36 THE CLIMATOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



we may find disagreeable features in both, we may be very 

 sure that they will not exchange places. 



We should hardly expect to find in Santa Clara tlie 

 fogs and the strong cold winds of San Francisco, vvliile 

 at the same time San Francisco was basking in the hot, 

 elear air of Santa Clara. I have spoken of the dry 

 air, especially in the interior, bat we find along the 

 coast a fog bank whicli encroaches on the land at night 

 and retreats in the daytime ; this is particularly notice- 

 able at San Francisco. In the morning it extends some 

 miles inland, the distance varying with the character 

 of the country, the mountains ofiering a barrier to its 

 progress. During the forenoon the land radiates suffi- 

 cient heat to dissipate it and the rest of the day is bright. 

 The fog bank, however, is likely to remain over the sea, 

 appearing like a huge cloud rolling in towards the shore 

 but not reaching it tili sunset, when it spreads inland and 

 a clear evening is uncommon. As we pass along the 

 coast, away from San Francisco, the winds and the fogs 

 become less noticeable, while if we go back into the 

 Sacramento or San Joaquin Valley we get beyond the 

 reach of the fog, but we also lose the benefit of the cool 

 breezes ; consequently, the pleasantest climate is found 

 nearer the coast, but at some distance from San Fran- 

 cisco. 



The coast ränge sends out numerous spurs which form 

 a broken line of hills or low mountains along the shore in 

 mauy cases rising quite abruptly from the sea. Araong these 

 are many little Valleys which are quite sheltered from the 

 fogs and winds and yet are comparatively cool. Here we 

 find small fruit ranches nestled at the foot of the hills or 

 climbing the sides which are in some cases so steep as to 

 necessitate terraces, and here andthere aremineral Springs 

 and pleasure resorts on a small scale for summer and 



