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department you have tlie honor to represent to extend its benefits to California, 

 the laboratory of nature and the Eden of the western world. 



" Our seasons being divided into the wet and dry, all our grains are sown 

 between the middle of December and the last of March ; consequently we make 

 no distinction in our crops, as winter and spring wheat. The past winter was 

 unprecedentedly dry, and the result has proved very disastrous to the agricul- 

 tural interests of the State. The grain crops this season will not yield half the 

 average products for the past three years. The hay crop is about fifty per 

 cent, less than that of last year. I am now speaking of the crops throughout 

 the State. In this county the hay crop is at least fifty per cent, more than 

 that of last year, owing to failing grain crops having been cut for hay. In this 

 State hay is chiefly made from the wild oats that is found on the hills and in 

 the valleys throughout the State. None of the cultivated grasses of the older 

 States will grow here. They are not adapted to this climate, for the dry season 

 kills them out. Large quantities of hay are annually made in the State from the 

 volunteer crops of wheat and barley — the latter making an excellent quality of 

 hay, superior to oats. The time is not far distant when California must depend 

 chiefly for her supply of hay upon the volunteer grain crops, as the oat-pro- 

 ducing lands are annually growing less productive, they being so closely cut 

 and grazed, that no opportunity is offered the grain to seed itself. I know of 

 lands in this valley (Santa Clara) where, iu 1850, the oats grew from five to 

 nine feet high, and very thick, that have not, during the last two years, afforded 

 more than four months of pasturage out of each year. The fact is, the grazing 

 lands of the State have been overstocked the past five years, which has at 

 length resulted in great loss to the farmer and stock-grower. Owing to the 

 excessive drought this summer, there is in most parts of the State great scarcity 

 of pasturage. Immense numbers of cattle have died from starvation, and many 

 more must die before the coming winter. There will not probably be one-third 

 the number of cattle in the State next January there were seven months since. 

 The loss of sheep has been small, as most of them have been driven to good 

 grazing grounds in the mountains, and some have been taken out of the State 

 to Oregon. Large numbers of American horses and cattle have been removed 

 to Oregon from the northern counties. 



" The fruit crop this season is but little below the average. The grape crop 

 Avill, I think, from all that I can learn, be about a fourth below the average. 

 The crop of small fruits is small, such as gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, 

 and currants. Not only has the drought lessened the crop, but the birds, 

 driven from the mountains for want of food, have destroyed thirty per cent, of 

 the small fruits grown. Young orchards, where there are no means of irrigating, 

 will suffer seriously. Most of the young trees planted last winter will die. In 

 fact I am informed that in some localities the orchards that have been planted 

 five to eight years are feeling the effects of the drought ; many of the trees are 

 dying'. I have noticed that trees of all kinds have commenced shedding their 

 leaves, at least six weeks earlier than usual. 



" We are all hoping for early rains the coming winter ; and unless ' all signs 

 fiiil in dry time,' we will not hope in vain. I anticipate very eai'ly rains, at 

 least a month earlier than usual. During the wet sea:sou the winds invariably 

 blow from the southeast, and in the dry season from the northwest. This 

 summer, however, has proved an exception ; the wind has come chiefly from 

 the southwest, and variable most of the time when not blowing from the south- 

 west. 



"A singular phenomenon occurs annually in this State about the close of the 

 dry season, which thus far has not been accounted for by scientific men. No 

 theory has been advanced as yet that could be supported by the principles of 

 natural philosophy. Usually about five weeks previous to the first rain, the 

 springs and water-courses begin to rise, and continue slowly to rise till the com- 



