RECLAMATION OP SWAMP LANDS IN CALIFORNIA. 185 



mingled in diiferent proportions with sand, loam, &c., deposited by tbe 

 river-floods. Upon tbe latter tbe tules are often seen of various beigbts, 

 from 5 to lo feet. Tbis organic top-soil often extends downward to tbe 

 deptb of 30 feet, wbere it generally rests upon a substratum of bard 

 clay. Some portions of tbe surface rise and fall witb tbe tide and 

 exbibit temporary undulations upon tbe passage of beavy animals or 

 loaded teams. In many places long poles bave been tbrust to a con- 

 siderable deptb tbrougb tbe surface-crust '• witbout toucbing bottom." 



Four varieties of su.rface-soil among tbe tules bave been described by 

 intelligent observers. First, a coarse peat formed by tbe large roots of 

 tule, decomposed into a ricb, black, vegetable mold, wbicb bas produced 

 some very remarkable crops of cereals ; second, a stiif, blue clay, derived 

 from tbe cretaceous bills bordering tbe valleys, more or less infused 

 witb alkali; tbis soil constitutes a strong and durable seed-bed for 

 permanent grasses; tbird, a yellowisb-brown clay deposited by tbe 

 turbid waters of bigb floods. Tbis variety, of soil manifests its remark- 

 able fertility in tbe copious growtb of tule, wild grasses, and timber ; 

 fourtb, a ligbt, loose, sandy soil, deposited in limited localities by eddies. 

 Tbis soil is especially adapted to garden-vegetables, corn, and fruit. 

 Partial efforts at cultivation bave sbown tbat all varieties of tule-soil 

 will yield enormous crops of cereals, grasses, roots, fruits, &c. Its wild 

 grasses are ratber coarse, but it bas been sbown tbat tbe ricbest and most 

 permanent pasture can be maintained. Experiments in tree-culture 

 bave not been wanting to sbow a special i^roductive capacity in tbis di- 

 rection. Promising experiments bave also been made in rice-culture. 



Tbe correspondence of tbis Department exbibits numerous instances 

 of crops raised upon tbese tule-soils tbat seem almost fabulous, tbougb 

 attested by some of tbe most intelligent and trustwortby gentlemen on 

 tbe Pacific coast. Crops of 80 busbels of wbeat, and of 100 busbels of 

 barley, per acre, are not uncommon. A crop of wbeat is followed by a 

 second crop of " wbeat-bay," gatbered witbin tbe same year. Double 

 crops of barley, onions, or potatoes, are regarded as a mere matter of 

 course. Succulent grasses remain green tbe year round. All tbe vari- 

 eties of fine vegetables grow often to enormous size and always of ex- 

 quisite quality. Fruits rivaling tbe finest products of Pacific orcbards 

 liere grow in great profusion. Tbougb located so near tbe water-level, 

 tbe cu'culation of fresli air from tbe ocean is a perfect preventive of ma- 

 laria, mildew, and otber maladies wbicb infest botli animal and vege- 

 table life in otber swampy districts of our country. 



Tbe peculiar cbaracter of tbe tule-soil precludes all cultivation by or- 

 dinary processes. In its wet state it is too soft, and in its dry state too 

 tougb, to be worked by any agricultural implements or macbinery yet 

 invented. Tbe amount of organic and combustible matter in its com- 

 position bas suggested anotber metbod of dealing witb it. After being 

 freed from tbe superincumbent waters it is set on fire and burned to a 

 deptb varying from 6 to 18 incbes. Tbe deptb of tbe burning can be 

 regulated by waiting a greater or less lengtb of time after tbe removal 

 of tbe water before applying tbe torcb. Tbis burning leaves tbe surface 

 a bed of asbes, upon wbicb tbe seed is sown broadcast. Instead of be- 

 ing barrowed into tbe ground witb a barrow it is trampled in witb sbeep, 

 wbicb are driven in flocks across tbe field in different directions. One 

 tbousand sbeep will easily tramp from 20 to 30 acres per day. Tbis 

 simple and original process bas been found to be very effective and 

 cbeap. A large crop of wbeat was tbus placed in tbe ground at a total 

 expense not exceeding $1.25 "per acre. Tbe grain on sucb a seed-bed 

 exbibits a very remarkable propensity to stool, wbicb limits tbe quan- 

 tity of seed required for sowing. In a well-attested case mentioned in 



