386 AREA OF ARABLE AND GRAZING LAND PRODUCTIONS. 



We have thus obtained from reliable sources, a fair account of 

 the soil, situation and climate of California, with the exception of 

 that portion of the new State lying to the southward and eastward 

 of the Sierra Nevada and the Soast Range, and between those 

 mountains and the Colorado. This district is believed by experi- 

 enced Californians to be mostly desert ; at least, so much of it as 

 lies upon the usual emigrant trail from the Colorado to San Diego, 

 and that which is further north, in the neighborhood of Fremont's 

 explorations, is known to be of such - a character. Elsewhere, 

 however, in the large valley between the two great ranges of the 

 coast and the Sierra Nevada, and in the small lateral valleys that 

 pierce their rugged sides in every direction, are the arable lands of 

 California. In a previous part of this notice we have shown that 

 the present boundaries of the State give to her 155,550 square miles 

 of superficial area, or 99,552,000 square acres, exclusive of islands 

 adjacent to the coast. If it be granted that one half of California 

 is covered with mountains and that one fourth is a desert waste, we 

 have still one fourth, or 24,888,000 square acres of arable land left 

 for productive purposes. Messieurs Gwin, Fremont, Wright and 

 Gilbert, in their Memorial already cited, do not hesitate to assert, 

 that, after all due allowances, three-fifths of the whole territory, em- 

 braced in the State of California, will never be susceptible of culti- 

 vation or useful to man. This would leave, as the remaining two- 

 fifths, 62,220 square miles, or 39,820,000 square acres, constituting 

 the total valuable agricultural and grazing district, and distributed 

 at intervals over the whole surface within the actual boundaries. 1 



Such are some of the substantial elements of self-reliance and 

 independence possessed by the new State, exclusive of her precious 

 metallic deposits. The genial soil is well adapted for the growth 

 of those grains which are suitable for European or North American 

 emigrants. Wheat, barley, rye and oats grow abundantly, as well 

 as potatoes, turnips, onions, and all the roots known to our gardeners 

 and farmers. Oats, of the species cultivated in the Atlantic States, 

 are annually self-sown on all the plains and hills along the coast, and 

 as far inland as the sea-breeze has a marked influence on the cli- 

 mate. This fact indicates that similar grains may be raised in the 

 same region without resorting to irrigation. Apples, pears and 

 peaches may be brought to great perfection under skilful culture. 

 The grape, too, received much attention in former days at the mis- 

 sions and among the villagers, who produced an excellent fruit, the 



1 See Debates on the California Convention : Appendix p. xx. 



