270 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TEEEITORIES. 



the results of my observations and inquiries in the San Jose Yalley, or 

 Santa Clara district, California. 



This valley is beautifully situated between the main Coast Eange and 

 one of its spurs, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and extends directly south 

 from San Francisco Bay. It is about seventy miles in length by twenty 

 in breadth, and presents a nearlj^ level surface throughout. It boasts 

 an intelligent and industrious population, and is certainly as highly 

 cultivated as any other of the many lovely valleys of California. ^Near 

 its center are located the handsome and enterprising cities of San Jos6 

 and Santa Clara. The water in this valley used for domestic pur- 

 poses, and to some extent for irrigation, is derived chiefly from surface- 

 wells or wells excavated in the superficial deposits, and is lifted by the 

 inevitable and not unpicturesque " California wind-mill,'^ though there 

 are besides many artesian or free-flowing wells, which penetrate to and 

 derive their supplies from a stratum lying at a much greater depth. 



Being desirous of obtaining my information from the most trustworthy 

 sources, I called early on a Mr. Gould, to whom I had been recom- 

 mended, and who cultivates a large fruit jjlantation near Santa Clara. 

 This gentleman, whom I found to be as intelligent as he was enterpris- 

 ing, very politely showed me over his extensive grounds, and freely 

 answered my inquiries. Besides large vineyards and orchards, Mr. Gould 

 has about forty acres of the small fruits, strawberries, blackberries, 

 &c. These small fruits only are systematically watered by artificial 

 means. To accomplish this he has three artesian wells of seven -inch 

 bore and about 300 feet depth. Until recently all his wells have been 

 free-flowing fountains, but in consequence of the greater number of 

 wells now existing, and in part doubtless on account of the smaller 

 amount of water that has fallen as rain within the last two years, one 

 of his wells at least has ceased to flow, and it has become necessary to 

 raise the water by mechanical appliances. Horse-i^ower was applied 

 last year, but this year he has built a steam-engine. The engine is of 

 twenty horse-power and cost $2,000. Working at about half its capa- 

 city for fifteen hours per day, and at a cost in fuel and labor for the 

 same time of four and a half dollars, he raises sufficient water, with a 

 little aid from his free-flowing wells, to supply abundantly his small 

 fruit-grounds. Application is made daily to certain portions only, but 

 so that the whole forty acres shall be watered about once a week dur- 

 ing the season of fruitage. His vines are planted seven feet apart. As 

 to beets on alkaline soils his experience is that they attain a large size, 

 but have a rank growth and coarse-grained texture. With regard to the 

 amount of saccharine matter in such beets, he had no data. Mr. Gould 

 employs and prefers Chinamen as laborers. 



On the mountains, between Santa Cruz and Santa Clara, 2,000 feet, 

 perhaps, above the valley of San Jose, grapes and other fruits do excel- 

 lently well. The grapes especially are esteemed of excellent flavor, and 

 are preferred to those of the plain. I was informed by Lyman Burrell, 

 esq., who has a large ranch in the mountains, and who has also given 

 much attention to grape and fruit culture, that he has uniformly taken 

 the prizes at the State and county fairs. He j^lants his vines eight feet 

 apart. They are not troubled with frosts, and the ground, he asserts, 

 is much more moist at this season of the year (summer) tlian it is in the 

 plain. He raises with success the Muscat variety, which, on drying, 

 yield an excellent quality of raisins. Apples, plums, and apricots also 

 do splendidly in his orchards. Vineyards on the mountains are usually 



