37 



siderable areas. This efflorescence consists of the salts of potasli aud soda, the 

 nitrate of potash forming an important article in the crystalization. In other 

 parts of these bottoms the principal salts thus found upon the surface are com 

 posed mostly of the carbonates of potash and soda, and much smaller propor 

 tions of nitre. It is a singular fact that on many of those lands covered by 

 these salts in such quantities as to give the earth a white appearance, plants 

 and vegetables requiring much nitrogen for their healthy propagation are found 

 to flourish far better than upon many other apparently more favorable portions 

 of these valleys. 



The active fertilizing agents contained in the lands of these plains have been 

 derived from two sources; first the alkaline salts from the decomposition of the 

 primitive rocks, (the granite furnishing the soda and potash, from the segrega 

 tion and subsequent destruction of the felspar contained in them:) secondly, the 

 lime and nitrous constituents have been derived from the marine fossiliferous 

 rocks resting upon the former; with the destruction of mammalia which were abun 

 dant in the earlier periods of the Miocene tertiary. The greatest proportion of 

 the latter salts, however, were probably derived from the marine Mollusca 

 which undoubtedly lived and died in the materials in which we now find remain 

 ing imbedded, and as these remains constitute large beds of rocks at the pres 

 ent time, we should find them fully adequate to produce the fertilizing salts 

 above mentioned. 



The great amount of vegetable matter intimately commingled with these salts, 

 and earths upon the surface of these plains, it will be seen would render this 

 district of country capable of an abundant production, and whether applied 

 to agriculture or horticulture, or to its present grazing uses, it will still be found 

 capable of supplying even in its unimproved natural condition a sufficient suste 

 nance for ten times its present numbers of flocks and herds. A very small amount 

 of artificial aid in the improvement of these plains would add greatly to the rich 

 ness and expansion of the pasture grounds, and would prevent the present ne 

 cessity for the wide roaming now so prevalent among the stock which is placed 

 to graze in this broad unfenced surface of country. One example of the rare 

 capacity of these soils is exhibited, both in the higher and lower plains of this 

 and the adjoining counties, in the luxuriance of the growth of the native produc 

 tions. Among the indigenous growths, is a plant known as the " Burr Clover,'' 

 which spreads over the valleys and up the sides of the hills; this plant produces 

 it great quantity of seeds in its small " burrs," which, as the stalk dies, is dis 

 tributed upon the ground, at times covering it to the depth of a half inch. (Allu 

 sion was made to this plant in my report of last year when speaking of the produc 

 tions of the Salinas Valley.) The cattle aud horses find in this seed a nutritious 

 food upon which they subsist during the dry season, and of which they seem to be 

 remarkably fond, whilst their tine condition after living upon this alone, attests the 

 cereal richness of its qualities. The traveler unacquainted with the ground over 

 which he is passing would be both puzzled aud surprised at the fine appearance 

 which the herds present ; especially when he is informed that the apparent desert 

 upon which he sees them is all they have upon which to feed; for in passing over a 

 district of country on which not a blade of grass or any other edible plant is visi 

 ble for miles, and the surface of the ground has more the appearance of a burned 

 prairie than any other, being of a dark ashy gray color, no stranger to the 

 nature of our soils and seasons would for a moment suppose the land could be 

 ever applied to any valuable use or cultivation. The color of the surface is that 

 of the seed mentioned, which, as before stated, covers the ground in great .quail- 

 ties. This fact alone would be a sufficient evidence of the fertility of these 

 plains did no other exist to which we might refer, and it is to be much doubted 

 if any other part of the world possesses a degree of fertility to that extent that 



