SOIL SURVEY OF THE REDDING AREA, CALIFORNIA. 



9 



The minimum temperature recorded at Red Bluff is 18° F. The 

 jfrosts, which are of frequent occurrence during the winter, are, how- 

 ever, usually not severe, and hardy vegetables remain in the ground 

 uninjured during the winter. The dates of first and last killing 

 frosts at Redding and Red Bluff as reported by the Weather Bureau 

 follow : 



Dates of first and last killing frosts. 



There is in general a well-marked wind movement, the prevailing 

 directions being north and southeast. Violent storms or gales are 

 rare. 



Fogs are infrequent and are generally confined to local stream 

 valleys. There is an unusually high percentage of fair weather 

 throughout the year, the average number of clear days at Red Bluff 

 being given as 218, and the average number of rainy days 75. 



The climate is, upon the whole, healthful, favorable to crop pro- 

 duction, a long groM-ing period, and to the summer curing of fruits. 

 Farming operations suffer comparatively little interruption from frosts 

 or other climatic conditions throughout the year. 



AGRICULTURE. 



Prior to the discovery of gold there were few wliite settlers in 

 northern California and agriculture had hardly been attempted. In 

 1844 the San Buenaventura grant, consisting of 26,632 acres, Ij^ing 

 along the western side of the Sacramento River and almost wholly 

 witliin the limits of the Redding area, had been acquired from 

 the Mexican Government b}^ Maj. P. B. Reading, a central figure 

 in the early settlement of this part of the State. This grant covered 

 the greater part of the most productive section of the Andei-son Val- 

 ley, and the first ranch house was established in this valley near the 

 mouth of Cottonwood Creek. As wild oats and native grasses were 

 abundant the earlj' agriculture consisted mainl}^ in the raising of 

 stock. 



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