HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 435 



side of that \ Ivor, bordering its large tributaries. A 

 considerable portion of the valleys of the Moquelume, 

 Seco, Cosumnes, and American Rivers. is also well 

 adapted to agriculture; and the broad plains lying 

 between them furnish abundant pasture for raising 

 stock. But the amount of good arable land, as com- 

 pared ^ith the extent of country which we passed 

 over, is small, and I am inclined to believe that the 

 richness and extreme fertility of certain localities 

 have led to erroneous conclusions respecting the 

 general character of the country. Certain it is, that 

 while there may be found sufficient arable lands to 

 support, if well cultivated, a numerous population, 

 here is also a very great extent of rough and moun- 

 tainous country and sandy and barren plains which 

 are of little value. The great difficulty to be en- 

 countered in agricultural pursuits in some portions of 

 California is the want of water for irrigation ; but 

 possibly this difficulty may be overcome in part by 

 resorting to artesian wells. If so, much of the public 

 land which is now unsaleable may be brought into 

 market, and the settlement of the country greatly ac- 

 celerated. I would, therefore, suggest whether it 

 may not be advisable for our government to direct 

 some experiments to be made at the public expense in 

 sinking wells of this character, for even if unsuccess- 

 ful as a means of irrigation, their construction Avill 

 greatly assist in determining the geological character 

 of the country. At present nearly all agricultural 

 labors are suspended in the general scramble for gold ; 

 but the enormous prices paid for fruit and vegetables 

 in the towns will undoubtedly induce many, during 

 the coming year, to turn their attention to the cultiva- 

 tion of the soil. The failure on the part of Congress, 



