Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-18

ed, but with sufficient frequency TO desig-
nate the period of their continuance from
about the middle of November until the mid
die of May, in the latitude of San Fracis-
CO, as the ,oet season
1t follows, as matter Of course, that the
dry season commences first, and continues
longest in the southern portion of the Ter
ritory and the climate of the northern part
is influenced in much less degree, by the
causes which have mentioned, than any
other section Of the country. Consequent
ly we find that as low down as lat. 80. deg.
rains are sufficiently frequent in summer to
render irrigation quite unnecessary to the
perfect maturity ofany crop which is suited
to the soil and climate.
There is an extensive ocean current OF
cold water which comes Eom the northern
regions of the pacific or, perhaps, from the
Attic, and flows along the coast Of Califor-
MIA. 1t comes charged with, and emiis in
Its progress, air, which appears in the form
OF tog when II comes IN contact with high
er temperature on the American coast, as
the gulf stream of the Atlantic exhaes va
por when it meets, in any part of its pro-
has not been surveyed, and therefore, its
source, temperature, velocity, width, and
course, have not been accurately ascertain
ed.
1t is believed by Lieut.. Maury, on what he
considers sufficient evidence-and no high
authority can be cited-that this current
comes from the coast of China and Japan,
flows northwardly to the peninsula of Kam-
taschatka, and making circuit to the east
ward strikes the American coast in about
latitude IL or AZ. Itpasses thence south
wardly, and finally loses itself in the tro-
pics.
Below latitude thirty-nine, and west Of
the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada, the for
ests of California are limited to some scat
tering groves of oak in the valleys and "a
long the borders of the streams, and of red
wood on the ridges and in the gorges OF the
hlils-Sometlmes extending into the plains
Some Of the hills are covered with dwarf
shrubs, which may be used as fuel. With
these exceptions, the whole territory pre-
sents surface without trees or shrubbery
1t Is covered, however, with various species
of grass, and for many miles from the coast
with wild oats, which in the valleys, grow
most luxuriantly. These grasses and oats
mature and rlpen early III the dry season,
and soon cease TO project the soil from the
scorching rays of the sun. As the summer
advances, the moisture IN the atmosphere
and the earth, to a considerable depth, soon
becomes exhausted; aud the radiation of
heat, from the extensive naked plains, and
bill sides, is very great
The cold dry currents of air from the
northeast after passing the rocky mountains
and the Sierra Nevada, descend TO the Pa
chic, and absorb the moisture of the at
mosphere, 10 great distance from the land.
The cold air from the mountains and that
which accompanies the great ocean current
from the northwest, thus becomes united,
and vast banks OF fog are generated, which,
when driven by the wind, has penetrating
or cutting effect on the human skin, much
more uncomfortable than would be felt in
the humid atmosphere Of the Atlantic at
much lower temperature.
As the sun rises from day to day, week
after week, and month after month, in I'M
clouded brightness during the dry season,
and pours down his unbroken rays on the
dry, unprotected surface of the country, the
heat becomes SO much greater inland than
it is on the ocean, that an under current of
cold AIR, bringing the fog with it, rushes o.
yer the coast range of hills, and through
their numerous passes, towards the interl-
or.
Every day, as the heat, inland, attains
sufficient temperature, the cold, dry wind
from the ocean commences below. This
is usually from eleven to one O'Clock; and
as the day advances the wind increases aud
continues to blow till late at night. When
the vacuum is filled, or the equilibrium of
the atmosphere restored, the wind ceases
a perfect clam pervails until about the same
hour the following day, when the same pre-
cess commences and progresses as before,
and these phenomena are of daily occur
renee, with few exceptions, throughout the
dry season.
These cold winds and fogs render the
climate at San Francisco, and all along the
coast of California, except the extreme
southern portion of it, probably mole I'M
comfortable, TO those not accustomed to it,
in summer than in winter.
lew miles inland, where the heat OF
the sun modifes and sofens the wind from
the ocean, the climate is moderate and de-
lightiul. The heat in the middle of the
day is not so great as to retard labor, or rem
der exercise in the open air uncomfortable.
The nights are cool and pleasant. This
description of climate prevails in all the val
legs along the coast range, and extends
throughout the country, north and south, as
far eastward as the valley of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin. In this vast plain the
sea-breeze loses its influence, and the de-
gree of heat in the middle of the day, dur
ing the summer months, is much greater
than is known on the Atlantic coast in the
same laiitudes. Its dry, however, and prob
ably not more oppressive. On the foot-hills
of the Sierra Nevada, and especially in the
deep ravines of the streams, the thermome-
ter frequently ranges from ITO deg. to lis
deg in the shade, during three or four
hours of the day, say from eleven until three
O'Clock. In the evening, as the sun de-
clnes, the radiation of heat ceases. The
cool, dry atmosphere from the mountains
spreads over the whole country, and renders
tho NIGHTS cool and iuyioOra rating