PHYSICAL AND CLIMATIC SETTING 21 



hills. The valleys are relatively small and irregu- 

 lar, although the Eel River Valley has great area 

 and the flat lands at Humboldt Bay are broad and 

 rich. The important climatic features are the mod- 

 erate temperatures throughout the year, the high 

 annual rainfall, and the prevalence of high winds 

 and fogs along the coast. In most parts the rainfall 

 varies from 40 to 100 inches, the variation being 

 mainly due to elevation. Rains begin earlier in the 

 fall and continue later in the spring than in other 

 divisions of the State, but the rainfall is always 

 smallest in July and August. 



This region most nearly resembles the East North 

 Central and Middle Atlantic states in its agricul- 

 tural operations and possibilities. It is eminently 

 suited for the production of forage grasses and clov- 

 ers, though alfalfa is less grown because of cool sum- 

 mers. Grains chiefly raised are barley and oats ; corn 

 and sorghums are likely not to ripen for lack of 

 heat. The chief industry is dairying with grazing 

 and root-crops. Apples and berries succeed admir- 

 ably. 



The Central C.oast region. 



This region includes coast slopes, many small val- 

 leys, a few of considerable size, and a large area of 

 foothills and mountains west of the high ridge of 

 the Coast Range, which at several points attains an 

 elevation of about 4000 feet. Among the valleys are 

 those of the San Francisco Bay district, the pioneer 

 regions of commercial crop-growing and which now 



