42 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



scientific study, have exerted a marked influence not 

 only in stimulating general diversification and build- 

 ing up great outputs of special products not largely 

 undertaken elsewhere in the country, but have also 

 profoundly influenced rural life and development. 

 Actual sight of what the soil could do induced many 

 of the argonauts of 1849 to forsake their quest of gold 

 for agricultural enterprises. Reports of their 

 achievements by residents, tourists and expert inves- 

 tigators during the first decade of California's state- 

 hood were published in popular and scientific jour- 

 nals and books and attracted immigrants of good men- 

 tal capacity, experience in projecting new enterprises 

 and possessed of adequate capital to invest in land 

 and enlist in agricultural production both staple and 

 unique. As these undertakings attracted persons of 

 all nations, they brought to the new country knowl- 

 edge of plants and products beyond the American 

 range of cultures and productions, confident that 

 California's natural conditions favored success with 

 them. Soil characters and capacities have always 

 been considered influential factors in determining 

 human development and progress, and the soils of 

 California are probably to be counted among the 

 best of the natural advantages of the State. 



