18 



results. But the succeeding year this same crop is a total loss, and thousands of 

 our laboring farmers are bankrupted as the consequence. What, then, is the 

 reply ? An hundred wild vagaries are put forth to shelter presumptuous igno 

 rance, which finally falls back on the principles adopted by a coroner's jury, where 

 the causes of death are not distinctly apparent, viz : " death by dispensation of 

 Providence," " died by a visitation of God." 



This reminds us of the reply of an ancient philosopher, touching an important 

 question in hydraulics, " Nature abhors a vacuum beyond thirty-two feet ;" and 

 we may safely infer that the fertility of our soils in such cases "abhors" the produc 

 tion of the crop, although the evidences of inexhaustibility in the soils are never 

 more apparent than when that crop is successful. 



This is our present condition relating to this matter, and the usual number of 

 causes assigned for such discrepancies are equaled only by the groundless premi 

 ses on which they are based. As this subject touches a vital interest in this 

 State's welfare, it should merit that attention which its importance demands, and 

 measures taken to develop the facts which have a bearing upon this subject, leav 

 ing the fancies that have hitherto attached themselves to this subject, to their 

 own support. 



To avail ourselves of such means of demonstrative evidences, should be one 

 of our first motives of action, for in this subject the whole people have a direct 

 interest, it being a matter that affects each person pecuniarily, and the State in 

 the same manner, but to a more extended degree. To accomplish this result, a 

 series of meteorological observations should be instituted, that would extend 

 from Siskiyou to San Diego. Sixteen stations, at as many different parts of the 

 State, would not be too small a number, which could be thoroughly equipped 

 with all necessary instruments for about $1,800. The result of such observa 

 tions would place us in possession of facts, whereby legitimate deductions could 

 be made as to the influences that climatic changes and conditions exert on the 

 different varieties of crops that our lands are capable of producing, and which 

 have been made so wofully manifest during 1855. 



These are the only means by which this matter can be demonstrated, and until 

 adopted, and systematically carried out, the uncertainty and doubt that now 

 invest this subject must continue, the State, and private citizens being subjected 

 to losses, in the failure of certain kinds of grains, without a hint even of the 

 medicate causes producing the sad effects that it has been our lot to witness 

 within the past year. 



SAN BERNARDINO. 



During the months of October and November, the country intermediate 

 between Los Angeles and San Bernardino was partially examined. This district 

 is made up of an elevated plain, ranging from two hundred to nine hundred feet 

 above the sea, the ascent from Los Angeles to the highest part of the plain 

 being gradual and uniform. The north side of the plain is flanked by high and 

 rugged mountains, the mean trend of which is nearly east and west, and belong 

 to the San Bernardino range. It is this same range that at Santa Barbara, and 

 for a considerable distance eastward, has found a place on local maps, bearing 

 the name of Sierra Madre, which is very inappropriate, and only serves to pro 

 duce confusion. The range should bear the name of one of the principal moun 

 tains, San Jacinto, or San Bernardino ; the latter would be preferable, as it is 

 most prominent, and better known. As it is a distinct range, and of considera 

 ble length, probably not less than two hundred miles, or even more than this, 

 and running in a direction almost transverse to every other mountain chain, 

 either in this State or the adjoining province of Sonora, a name that would sep- 



