56 THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



more of the characteristics of mesa or upland, and extends on all 

 sides, slightly undulating upon the sides of the hills. Lower hills 

 and behind them, again, higher hills surround the valley, and the 

 high peaks beyond the Cuyamaca Mountains reach 4, 500 feet or more. 

 None of these hills or mountains in sight are covered with timber of 

 any kind, and even the valleys are without the usual sycamores. Only 

 in the very narrow bottom of the creek is there a vegetation of willows 

 and shrubbery. 



Climate and Rainfall. The rainfall of the valley varies considera- 

 bly. It has been known to be as little as six inches and as much as 

 twenty, the average probably being about twelve inches, distributed 

 as generally elsewhere in California, during the winter months. In 

 summer time it seldom rains, perhaps a shower in two or three years. 

 September is the warmest month, or at least the month with the 

 greatest number of warm days. The highest temperature reached in 

 the shade in El Cajon is 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and in Sweetwater 

 valley 108, and the coldest in the winter twenty-four degrees Fahren- 

 heit on the upper mesa land, while on the lower land, close to the 

 river, the temperature falls low enough to kill orange trees, probably 

 somewhere about eighteen degrees Fahrenheit. September is freer 

 from fog than any other month. During the other summer months 

 there is fog in the morning two days out of three. The fog, however, 

 is warm and pleasant to all but consumptives, but, nevertheless, leaves 

 behind a soaking dew on all vegetation, and is even heavy enough to 

 moisten the dust on the roads. The moisture on this mesa land by 

 which is meant all the land between the hills, which are too steep 

 to be plowed, and the actual river bottom lands is near the surface. 

 In the El Cajon and Sweetwater valleys, the water is found on this 

 mesa at from eight to twenty feet, or at an average of from twelve to 

 fifteen feet. On little hills or knobs in the valley the water is found 

 at about the same depth. It is strange that with the water so near 

 the surface no perennial vegetation of either shrubbery or trees should 

 be found on this land. The grapevines will grow on it without irriga- 

 tion; in fact none is used anywhere now, but no doubt it would prove 

 profitable to irrigate somewhat, so as to increase the crops of grapes. 

 Water can be had through the Cuyamaca flume, but has so far not 

 been used. The vines do not grow after August ist, and may stop 

 growing sooner. 



Soils. The soils of the district are of four kinds: First, reddish 

 clay mixed with gravel, the color changing between light chocolate 

 and deep reddish. This soil is considered by many the most desirable. 

 Second, a steel or slate gray adobe with much gravel of a coarse 

 nature. Third, black adobe with little gravel Fourth, alluvial sandy 

 soil, apparently consisting of decomposed granite mixed with much 

 vegetable matter. This soil is coarse, of a dark steel-gray color, very 

 easily worked; it is considered the best for raisins, but it contains 

 streaks where they will not grow and prove profitable. The last- 

 named soil goes gradually over into common alluvial soil of a sandy 

 nature. The two last-named soils are found principally in the Sweet- 

 water valley. 



