Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-07-19
DESCRIPTION OF CALIFORNIA.

A DESCRIPTION OF CALIFORNIA,
The soil Is extremely varied, not only in
the two sections, but also in the different
portions Of each section; the bills and
mountains being entirely sterile, and val
leys and plains extremely fertile. That
of the valleys is vastly rich and productive,
so much so in fact, that think venture
nothing when say, that think it is not
surpassed, but that it is not even equalled.
The deep, rich alluval soil OF the Nile in
Egypt, does not afford parallel. Remarks
like these ] am aware, are apt 10 be con
sidercd as mere gratuiious assumptions;
hut to ascertain how far they are sustained
by fact, the reader is referred to the sequel,
especially that part of it, which treats o.
productions, which it is believed will no, only
convince him Of their truth, but may, per
haps induce him to indulge in assumptions
and speculations even more enlarged. The
soil Of the various valleys Of the western
section, varies from rich alluvial to deep
black, vegetable loan, upon a strata OF
sand, gravel, clay or trap rock. That OF
The plains, is, principally, deep, brown.
vegetable loan, or decompoSed basalt.
with a subslralum of stiff lay, or gravel
and sand. And that Of the hills is chiefly,
a brown, sandy loan, or loose, gravelly
soil. The mountains, and most OF the more
elevated hills are generally entirely barren.
and consist principally Of primitive rocks,
such as falcon slate, and other argillaceous
stone, with hornblend and granite. The
less elevated hills consist chiefly Of basaIt,
slate and marble. Gypsum and q kind OF
white clay are also found in many places;
the latter of which, is very abundant and
which is used extensively by the inhabitants,
for the purpose Of white washing their
dwelling houses, both externally and inter,
naIly. 1t is also used for the purpose O.
cleansing, is also used as a substitute for
soap, and for this purpose, it is found to be
most admirably adapted. 1t may be esti-
mated that about two-.hirds Of all the
Western section, are cultivated lands, and
that threefourths OF it, including the ara
BILE lands are pasturable lands, to each OF
which purposes the whole section, to the
extent and in the proportion stated, is Pc
cularly suited. The remaining part Of this
section which is the extremely mountain
Gus portion,i lis noticed Tor its extraordinary
barrenness and sterility. The soil Of the
valleys Of the Eastern section, is in all
respects, similar to that Of the valleys Of
the Western section; that Of the plains is a
deep brown loan, with a subsoil OF sand or
clay, and that of the hills is usually light,
brown, vegetable earth, having a sub~stra,
tum Of gravel, sand or clay. The noun.
tains and hills, like those OF the Western
section, are for the most part entirely ste
rifle, yet as before remarked, there are por.
tons of the hills and mountains even, that
are tolerably productive. There is much
greater variety OF soil in this than in the
Western section; in one days ride, you
may pass over every variety of soil, from
the most fertile to the most barren and I'm
productive. The mountains are generally
composed of falcon slate, granite, horn
blend and other primitive rock, and the
hills are principally composed of marble
limestone, basalt and slate. The white
clay before spoken of is also found in thi.
section, in great abundance. The ropor
ton Of barren land, is greater in this, thar
in the Western section, as nearly as
could ascertain, about one-third of The
section is susceptible of cutivation: while
about two-thirds including the arabic lands
are well suited to the grazing purposes
and the remaining third for extraordinary
unlrutfulness, and entire destiuton of al
lecundity can be surpassed, only by somt
portions of Oregon, which are seldom i
ever surpassed in worthlessness.