52 STOCK RANGES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. 



road for shipment to Eureka, whence it is sent down to San Francisco 

 by steamer. 



The Cape Mendocino ranges are in greater need of early winter- 

 growing grasses than of summer grasses, differing entirely in this 

 respect from the ranges of the interior. The species which seem most 

 likely to answer this need are: Many-flowered millet grass (Oryzopsis 

 miliacea), reed fescue (Festuca arundinacea) , Texas blue grass (Poa 

 arachnifera), tall oat grass (Arrlie neither urn elatius), Japanese wheat 

 grass (Brachypodium japonicum), rescue grass (Bromus willdenoicii), 

 awnless brome grass (Bromus inermis). 



THE WHITE- ASH PRAIRIES. 



On the ridges which separate the smaller coast streams, e. g., the 

 Xoyo and Albion rivers, are found the "white-ash prairies," or 

 "white plains, " which are almost confined to this part of the State. 

 They do not cover the whole of a ridge, but predominate near its 

 western extremity where the sandstones outcrop. As its popular 

 name implies, the soil on these prairies is white and powdery; it 

 quickly works up into a thick dust resembling white wood ashes. It 

 is about a foot in depth, overlaying a sandstone of very loose texture, 

 and is said to be so impervious that after water has been allowed to 

 stand for two weeks it scarcely penetrates more than an inch or two. 

 A preliminary examination, kindly made by Prof. R. H. Loughridge, 

 of the agricultural experiment station at Berkeley, shows that this 

 soil contains a high percentage of humic acid and a low percentage 

 of phosphates and mineral matter; the subsoil (sand) is weak in phos- 

 phates. Dr. Loughridge points out that on such soil grain crops could 

 not be expected to live, though a few of the hardier grasses might 

 succeed, and that liming the soil would probably improve it, counter- 

 acting, the excessive acidity. 



As might be expected of a soil with such marked peculiarities, it is 

 characterized by a distinctive flora; such trees and shrubs as attain a 

 normal height on adjacent soils become dwarfed to almost pigmy 

 size on these white plains; the species most frequently met with are: 

 Tan-oak (Quercus densiflora), Prickle-cone Pine (Pinus muricata), 

 Coast Scrub Pine (Pinus contorta), Gowan Cypress (Cupressus goveni- 

 ana), Chinquainn (Castanopsis chrysophylla), Salal (Gaultheria shed- 

 lon), Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), Rhododendron (Rhododen- 

 dron calif ornicum), Myrica (Jlyrica ccdiforniea), Labrador Tea 

 (Ledum glandulosum), Manzanita (Arctostophylos nummularia and 

 other species) and species of Ceanotlius. 



Sub-shrubb}- and herbaceaons plants are also dwarfed; the follow- 

 ing are common: Polygcda ccdiforniea, Heliantliemum scoparium, 

 Xeropliyllum fenax, Hypericum concinnum, Gentiana menziesii, G. 

 oregana, Liliurn maritimum, Panicum unciphyllum, Agrostispringlei, 

 and Lotus leucoplumts, 



