STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



321 



who wanders from the old routes of travel, and changes his way into these 

 almost unknown vales of beauty and natural grandeur. 



A prolific growth of white and mountain oak, sturdy monarchs of the 

 mountain and valley, grow even to the water edge. Willow and cotton- 

 wood are interspersed, while an occasional maple or sycamore adds va- 

 riety to this arboreal scenery. 



The hand of man has been present, and to nature's gifts have been 

 added cozy cottages, small orchards, beautiful vineyards, and the ever- 

 green olive and orange grove. The soil of this valley is equal to the best. 

 The mountains on both north and south rise several hundred feet, shut- 

 ting out all tempestuous windstorms, and secures for the valley an evenness 

 of temperature that can scarcely be found elsewhere in California. Here 

 the first fruit ripens; here the consumptive finds a dry atmosphere; here 

 the afflicted with asthma, or catarrh, is free from vexatious fogs; here land 

 is found above the frost line in spring time, and far below the possible 

 limit of occasional snowstorms in winter. It may seem strange that 

 nature and man should combine to do so much for one section, but it only 

 remains for the visitor to come and see for himself. 



When we say the rose blooms here twelve months in the year, and wild 

 flowers are no strangers, either to winter or summer, we assert that which 

 is susceptible of ready proof. 



It must be particularly borne in mind in considering the climate of Cal- 

 ifornia, that the dryness of the atmosphere, except immediately along the 

 coast, is its most notable feature. The dryness of the air in the great 

 interior valleys of the State makes a temperature of 100° felt no more than 

 85° or 90° in States east of the Rocky Mountains, and no more than 85° or 

 90° along the coast of California as far as the fogs from the Pacific extend. 

 It is very seldom that the thermometer shows a temperature of 100°; but 

 such a temperature does not interfere in any degree with work in the open 

 air, is not enervating in its influence, and cases of sunstroke are unknown, 

 even under the highest temperature ever reached. The equability and dry- 

 ness of the climate of California renders it especially beneficial to persons 

 troubled with pulmonary difficulties. 



The question of climate is one that no reasonable man will overlook. 

 To many it is food, and drink, and medicine. Herewith we append a val- 

 uable table, reliable, because taken from the United States Signal Service 

 Station : 



Raixfall at Woodland, Yolo County. 



After the consideration of soil and climate, very appropriately comes 

 the rainfall. The greatest rainfall is experienced in the extreme northern 

 part of the State. That portion joining Oregon has an annual average of 

 2V° 



