50 [APPENDIX 



SOILS OF THE SALINAS. ? ; : 



The soils of this valley have been derived from the primitive forma 

 tions on both sides of the plains : that derived from the granite series 

 on the coast side is coarse and easily permeable to water ; this obtains 

 more particularly in the vicinity ofthe Grabilan mountains, and this va 

 riety of soil does not extend beyond the high "mesa" on the eastern 

 side. The trapean rocks and limestone of this range exert an important 

 influence in modifying the sterility usually attendant on soils derived 

 from the detritus of the granites, and in this case they exist in sufficient 

 quantities to render those soils productive on the upper terrace of the 

 valley. The productions of each of these terraces differs in a material 

 degree, arising principally from two immediate causes ; the first mois 

 ture, the second, the finer disintegration of the material composing the 

 soils ; to these may be added a third, which sometimes exerts a wide 

 influence on the lower bottom. The upper terrace produces the native 

 wild oat for the most part?, or a wirj- tough grass ; the oat flourishes to 

 the exclusion of the latter on a brown red soil composed of loam mixed 

 with the harsher material derived from the granite, and wherever this 

 loamy matter is found to diminish in quantity, a corresponding increase 

 in the native wire grass is found. This rule was found to hold good in 

 the entire length of the plain on its eastern border. . 



Passing to the second terrace, plants of a different character are found. 

 The oat is found to a considerable extent on some parts of this, but is 

 usually succeeded by another variety of grass which seems much better 

 adapted for feed to animals, and usually grows very thick and matted ; 

 among this the common bargrass, which increases in quantity as the low 

 er terrace is approached, and which animals are extremely fond of eat 

 ing, in preference to the oat when placed side by side ; on the western 

 edge of the second terrace, the wild mustard abounds, covering thou 

 sands of acres, and growing to the height of ten to fourteen feet, form 

 ing an impenetrable jungle to man or beast for miles in extent; wherev 

 er the settler has succeeded in eradicating this article from the soil, it has 

 been found to produce abundant crops of grains or roots, and if anything 

 superior in some cases to the lands of the lower bottom, The lower 

 part of the terrace on which the mustard is usually found in greatest 

 quantities, is sufficiently moist for the propagation of any crops that 

 may be necessary to be placed upon them. Water is obtainable within 

 a few feet of the surface on any part of it. 



- Passing to the lower terrace, we find the principal native productions 

 to be the burgrass and a variety of the rumex, mingled with a much 

 greater variety of others than is to be found on any other part of these 

 bottoms. On the higher positions the mustard also abounds in conside 

 rable quantities. Some parts of this terrace are arenaceous, being cov 

 ered to the depth of two feet with a loosej fine sand, usually the result 

 of a heavy freshet , and not otherwise. In this is found a third cause 

 for the varieties which these bottoms produce. An interesting exhibi 

 tion of this occurred from the freshet of last winter, on the Castro Eanch, 

 adjoining the Wacional. At this place about three hundred acres were 

 covered with this sand to the depth of two and a-half feet ; on a portion 



