2 
AGRICULTURE AND SOILS OF CALIFORNIA. 487 
even clover, are practically eliminated from the agricultural system of 
the State. They are possible only where artificial or natural irrigation 
supplies moisture throughout the season; and lands possessing this 
advantage are, thus far, as a rule, too valuable to be devoted to grass 
crops or pasturage. This sounds paradoxical in view of the fact that 
California is noted as a stock-raising country, and that her mountain- 
sides and valleys may be seen dotted with herds and flocks throughout 
the season. ‘ihe newcomer instinctively pities the poor beasts who seem 
to be turned out on these brown slopes to starve from June to Decem- 
ber. And yet when he éxamines them more closely he finds to his sur- 
prise that they are sleek and fat, and are contentedly occupied in picking 
up from the parched and fissured soil something that satisfies hunger; 
varying their diet occasionally by browsing on the foliage of shrubs and 
the lower branches of trees. Several circumstances contribute toward 
rendering these “dry pastures” available. First, and perhaps chief 
among them, is the rapid transition from the growing season to the dry 
in May and June; whereby the grassand other eatable herbage is cured 
into hay in situ, instead of withering slowly and losing its nutriment by 
withdrawal into the roots, or washing into the soil by rains. Hence the 
occurrence of any heavy rain subsequent to the setting-in of the dry 
season is regarded as a calamity by stock-men; for it leaches the dry 
pasturage of its nourishment, renders it unpalatable to stock, and some- 
times causes it to become moldy in part. From the same cause, the 
real lean and hungry season for stock is from the time when the rains 
have begun (October or November) to that when the new grass becomes 
strong enough to afford adequate pasture. The latter epoch, so anx- 
iously looked for, varies greatly from year to year. A universal welcome 
greets the first rain (usually about the middle or end of October), wash- 
ing the dust of months from the evergreen oaks and laurels, and allay- 
ing that of the roads, which has long shrouded every team in an earthy 
cloud. Butitwill not please the farmer if it exceeds the moderate amount 
needed to wash the face of nature, or possibly to enabie him to start his 
plow; for if it should be sufficient to start “the grass” into rapid growth 
at that early period, the chances are that no more may fall until Christ- 
mas, or even later, and that instead a succession of dry northers may 
sear the tender blades, or even dry up their roots. When the rains set 
in later, in November, they are more likely to continue at short inter- 
vals; and then the grass will be in good condition for stock by Christ- 
mas. But at times (as in 1878~79) they may be delayed until near 
Christmas; or having commenced early, they may be interrupted by a 
dry season (as in 1876~77), when the grass may not be available until 
February, and stock, as well as meat-eaters, will have a hard time in- 
deed.. During the growing season numerous native and introduced 
grasses contribute to pasturage. On roadsides and in waste grounds 
one of the commonest and earliest is the wild barley (Hordewm jubatwm), 
commonly called by an unfortunate misnomer ‘“ Foxtail Grass”, which 
is relished by cattle in its early stages, but later becomes not only use- 
less but a serious nuisance, in consequence of the tendency of its barbed 
and pointed spikelets to adhere to any moderately rough object, and, if 
peneirable, to penetrate it by a crawling process, which in the ease of 
clothes soon brings it into unpleasant contact with the skin of the 
wearer; while as a component of hay, or in dry pastures, it is really 
dangerous. Among the best ingredients of the spring pastures are six 
or seven species of native clovers, mostly annuals, and perishing at the 
setting-in of the dry season. 
Apart from sun-cured herbage, properly so called, an important in- 
