The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-27
The Probable Drought OF Next Summer In
Cnlifnrnln.

From the Alta California. Feb. l6l
II il now past the middle Of February. There
are not two weeks of winter, properly called left
Not more than five six weeks of the sea- son
usually looked upon "a, and called, 'rainy" to ra
main. Yet we have not had as much rain since the
close Of the last rainy season as fell in the first rain
in October, l849. From the present Indications
and those which have prevailed for some two weeks
it seems more than probable that the dry season"
has actually begun The cold west winds have COM
menced swelling in upon us from the old ocean, and
scarce hope remains that we are TO have even the
quantity, Of rain usual between this date and the
end Of March.
Under these circumstances, independent Of our
interest in the miners, and their prospects in the dry
dggings, the question naturally arises, what Is to
become Of tho five stock of the country Agricu-
tural pursuits will undoubtedly suffer exceedingly
fortune will fall very heavily upon many who have
but just commenced farming, and have involved
their all in the new undertaking. Wherever they
have arranged their land so that they can rrgate,
they may be able to avoid the ruin which severe
and long drought would otherwise inflict for,
however superior rain is to irrigation, the latter
will answer when the former cannot be had, and
good crops may be realized by its use.
But the question ms to live stock has yet to be
swered. The wealth OF many of the people in this
State consists in their stock. The life Of their stock
depends upon the supply of water and grass to which
they have In many parts Of the country,
the long season intervening between the close and
beginning of the rainy season, even after the rain
has been abundant, suices, with its dry andhot
winds, to make both water ana grass scarce. what
will be their condition by next September, should
no more rain fall, il not difficult to imagine. The
grass will be dead and worthless, the springs dried
up. So much impressed that such will be the
is large owner Of cattle TO the east of this bay that
we wot Of, that We hear he offers to sell sixteen
hundres head of cattle for thirteen thousand dol
lars obligating himself to drive them wherever the
purchaser may desire. lie fears they will all die
with the coming drought.
1t is said that such seasons have been experienced
here before and that the cattle died BY thousands
for want Of sustcnance, water and grass. How
ought the rancheros to act, in view of such an
emergency! Very little idea Of improvement here
toforc has been entertained by the people of this
country, and that of saving cattle BY artificial
means, could scarcely have been tried fthought of,
so indoent, generally, are those who yegetate on
these ranches, like the weeds and thstles, and go
piers.
Yet on many of these ranches, or stock farms the
means of rrigating the soil and turning water upon
land which, without it, is yalueess and herbess are
easily found. Wells be sunk in places possess
ing considerable elevation, and water found at
point so much above the level Of much Of the land,
that stream might be turned upon it. and thus
sustcnance forced from the earth to support the poor
brute creation. In many Of the little valleys among
the mountains there are streams which never dry
up, and which slight acquaintance with engineer
ing might enable the farmer to wcld to his own Will
and the salvation of his stock and crops.
We understand that some have already com
menced preparing for the approaching time Of trial
by examining and surveying preparatory to turn
ing, by slight canals the water of the creeks into
new meadows, and for new purposes. IL may be,
after ALL that this dry season, should IL prove 50,
will be an immediate means of developing the re-
sources Of the country and the energies OF her peo
ple by forcing them to devise ways and means to
make themselves, their focks, and farms indepen-
caution should BE- tried-the work commenced at
IL be too late,