40 GEOLOGY. 
Climate of the Tejon Valley —We reached the Tejon on the third of September, and portions 
of the Expedition remained there until the ninth of October. At the time of breaking up the 
camp the temperature during the days was from 80° to 90°, and at night about 60°. The 
weather was evidently becoming cooler, and we were forcibly reminded of the approach of winter 
by the flocks of wild geese that passed to the southward every night. The Indians were 
engaged in collecting the thick clusters of ripe grapes for their winter use, and all the crops of 
melons were harvested. I learned from Mr. Ridley, one of the two settlers of this place, that 
‘the winter rains commence about the 15th of December, and that then the grass springs up 
rapidly, and is green through the winter; by the month of April it is high on the plains, and 
is preferred by the cattle to the grass on the bottom land of the creek. The autumn months of 
October and November are the only ones without an abundance of green grass; and this 
period may be regarded as the winter for cattle. It is said that snow sometimes covers the 
Tejon slope for a short time during the winter. Lieutenant Beale, who remained there during 
the rainy season of 1853-54, informs me that the ground was thinly covered from the base of 
the mountains nearly to the lakes, and that ice was once found half an inch thick. This was 
considered as remarkable, and as an unusually severe winter. Snow, also, accumulated in the 
ravine of the pass to a depth of several feet, and it is, undoubtedly, found there in considerable 
quantity almost every winter, and also on the elevated valley of Tah-ee-chay-pah. 
During the stay of the main party and the escort at the Tejon, a full geological examination 
of the pass was made in connexion with Lieutenant Williamson's surveys. The Cañada de las 
Uvas was also examined, and an expedition made to the vicinity of the pass of San Amedio at 
the head of the Tulare valley. 
Other fields were planted with barley, corn, and vegetables, and the different Indian villages were surrounded with 
smaller fields similarly planted. The following tabular statement will give an idea of the extent of the crops raised, of the 
fertility of the soil, and the adaptation of both the soil and climate to agriculture : 
Description of crop. Amount in | Number of | Bushels 
bushels. acres r 
Wheat . 61,530 2,051 30 
Barley 8,000 400 20 
Corn 12,480 416 30 
Beans .... 500 25 30 
Turnips aU nic. 
Pumpkins, melons, and cabbages 300 /|.......- 
The crop of one acre, that presented a favorable appearance, was carefully measured, and the yield found to be fifty 
A nursery of young fruit trees was commenced and planted with upwards of two thousand plants, including grapevin 
pear, orange, fig, pomegranate, peach, apple, and cherry trees. These all appear to thrive well, and will, تیم‎ 
develop rapidly. 
The Indians, by whose labors these results have been accomplished, came from remote portions of California, and speak 
different languages. 
Mr. Beale appears to have been remarkably successful in his attempt to control these savages, and to cause them to labor 
_ for their maintenance. By — management, they have been led to labor together cheerfully, and to become e greatly 
interested in their occupation 
When I was last at the vwd in October, 1853, the ground on which these crops were raised had never been furrowed 
by a plough, and in the summer of 1854 the crops mentioned in the preceding table were harvested. No better evidence 
of the fertility of soils, composed of granitic gravcl and sand, can be presented. 
