96 ` THE BOTANY OF THE CUYAMACA MOUNTAINS. 
mine, the country is varied with grassy meadows and hills covered 
with yellow pine and thick-cup oak, which here nearly altogether — 
replaces thé Q. agrifolia. Itis also less forward in leafing than on — 
the west slope where first seen, the old leaves almost all remaining. 
A low ridge east of this, and forming the summit of the steep de- : 
scent to the desert, produces a scattered growth of the P. Sabiniana — 
almost alone, just as it grows on the foot-hills bordering both sides 
of the San Joaquin valley, ete. 
Among the herbaceous plants I recognized most as familiar : 
northern species, and saw indications in their forms of a more arid - 
climate than on the west slope at the same elevation. Our rapid — 
journey and want of materials prevented me from obtaining @ : 
series of them, which would be interesting if only for the purposes ; 
of geographical botany. 
April 30th. The road now going northward led us over the cast 
base of the most northern peak, where I was much surprised | at 
passing through one of the densest forests I have seen in Califo 
for a distance of about five miles, consisting of the two live oaks 
and sugar pine, the former sometimes five to seven feet in diam- 
eter. The variety of Q. agrifolia, called Q. oayadera by Torrey, is 
quite numerous from: two thousand to four thousand feet altitud: 
| What made it most surprising was that a few rods from its shai 
po defined eastern edge, is the rocky barren ridge forming the rir 
~, the desert, and it seemed unaccountable how such a dense gro’ | 
of trees could exist there. I was informed, however, by Mr. 
that the “ Sonora rains,” as they are called here, are very fre 
on this slope during summer, supplying the requisite mois 
He also told us that Pine valley, about fifteen miles southw K 
oo 
x 
‘near ee as to fates little moisture shat: to be conseque 
ery arid. Such i is their character along the line selected fo 
f , where we came toa rolling hilly countrys £ 
ae perene trees, chiefly on north slopes, of the oaks, 
> and £ Sabiniana, — extending to San Felipe Pass, 
summit of which are the most productive gold - mines, 
n as Julian Sa four thousand fee l 
