampton, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Queenstown, thus being convenient respectively for passengers from the north or south of England, from Scotland, or from Ireland.

Steamers run from this country to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, or
Baltimore, but New York is the best port for Merced.

THE LAND JOURNEY FROM NEW YORK TO MERCED, CALIFORNIA.

Copy of Letter from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

“Our fares from New York to Merced, via New Orleans, are:—­1st class, unlimited, L19 19s. 0d.; limited, L18 4s. 7d.; 2nd class, L12 8s. 4d.; 3rd class, L12 2s. 9d., all rail; L11 1s. 11d. by steamer to New Orleans, and thence rail, food, and sleeping berth on steamer included.  The charges for sleeping car berths are:—­1st class, 22 dollars; 2nd class from New Orleans, 3 dollars.  There are no 2nd class sleepers to New Orleans, except on the fortnightly excursion trains from Cincinnati, leaving that city January 7th and 21st, February 4th and 18th; March 4th and 18th; April 8th and 22nd, etc.  The charge from Cincinnati is 4 dollars 50 cents.  Third class passengers can travel in 2nd class sleepers upon payment of the usual charge.  The fares from New Orleans to principal Californian points, including Merced, are:—­1st class, unlimited, L14. 1s. 3d.; 2nd class, L8. 17s. 1d.; 3rd class, none.  Sleeping cars—­1st class, 13 dollars; 2nd class, 3 dollars.

Tickets may be obtained through Messrs, DOWSETT and Co., 3, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, direct from Liverpool to California, or any other State en route.

ANALYSIS OF MERCED SOILS.

Having fitted up a portion of one of my offices with all the requisites for carrying out quantitative analyses of surface soils, I requested Professor Lobley, F.G.S., etc., to analyse the four samples of soils which I brought with me from Merced.

A general analysis of four samples of soil from Merced, California, has given the following results:—­

SAMPLE A.

Organic matter (Humus) 5.5
Soluble inorganic matter 11.75
Insoluble silica and silicates 82.75
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100.00

SAMPLE B.

Organic matter (Humus) 4.25
Soluble inorganic matter 14.45
Insoluble silica and silicates 81.30
--------
100.00

SAMPLE C.

Organic matter (Humus) 5.25
Soluble inorganic matter 16.75
Insoluble silica and silicates 78.00
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100.00

SAMPLE D.

Organic matter (Humus) 3.5
Soluble inorganic matter 12.0
Insoluble silica and silicates 84.5
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100.00