TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIA S. 
343 
half a crop the third. My friend Dr. Marsh, a resident on 
the banks of the Rio Sacramento, and intimately acquainted 
with the Californias for the last fifteen years, writes the au¬ 
thor thus: “ The southern parts of Upper California are 
generally too dry and warm for the successful cultivation of 
wheat ; tolerable crops, however, are raised. But from Mon¬ 
terey northward, and particularly in the vicinity of San Fran¬ 
cisco’s Bay, most extraordinary crops are raised with very 
negligent cultivation. It is not uncommon to make two, 
three, and even five crops from only once sowing. The 
average annual yield is from thirty to fifty bushels from one 
of seed sown. In one particular instance, in which something 
more than ordinary care was used, and of which I was an 
eye-witness, from ten bushels sown, three thousand six hun¬ 
dred and fifty-tw T o bushels were harvested.” Bai ley and oats, 
the latter more especially, since their introduction, have spread 
very widely over the plains, and are now seen everywhere 
growing without culture most luxuriantly, and in immense 
tracts. Maize returns about one hundred and fifty-fold. In 
Lower California, these grains can be raised only in localities 
which can be irrigated. In 1839, the harvested crops of 
grains in Upper California amounted to 69,000 bushels of 
wheat, 22,000 of maize, 3,000 of frixolcs , 15,000 of barley, 
700 of peas. When an intellectual and industrious race 
shall plough that soil, and harvest its generous crops, the 
Californias will become the granary of Western America. 
The Irish and the sweet potato have been introduced by 
American settlers, and thrive remarkably well. Cabbages, 
turnips, and other garden vegetables have not yet been tested. 
But no doubt can be entertained that these would grow as 
well as any other plants. 
Hemp and flax have been tried, and prove congenial to the 
climate and soil. 
But the grape will undoubtedly be the great staple product 
of the Californias. It is now considerably cultivated. On 
this subject my intelligent friend Dr. Marsh writes' thus : 
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