58 Cost of Clearing. 
terms which the land clearer has most to use are “chaparral” 
and “chamisal.” To distinguish between them it’ may be said, 
however, that the term chamisal properly applies to the shrub 
Adenostoma fasciculatum, var. obtusifolium, which is abundant on 
dry soils in the Coast Ranges and more rarely in the foot-hills 
of the Sierra Nevada, often covering extensive areas with dense 
and almost impenetrable growth, producing an effect on the 
landscape like that of the heaths of the Old World. Another 
species, A. sparsifolium, with narrow, scattered leaves, is some- 
times abundant on the mountains east of San Diego. 
By chaparral is generally meant shrubs of several species of 
Ceanothus, forming dense thickets and giving its name to certain 
soils on which it most abounds, both in the Sierra foot-hills and 
the hillsides of the Coast Range, where it is known as California 
lilac. The genus includes the “flat brushes,’’ as they are called, 
from their trailing on the ground, or low, horizontal shoots. 
Other Small Growths.—Shrubs of frequent occurrence also 
are the poison oak (Rhus diversiloba), chiefly on the north sides 
of hills in all parts of the State, but most abundant in the Coast. 
Ranges, and other species of Rhus which are not poisonous; the 
hazel-nut (Corjlus rostrata), which has been mentioned in the 
chapter on wild fruits; the buckthorns, several species of rham- 
mus, well distributed on the hillsides and mountains of the State. 
In some parts of the State there are also large areas of 
sage-brush or wormwood made up of several species of Artemi- 
sia, sage or chia, two species of Salvia, and the famous white 
and black sages of the bee-keepers, which are species of Andi- 
bertia, occurring chietly on the mountains of southern Califor- 
nia. Add to these the spireas, the azaleas, the rhodendrons, the 
sweet-scented shrubs (Calycanthus), etc., and include nearly all 
the wild fruit trees, bushes and vines mentioned in a previous 
chapter, and one will gain the idea that though California is 
widely considered a bare State, the land clearer has a host of 
plants confronting him and disputing his right to the soil. 
Cost of Clearing—The cost of clearing on the foot-hill 
slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges is too variable 
to admit of estimates except such as may be made on the spot by 
experienced persons. The cost varies, of course, according to 
the density of the growth of trees and underbrush, and the rate 
of wages to be paid. Though in some cases higher cost is 
reached, probably as a rule the expense of clearing will be from 
$s.00 to $30 per acre, less whatever the firewood might be worth. 
In exceptional cases, where there is a large growth and a good 
wood market near by, the wood may pay the expense or more; 
even the roots of chaparral sell in our cities at $3.00 or $4.00 per 
cord. It sometimes happens that charcoal can be produced to 
