THE OPEN, SUMMER, OR ANNUAL RANGE. 25 



mer temperature is not lowered, as on the coast and in some of the 

 mountain valleys, by any sunshade in the form of banks of high fog. 



Precipitation. — Over a large part of northern and middle Cali- 

 fornia the rainy season, which is also the season of plant growth, 

 commences with the latter part of September or early October and 

 ends in April or May, varying with the year; the remaining three to 

 five months constitute the dry or dormant season. In this particular 

 section of the region, however, showers usually continue through 

 May, and frequently into June, while August sometimes brings thun- 

 derstorms; in August, 1899, the rainfall varied in different localities 

 from 0.10 to 1 inch. Mr. Bell, of Bells Springs, states that July is 

 usually the only month in the year entirely free from rain. Mr. 

 Tooby, of Harris, gives the mean annual rainfall at that station as 

 about 40 inches. Reports from other points show that it is no less 

 elsewhere, and possibty greater. Some snow usually falls on the 

 plateau each winter. The open ridges are not subject like the coast 

 bluffs to sea fog with its refreshing moisture. 



Water supply. — Ephemeral springs are common on the ranges in 

 the winter months, but quickly dry up with the advent of summer. 

 Though excellent perennial springs occur here and there on the high 

 ridges, the} 7 are usually far apart, and the dustj 7 traveller may pass 

 many a weary mile before finding a good camping place. Along the 

 gulches and steep sides of the canyons, however, water is always to 

 be found within accessible distance for stock. (See PI. V, fig. 2). In 

 such places the springs never dry up, doubtless on account of the 

 protection and shade afforded by the timber and brush. 



Soils. — The plateau soils consist, for the most part, of gravelly, 

 yellow-brown, or reddish clays. A comparison of analyses of these 

 and of the mountain valley soils is given on page 17. 



From the nature of its physical conditions the upland range, which 

 forms by far the largest portion of this section of the country, is never 

 likely to be devoted to any other use than grazing, being unfitted for 

 the general production of agricultural or timber crops. Whatever 

 can be done, therefore, to imx3rove the ranges will benefit one of the 

 most important industries of the region. 



At present the two industries of beef cattle and sheep raising are 

 of about equal importance. 



THE OPEN, SUMMER, OR ANNUAL RANGE. 



As before noted, the open ranges occupy the summits and western 

 slopes of the plateau ridges as well as the slopes of the higher moun- 

 tains forming its eastern boundary. 



Grasses and other forage plants. — The prevailing grasses are: (1) 

 Rat-tail fescue, locally called " squirrel- tail " and "poverty grass" 

 (Festuca myuros ciliata) small barley grass (Hordeum maritimum gus- 

 soneanum)-, (3) Soft chess (Bromus hordeaceus and var. glabrescens) < 



