Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-25
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
SKETCHES OF WESTERN TRAVEL
[CoNcLrnED MON QUE LAsTl

SKETCHES OF WESTERN TRAVEL.
CONCLUDED FROM OUR LAST
As regards the climate of this country,
it is by far the most evenly, mild, and de-
lightlul, Of any that | ever experienced
before. It is very seldom cithertoo hot or
TO cold to be comfortable; for during the
sumner and autumn, there is almost inva-
riably brisk gale, or sea breeze from the
N. w. which renders it cool and pleasant,
especially the evenings and nights. Then
during the winter and spring, the breeze
Is equally as steady from the s. Il. which
soFtcns the temperature of the winters; so
that it seems to me, after being in the cold
and rigid climate Of Missouri, or even there
in my old native land, North Carolina,)
that ! have enjoyed almost a perpetual
summer, since have been in California
and feel disposed to exclaim in the words
OF the poet, (when speaking of being happy
in our blessed Redeemer,) that "Decem-
ber's as pleasant as May" for there is not
month in the whole year, in which there
are not full blown wild flowers to be seen
on the mountains, or hills, or in the val
leys, and during two thirds of the year,
great portion of the country is beautifully
decorated with great variety of the spon-
tancous productions of the fabled d goddess
Of Flora. The seasons here are not so well
divided as we frail mortals are prone to
wish but they arc as the creator of us,
and them, intended them to be- and there
fore, we, his creatures, ought to be satisfied;
and | have come to the conclusion, that if
the seasons seem to us TO be deficient in
some respects, that defect is made up in
others, which / will cndeavor to make APP
Faar, WHOM / speak Of tho predictions of
tho soil. The season here is divided into
the rainy and the dry. The former COM
monces in November that is the regular
rainy season, (although there is in Septem-
bor, and sometimes as early as August, oc-
casional showers) and continues until the
first Of April Then occasional showers
until the first Of June. Then from that
time until August, or September, we have
no rain.
But during the rainy season there are
frequently several days at a time of good
clear, pleasant weather; and portions Of the
time it is cloudy md misty, which does not
much hinder the people from their Ordina-
ry business. 1t seldom ever SHOWS here
at all, and in the valleys never more than
to barely whiten the ground, and that melts
of almost Immediately; while at the same
time, Oh the summit of the mountains In
full view, the snow sometimes falls IN such
quantities as to cover the ground 2 feet
deep, aui lays for days or weeks.
As 10 the productions of the soil here,
! cunsiIcr them equal to those Of any other
country | have been in. Almost all kinds
of produce raised in other parts Of America,
may be raised here, if properly cultivated.
Wheat, Oats, and Barley, yield better here
than any where else that have been, ex-
ccpt in Oregon and is equal to that. We
commence seeding here, as soon as the first
rains fall, and continue seedinguuti March,
and sometimes April aud even then make
pretty fair crops, though the first sowing is
much the best. | have not yet had suff-
cient experience, to give you anything like
an accurate estimate of the yield per acre,
and so will not attempt it. As for corn
there is very little planted here yet,-sel-
dom more by any farmer than small
piece for Roasting ears" which almost
every one has,-say from quarter of an
acre, TO , or acres. In fact there is not
much use for corn here yet, but | believe
that it eau be raised here very well, espe-
cially lift be planted on land which can
be irrigated. Vegetables of all kinds
probably grow finer Lore, and in Oregon
(which is about oqual,) than any where
else in the United States, if irrigated; but
most of them do not do we'll without water.
ing; but great many of the farms here
are SO situated, that they can, with very
little trouble, irrigate sufficient quantity
Of land, to raise all the vegetables they
want; and when once prepared, it require:
very little time or trouble, to water Their
land every day though once in week, il
often enough. This method, and the fre
auent heavy dcws and fogs which occur
here, think compensate in great meas
ure. for the dryness of the summers.
am inclined TO think that this is not a,
ccoa a country for fruits, as some other
have been in except for grapes, il
which it far excels all others | have seen
and is thought to be as good as any other
nr,bably. in the world. There are now al
abundance of the most delicious grape
nroduced here, and in few years ther
will be a great many more, as almost ever,
farmer is rearing a vineyard.
AS for other fruits which are common il
the older states, there is not much ehanc
vet to tell what they will do here; a
there are not many trees old enough t
bear; though there were some peaches o
a pretty fair quality, produced in Sonom
valley last summer, and also some apples
and pears, Of moderate quality. Blu