No. 4.] 



GOING WEST. 413 



GOIKG WEST. 



BY I.YSAXDEH S. KICIIAltUS OF MARSHFIELP. 



Seventeen years aoo I visited California, reaching there 

 about the middle of May and remaining until November. 

 Two years ago I went to southern California and from thence 

 northward to the wheat and grain region, where I remamed 

 until spring. In May the contrast between the snow caps 

 of the Sien-as and the rich green grass fields of the Califor- 

 nian valleys is most marked. But before the end of June 

 not a blade of grass is to be found, and the desert-like monot- 

 ony is only broken by grain fields, vineyards and gardens. 

 Durino- the dry season a cloud is of rare occurrence. Not a 

 shower fell during the first five months of my stay m Ca i- 

 fornia The amount of dust can be easily imagmed, and the 

 discomfort of travelling at this season as readily understood. 

 The '^prino- season beains in January or Feln-uary. ihe 

 crass remain's fresh until June, and hence the season when 

 there is -ood pasturage for cattle is from January to June. 

 Durino- the remainder of the summer, stock can obtam but a 

 small amount of feed from the dry grass, and must be fed m 

 addition to their pasturage, unless they are driven to the 

 mountains, where summer rains keep the grass fresh and 

 oreen. Owners of large herds on the foot-hills are accus- 

 tomed to drive them to the mountains for the dry season and 

 back to the foot-hills for the balance of the year. In this 

 way the stock are kept at pasture for the whole twe ve 

 months. There are no fences, and the cattle roam the 

 country over. Even cows kept for family use are turned 

 loose, and nmst be hunted up each evening, sometimes ne- 



setts," we are able to print only an abstract of this paper. 



