CALIFORNIA AND COAST REGION. 18 



IXTEUIOU \ Al.l.KY OF C'AI.IFOKXIA. 



Between the Coast liiiiio*' and the Sierru Nevada Mountains Hes a 

 vaUev extending; throiijjfli central California from Kern Coiintv on 

 the south to ShasUi County on the north. This is formed hy the 

 union of two valleys, the Sacramento Kiver tlowino- from the north 

 and the San Joaquin from the south. The reunion is chai-actei-ized by 

 hit>h tomperatui-t' and scant rainfall in the summer. The Coast Kang-e 

 Mountains forminti' the western limit of the valley cut oti' the 

 moisture-laden winds from the Pacific Ocean, except at San Francisco 

 Bay, where there is a break in the chain throujifh which the above- 

 mentioned rivers reach the ocean. At this point in the valley and also 

 opposite a few other minor breaks, the climate is nioditied in propor- 

 tion to the amount of moisture that tilters throu(;;h. 



When the winter rainfall is sufficient there may be an abundance of 

 native pasture during- the >])rinu-. but the main dependence* is placed 

 on two crops — alfalfa and o*rain hay. Exi-eptino- in a few favored local- 

 ities, crops are raised l)v the aid of irrigation. The alfalfa is mostly 

 consumed upon the farm, while the grain hay supplies the city mar- 

 kets. Alfalfa grows to the greatest perfection, especially in the San 

 Joaquin Valley, where it is customary to o})tain about 8 tons of hay 

 at five cuttings from each acre, and about five months' pasture*. (Jrain 

 hay is produced from wheat, barley, and, to, a less extent, from oats. 

 In some districts, wild-oat hay is common. 



Uppf.h Pacifu- Coast Rkoion. 



This includes the area l^'ing along the coast west of the Cascade 

 Mountains, from Puget Sound south to San Francisco. It is charac- 

 terized by cool summers, mild winters, and a large rainfall. Fogs are 

 frequent and droughts ver}^ rare. The conditions are very favorable 

 for the growth of pasture grasses, and the section is preeminentl}' a 

 dair}^ region. Through most of this region cattle can be pastured 

 through the winter. Some ha}' is preserved, especialh' in western 

 Washington, but on account of the dampness the qualit}' is inferior. 

 The Willamette \"alley of western Oregon may be considered as a part 

 of this general area, though, since it is shut off from the coast by a 

 low range of mountains (the Coast Kange), the rainfall is much less, 

 and the climate is correspondingh' modified. The annual rainfall here 

 is 40 to 60 inches, mostly in the winter. Along the coast the rainfall 

 is 60 inches, increasing northward in the region of Puget Sound, and it 

 is distributed throughout most of the year. In this region the grasses 

 and clovers that are commonlv used in the Eastern States grow in 

 great luxuriance. 



