THE BROAD-SCLEROPHYLL VEGETATION OF CALIFORNIA. 79 



and is able to recall with considerable accuracy the general character 

 of the vegetation at that time. About 1870, according to Mr. 

 Beardsley, the present orchard land between Palo Alto and San Jose 

 was solid chaparral, and patches of the scrub occurred on the floor 

 of the valley between San Jose and Gilroy. A demand arose in 

 San Francisco for the massive woody "roots" of the shrubs for fuel, 

 which made it profitable to clear the chaparral from valley and foot- 

 hills and ship it to the city. Later the value of the land for fruit and 

 grape culture was discovered, which resulted in the almost complete 

 destruction of the brush. Those cleared areas which are not under 

 cultivation are to-day typical California grassland, sometimes with 

 young oaks scattered through them. 



A very interesting and significant bit of relict evidence is the 

 occurrence of a typical area of chaparral well out in the Sacramento 

 Valley. This locality, in Colusa County, between Hershey and 

 Arbuckle, was brought to my attention by Dr. H. M. Hall, of the 

 University of California. Here are several sharply defined patches, 

 typical remnants. One occupies a shallow draw running through 

 a cultivated field; another, in an uncultivated piece of level ground, 

 ends abruptly at a fence. In all, Adenostoma is by far the most 

 abundant species; it is of very large size (3 meters) and apparently 

 perfectly content with its home. Other species seen are Ardosta- 

 phylos manzanita, A . tomentosa, Heteromeles arhutifolia, and Rhamnus 

 crocea. Some scattered trees of Quercus douglasii grow where the 

 chaparral has been partially destroyed. These localities are 5 to 

 8 km. distant from the foothills of the Coast Range. 



A few words should be added concerning the trees which occur in 

 scattering growth with the grasses. These are deciduous oaks, 

 especially Quercus douglasii, and Pinu^ sabiniana. Typical stands 

 of young Q. douglasii have been seen where it is certain that chaparral 

 was formerly in control. In some places remnants of chaparral 

 are mingled with the oaks. The habits of this species, moreover, 

 fit it admirably for such a life. It is an abundant seeder, withstands 

 severe drought, and is one of the least shade-tolerant of the Cali- 

 fornia trees. Pinus sabiniana is similar in habitat requirements 

 and frequently occurs in chaparral, especially with Adenostoma. 

 It is at least a reasonable supposition that the thin woodlands of 

 Quercus douglasii and Pinus sabiniana which cover great areas in 

 the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills, often forming a wide zone 

 between the grassland of the plains and the chaparral of the moun- 

 tains, are secondary, occupying areas which would support climax 

 chaparral but for agencies of disturbance. 



It remains to account for the absence of the chaparral in these 

 areas of grassland, where it is hypothetically the climax. Several 

 agencies have operated to bring this about, some of which have 



