NAPA VALLEY. 15 
level, without a hill or depression. In many places 
ploughmen were at work turning up the soil, which 
was of the richest description. Barley appeared to be 
the principal grain sowed, this being in more general 
use for horses than oats, and found to give a better 
yield. In one place I noticed a hill, the whole of which 
had been sowed with barley, presenting a field of more 
than a hundred acres. The soil here was loose; and 
as the water had run off, the ground was in a fit. state 
for cultivation. The valley below was still very wet, 
and would not be ina fit state to plough for weeks 
yet. On this account, the declivities possess an advan- 
tage for early planting, over the level plains. 
At 2 o'clock reached the village of Napa, where 
we dined. Distance travelled, twenty miles. The 
road was excellent, except in two places, where the 
valley was still wet, and where our horses sank deep 
inthe mud. Napa Creek is navigable to this point, 
even for vessels of a large burden, should it be neces- 
sary to bring them here, which will hardly be the case. 
Near the town is the hulk of a ship. It was bought 
by a gentleman in San Francisco for a trifle and brought 
here, where it is used asa storeship, as well as for 
the residence of the owner and his family. She cost 
much less than it would have done to erect a small 
dwelling, and the owner has besides the advantage of 
a large warehouse. She lay close by the river's bank ; 
and with a doorway cut in her side, the entrance was 
made quite easy. A steamboat now runs to San Fran- 
cisco, which will tend to populate rapidly this beautiful 
valley, and render the town of Napa the centre of one 
of the richest agricultural districts in the State. After 
