STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 269 



hundred days in the year. Passing the summits of the Coast Range, but 

 small portions descend into the valley: the remainder reach the sides of 



the Sierra at about the level of the summits they have passed. 



ARBOREAL VEGETATION. 



At the northern end of the valley, at an elevation of five hundred feel 

 above the sea, the most of the California oaks are found; of pines, only the 

 nut or digger pine; the buckeye and chemisal. This is the characteristic 

 arboreal vegetation throughout all these three hundred and fifty miles. Its 

 presence everywhere shows increased rainfall over the valley, and similar- 

 ity of temperature to that of the valley. Our pasture oak is found at lower 

 elevations in the valley, but always on moist land or near river courses, 

 proving that it demands, in addition to temperature, the increased moist- 

 ure. In the southern end of the valley this vegetation prevails at higher 

 elevations, because it there finds the proper temperature and moisture. 

 Wherever, on the foothills, any of the trees named constitute the prepon- 

 derant arboreal vegetation, it is an evidence that the temperature is the 

 same as that of the valley, and plants that can be successfully grown in 

 the valley can be grown to as high an elevation on the hills as these trees 

 abound. If one tree were to be taken as the evidence of this uniformity of 

 temperature, it would be the Sabin's (the nut or Digger) pine. It is never 

 seen in the valley or on the hills below an elevation of about four hundred 

 feet. It is not found at a higher elevation than that in which the temper- 

 ature is the same as that of the valley. It is never found in groves, but 

 singly, among other trees, yet it prevails throughout these three hundred 

 and fifty miles of foothills. While the vegetation is more dense on the hills 

 at the northern end of the valley, due to increased precipitation, there are 

 also local differences — where there is similarity of soil — due to exposure. 

 Throughout all the lower hills, the greatest number of trees is found on 

 gently sloping eastern, northeastern, and northern hillsides, which necessa- 

 rily are more moist and cool. The southern aspects contain less trees, 

 because exposed to the direct rays of the sun and to the full force of the 

 prevailing winds. 



CROPS SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATION. 



Every agricultural product that can be grown in the valleys, including 

 the semi-tropical fruits, can be grown with equal facility in these foothills. 

 Ordinarily the land has to be cleared of the trees found upon it, and cul- 

 tivation must be continuous, for on the whole western face of the Sierra the 

 native trees, when cut or burned down, are rapidly replaced by a new growth 

 of the same kind. These lands are found to have all of the requisites for 

 the successful growth of orchards. Fruit trees thrive better upon them than 

 on the lands of the valley. None of the many theories advanced as to the 

 cause of the treeless condition of many plains and prairies having ample 

 rainfall, seem to be entirely satisfactory, but experience has demonstrated 

 that orchards grow best and thrive with less artificial aid on lands that in 

 a natural condition are covered with trees. The increasing exports of 

 small fruits, such as strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, from the 

 vicinity of Newcastle and Auburn, and their superior size and quality, 

 prove that this region is better adapted to their culture than any place yet 

 found on the level lands of the valley. The peaches of Coloma have a 

 State reputation for flavor and size. The apples of Nevada and George- 

 town, are equal in size, taste, and keeping qualities to the best imported 

 from Oregon. 



