The Hillside Farmer and the Forest. 39 



Again the crop of worthless shrubbery grows here as 

 elsewhere, and what looks like a close-cropped lawn is one 

 enormous field of matted manzanita. Even the smallest 

 blade of grass is prevented from unfolding under such 

 usurping mass, and the area is now as worthless as it was 

 when covered with the thick, useless pines. No attempt 

 at concealment is thought of when the next fire is set out 

 to burn this struggling shrubbery. 



Yet we find that even now, after the second firing, 

 much rubbish and fallen timber remain that require gath- 

 ering and refiring ere the plow can break the soil or 

 the grazing cattle can pick the scant feed unhindered. 



The third picture shows the general character of the 

 land where such conditions prevail. The settlements 

 range along the creek-beds, and the houses crowd to the 

 roadsides. Vineyards occupy some hillsides, and small 

 orchards are set out where the soil promises fair returns. 

 The tailings in the mined-out channels have been leveled 

 and dams are thrown up to retain the good soil that 

 passes with the winter rains. Here sufficient garden- 

 stuff is raised for the home, and enough surplus to war- 

 rant peddling in the neighboring towns. 



But if it were not for favorable conditions that pre- 

 vail here and there, such as a roadside tavern, a " sta- 

 tion," or the settingup of a blacksmith-shop, thus insuring 

 an extra income, few of these settlements would offer 

 enough inducement for the establishment of a home- 

 stead. The hard-laboring son of Italy, with few needs 

 and a numerous family to assist him in the rough work, 

 finds his way to a competence, and even to the accumula- 

 tion of a heritage, especially when trade in the product 

 of the vine adds to his savings. 



