250 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The time of maturity of fruit is as follows : 



Bloom. Mature. 



Apricots.-- March -.. May to July. 



Peaches March May to July. 



Pears April June to October. 



Apples April -- - June to November. 



Oranges April November to December. 



Grapes June to December. 



Cherries March and April May to July. 



Almonds January to March October. 



Plums March June to July. 



THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. 



It would be impossible in this brief space to give an exhaustive descrip- 

 tion of our great valley, or even to fully outline the characteristics which 

 long since placed this part of California on a footing with the most favor- 

 able localities of the continent. Aside from its geographical peculiarities, 

 which are fast giving us an enviable reputation at home and abroad, this 

 section is rich in historical reminiscences. 



These date from the earliest pioneer times — the days of the unfortunate 

 Donner party, and of the generous Captain John A. Sutter — the days when 

 placer mining was the'chief industry, and the whims of the people the law, 

 to the present, when we find in the " great valley" the industries of refined 

 culture, and a development resting upon sobriety, energy, and intelligence. 

 In fact, the history of Northern California is pregnant with all the variety 

 of items which go to show the steady advancement necessary to a sure, 

 sturdy, and independent growth of one of the most interesting sections of 

 our great commonwealth. But these must be passed, at least for the 

 present. 



The valley proper is one of the largest of its class in the world, and 

 extends from Shasta County on the north to San Joaquin on the south, 

 and is limited on the east and west only by the lofty mountain ranges, 

 whose snow-capped peaks point skyward; fit emblems of their supremacy. 

 To the northward, and plainly visible for one hundred miles, Mount Shasta 

 rises heavenward nearly fifteen thousand feet, and is second in altitude in 

 the United States. 



The Sacramento River, the largest stream in the State, traverses the 

 valley from north to south, and is the natural line of commerce. Tribu- 

 taries from the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range flow into the Sacramento 

 on either side, and are, in some instances, themselves navigable. The 

 Sacramento rises in the extreme north, and flows southward to Suisun 

 Bay, from which, by San Pablo and San Francisco Bays, it has commu- 

 nication with the Pacific Ocean. A feature particularly noticeable from 

 the geographer's standpoint, and not without interest to the intelligent 

 home-seeker, is the fact that the streams of the valley, after reaching the 

 plains, follow the higher sections, thereby furnishing unequaled facilities 

 for irrigation. The artificial watering of crops has not heretofore been con- 

 sidered necessary, but is deemed of value in a few special instances. 



The valley for a quarter of a century has been devoted to agriculture, 

 and until recently almost exclusively to grain raising. From the first it 

 was found that wheat growing was remunerative employment, and with 

 that, content with good enough, which was so common a characteristic of 

 the pioneer immigrant, no loftier ambition was stimulated. And, not- 



