HISTORY OB CALIFORNIA. 153 



season. It should, therefore, be encouraged by 

 government, in the survey and disposition of the' 

 public lands, as far as practicable. 



" The farmer derives some very important benefits 

 from the dry season. His crops in harvest time are 

 never injured by rain ; he can with perfect confidence 

 permit them to remain in his fields as long after they 

 have been gathered as his convenience may require ; 

 he has no fears that they will be injured by wet or 

 unfavorable weather. Hence it is that many who 

 have long been accustomed to that climate prefer it to 

 the changeable weather east of the Rocky Mountains. 



" As already stated, the forests of California, south 

 of latitude 39°, and west of the foot-hills of the 

 Sierra Nevada, are limited to detached, scattering 

 groves of oak in the valleys, and of red wood on the 

 ridges and on the gorges of the hills. 



" It can be of no practical use to speculate on the 

 causes which have denuded so large an extent of coun- 

 try, further than to ascertain whether the soil is or is 

 not favorable to the growth of forest trees. 



" When the dry season sets in, the entire surface is 

 covered with a luxuriant growth of grass and oats, 

 which, as the summer advances, become perfectly dry. 

 The remains of all dead trees and shrubs also become 

 dry. These materials, therefore, are very combustible, 

 and usually take fire in the latter part of summer and 

 beginning of autumn, which commonly passes over the 

 whole country, destroying, in its course, the young 

 shrubs and trees. In fact, it seems to be the same 

 process which has destroyed or prevented the growth 

 of forest trees on the prairies of the Western States, 

 and not any quality in the soil unfriendly to their 

 growth. 12 



