BTATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 26' 



fad thai the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains reach the const of 

 Alaska, ami bend like a great arm around its western ami southern shores, 

 thus shutting off or deflecting the polar winds that otherwise would flow 

 down over Oregon and California. The cold winds thai reach this State 

 are usually from the northwest, and have had their temperature raised by 

 passing over the Japan Gulf Stream before that unit' stream has been 

 reduced to the temperature we find it while passing our coast. It has been 

 shown that this northwest wind precipitates its moisture by becoming 

 reduced in temperature where it meets the coast of Alaska. British Colum- 

 bia, and Washington Territory. It passes inland, following the Cascade 

 Mountains where they leave the coast. As it comes south it is heated by 

 coming into warmer latitudes, its capacity to take up moisture is increased, 

 but it finds none in its course to take up. The Cascades, which are a 

 continuation of the Sierra Nevada, direct it into the 



SACRAMKNTO VALLEY, 



Where it meets still greater heat, which the more increases its capacity for 

 containing moisture. It therefore possesses all the desiccating qualities 

 for which it has become famous. Of course its influence as a desiccating 

 wind is only felt in the interior, away from the influence of the ocean. 

 The foregoing are some of the principal causes that give to this portion of 

 the Pacific Coast its peculiar climate. The causes of variation in rainfall, 

 temperature, and course of the wind in localities, can be ascertained by a 

 series of local and general observations, lasting for a sufficient period to 

 warrant conclusions from the mean obtained. Such observations, if taken 

 and condensed, would be of value to the farmer, to the merchant, and, in 

 fact, add to the prosperity of every inhabitant of the State. 



CLIMATE OF THE SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYS 



AND THE FOOTHILLS. 



The climate of the Sacramento Valley and foothills being of great interest 

 just at present and since the holding of the Citrus Fair, January 11, 1886, 

 I thought it a very appropriate time to reprint a portion of an article by 

 the late lamented the Honorable B. B. Redding, published in the State 

 Agricultural Society's Report for 1878. The subject spoken of above is on 

 the general climatic condition of the Sacramento Valley and foothills, 

 from Redding on the north to Sumner on the south, and is as follows: 



From Redding, in the northern end, to Sumner, at its southern extrem- 

 ity, is a distance of three hundred and fifty miles. The mean annual 

 average temperature of Redding is 64°. The lowest point to which the 

 thermometer has fallen since a record has been kept was 27°, in December, 

 1876. [In all probability it fell lower than that since the above article 

 was written, for in 1883 it fell to 19° at Red Bluff. — Sergeant Barwick.] 

 Sumner, at the southern end of the valley, has an annual average tempera- 

 ture of 68°, and an average rainfall of four inches. The lowest point to 

 which the thermometer has fallen at this place was also 27°, on the same 

 day, in December, 1876. [In December, 1883 (since the above was writ- 



