85 



California Farmer, San Francisco, December 25. — We have been visited 

 during Monday and Wednesday of this week with good soaking rains, which 

 will greatly benefit farmers, miners, and all otliers in the producing line. 

 Thursday morning the weather cleared up sufficiently to indicate a pleasant 

 Christmas eve. 



Tuolumne Courier, February 2, 1864. — The present winter is undoubtedly 

 the dryest since 1851-52. The rains so far this year have not penetrated the 

 earth more than eighteen inches, and mining and farming prospects for next 

 summer look rather discouraging. We may have plenty yet, but the grain 

 crop will soon be past salvation, if it is not already. Almond trees here 

 have been in bloom for two weeks ; all the peach trees are in flower, and a 

 sharp frost now would ruin the crop. A few pear trees are also in blossom, 

 and plums are preparing to give Jack Frost a fair chance for mischief. 



Contra Costa Gazette, February 6. — As our last issue went to press we 

 noticed that lain had commenced falling. It continued, but very sparingly, 

 on Saturday and Sunday, and then ceased altogether. The grass and the 

 grain already in the ground have undoubtedly received much benefit, but 

 the moisture penetrated only a short distance below the surface, and further 

 ploughing is still out of the question at present. 



California Farmer, February 12. — A correspondent at Lower Lake writes 

 to us, relative to the season and crops in that section: The weather is fine 

 here now, and in fact has been all the time this winter. We have had but 

 little rain ; the creeks and springs of water are very low for the time of 

 year. The little rain we have had has kept the land in the best order for 

 the plough, and I never saw a better season for ploughing than this has been. 

 Stock is getting its living now, which is quite a contrast to two years ago, 

 when cattle were dying by the hundreds. 



California Farmer, February 19. — The winter of 1851-52 will be remem- 

 bered by Sacramentans as a remarkabl}'' dry winter — no rain till late; and 

 that about the first of March came the rains and melted shows, and the 

 levee gave way, and Sacramento was flooded. This is the dryest season so 

 far since 1851-52, and the same thing may occur this year. 



California Farmer, February 26. — The long continued warm and dry 

 weather awakens a spirit of inquiry about the growing crops, and informa- 

 tion is asked for from the different sections of the State as to its effect 

 upon grain, fruit trees, &c. 



The same paper says news had been received of refreshing rains of thirty- 

 six hours' duration at Marysville and at St. Helena and vicinity, and adds "we 

 are receiving cheering accounts of the crops from all quarters, and no com- 

 plaint of drought from an}' source that causes alarm." 



California Fanner, March 11. — The long continued dry weather is cre- 

 ating great anxiety, and with man'j' persons alarm, and it is evident that 

 speculation will be rampant, but we can see no cause for any alarm. The 

 wheat crop now on hand is ample for 1864. In addition to this, the present 

 rapid rise in breadstuffs must necessarily bring down large quantities from 

 Oregon. Should California, by any circumstance, demand grain, Oregon can 

 give her an ample supply ; so that with her excess of crop she can join 

 ours, and this will afford us food for two years. In this statement we, of 

 course, include all kinds of breadstuffs. 



