40 
GEOLOGY. 
Climate of the Tejon Valley .—We reached the Tejon on the third of September, and portions 
of the Expedition remained there until the ninth of October. At the time of breaking up the 
camp the temperature during the days was from 80° to 90°, and at night about 60°. The 
weather was evidently becoming cooler, and we were forcibly reminded of the approach of winter 
by the flocks of wild geese that passed to the southward every night. The Indians were 
engaged in collecting the thick clusters of ripe grapes for their winter use, and all the crops of 
melons were harvested. I learned from Mr. Eidley, one of the two settlers of this place, that 
the winter rains commence about the loth of December, and that then the grass springs up 
rapidly, and is green through the winter; by the month of April it is high on the plains, and 
is preferred by the cattle to the grass on the bottom land of the creek. The autumn months of 
October and November are the only ones without an abundance of green grass ; and this 
period may he regarded as the winter for cattle. It is said that snow sometimes covers the 
Tejon slope for a short time during the winter. Lieutenant Beale, who remained there during 
the rainy season of 1853-’54, informs me that the ground was thinly covered from the base of 
the mountains nearly to the lakes, and that ice was once found half an inch thick. This was 
considered as remarkable, and as an unusually severe winter. Snow, also, accumulated in the 
ravine of the pass to a depth of several feet, and it is, undoubtedly, found there in considerable 
quantity almost every winter, and also on the elevated valley of Tah-ee-chay-pah. 
During the stay of the main party and the escort at the Tejon, a full geological examination 
of the pass was made in connexion with Lieutenant Williamson’s surveys. The Canada de las 
Uvas was also examined, and an expedition made to the vicinity of the pass of San Amedio at 
the head of the Tulare valley. 
Other fields were planted with harley, corn, and vegetables, and the different Indian villages were surrounded with 
smaller fields similarly planted. The following tabular statement will give an idea of the extent of the crops raised, of the 
fertility of the soil, and the adaptation of both the soil and climate to agriculture : 
Description of crop. 
Amount in 
bushels. 
Number of 
acres. 
Bushels 
per acre. 
Wheat - -- -- -_--------------- 
61,530 
2,051 
30 
Barley ____--------__ 
8,000 
400 
20 
Corn_---------- 
12,480 
416 
30 
Beans __------- 
600 
25 
30 
Turnips 
10 
Pumpkins melons and cabbages 
300 
The crop of one acre, that presented a favorable appearance, was carefully measured, and the yield found to be fifty 
l ushels. 
A nursery, of young fruit trees was commenced and planted with upwards of two thousand plants, including grapevines, 
pear, orange, fig, pomegranate, peach, apple, and cherry trees. These all appear to thrive well, and will, doubtless, 
develop rapidly. 
The Indians, by whose labors these results have been accomplished, came from remote portions of California, and speak 
different languages. 
Mr. Beale appears to have been remarkably successful in his attempt to control these savages, and to cause them to labor 
for their maintenance. By judicious management, they have been led to labor together cheerfully, and to become greatly 
interested in their occupations. 
When I was last at the Tejon, in October, 1853, the ground on which these crops were raised had never been furrowed 
by a plough, and in the summer of 1854 the crops mentioned in the preceding table were harvested. No better evidence 
of the fertility of soils, composed of granitic gravel and sand, can he presented. 
