New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-08
THE SOIL md VEGETA TON OF CAL-
IFOhNII.
From Our Own Correspondent.

SAN FRANCISCO May |, lcoc.
California has much very rich soil, aud fat more
entirely worthless. Two thirds If the surface Of
the State is made up of high and rugged mountains
The other third, composed Of valley land and low
hills includes many large tracts which will never
know tie plOw. Ire soll in the valleys, near tns
streams which drain them, is usu,lIy Of a light
sandy lcam, and very fertile Nearly all the rivers
owe rfow their banks in the Winter and Spring, and
deposit near their beds rich mold mixed with sand.
AiC0g the bases of the mountains there numerous
large springs and in the vicinity Of these there is light
black mold, formed apparently by the decay OF veg
etable matter on the spot unnlxed with the sand
which is found the banks of the rivers. In all the
main chOr,eI phicd divisions OF the State there are
here and there extremely fertile valleys and porto Ms
Of valley lard where larger crops can be produced
than have ever been raised in any other country.
The fame OF Calfornas nIanmonth crops OF pota-
toes, eabhsgcs, beets, onions, pumpkins, grapes,
wheat, barley and oats is worh-wlde; out Prooaoly
the greatness OF the produce is not owing so much
to the superior fertility Of the foil-although it is
very rich-0s to toe warmth Of the climate III Win
trr which iavOrs the growth Of vegetation during
ten or eleven months Of the year, while the coOpess
Of the mornings, nights and evenings during the
Summer favors such plants as elsewhere flourish
only in higher attitudes The rich soil Is, however,
not deep, except IN lew places.
On most Of the low hills and Il large portion Of
The valley land at little distance from the streams,
there is Il soil of grave! mixed with clay, which va
Hes in color from light yellow to bright red.
This erayclly clay is sometimes fertile but often
more deserving Of the name Of barren. The gravel
baTens DO not occupy so much space IN the coast
valleys MS 10 the basin of the Sacramento, and par
tculaIly the southern portion of it, in the vicinity of
ludre Lake. As an example q the character OF
TIE soil Of many Of the valleys Of California, sha
cite til, of tie Salinas Eiytr-tne largest valley in
the coast mountains. This valley Is hlGety miles
long ara nom eight 10 fourteen miles vide. The
valley is composed Of three levels or terraces. The
fret i four miles wide on an avrrage-tWo mIcs
on each side Of the river--ot a rich .oany a!uyit
toil. From tis bottom lard terrace, eleven feet
lieLer, rises abruptly, aud occupies about an equal
width II Tie valley. lie sol IN tins terrace Is
coarse uud less fertile Beyond this is an0tncr ter
race, less regular in hight and With, AID with a
soil Of coarse gravel, which produces only stunted
wild cats, or the poverty stricken bunch-erass In
many of the smaller valleys ths srhyeill soil II LOT
found IT e.
About Tularc Like there are also considerable
tracts covered with m alkaline etliore ccncc 10
many places nearly white as snow, and clear of
all vegetation. Many similar alkaline tracts are
found n the Colorado Desert. where there are also
Numerous daics and plans. whose soil bears great
.tmblarce 10 weed ashcs.
Whether the soil Of the salt uarsbe which sur
round tie bays Of san Francisco, san Pablo and
Sui.un can ever be made valuable for agricultural
purposes is question Vhich has not yet been 'ed
by experiment. tGere being an S0ludaAce Of excel
len, valley hand In the State sJ unculiiyatei.
have rpoken Of the nigh aud rugged mountains
as occupying tWo.thrds ot tue State out there are
O. err 4, lions Of those mountains often high up on
The sides, where grain and fruit might be raised 70
great advantage, rs has already been done III The
vicinity e many of TIE mining CAMPS.
lie indigenous vegetation Of Cu..ioruia-aud
purpose TO speak not in the present letter of thr M
ported and cultivated grains, herbs and fcWers-is
peculiar to the county or az lest 10 tAe western
.iJc OF tie .ontiuent. This vegetation boiani,ts
say, was MT introduced by seeds germs or sprouts
nom distant center Of creation, but had rs fret
isiu On the SOL where it nov hourlStes. Many
spcc;ts of California trees bear stron4 resemb nee
~ other species which .lOw u tn Atlantic states
ana Luoy-. O4' they are not the same We have
plpc tr Iyrlce. cedar. sycamore, cottonwood, an,
V0y.tlce, yew almond. horse.che,tnui, WilioH. i'g-
n,cd. ~ld grapevine, strdwoerr! raspberry
blackberry WLortlcbeTr}. roses, g0.cis- tal great
Muiftudc ol u.Lcr trees and shrubs 0ut they are
all different in species from the plants known by
ilcsc names in tie Atlantic States and Europe;
While msuy species common there have no hla here.
The graLdest vegetable product Of California :
The mammoth tree Of the Sierra Nevada Hgr0H'
10 tie hight of $50 end 400 feet, and Il a diameter
of 80 feet. and is found in but few places and in
small groves at hight OF about 800 ltct above tae
ocean level.
Next TO the Ia m.oth tree deserves to Ice ranked
liz redwood (Sequoa semPerrircis). large, beau
THU ara valuable evergreen, which bears great
resemblance to the mammoth tree that the two were
fer a time suprosed u be OF the same species The
redwood grows To a hight Of nearly or quite 300
feet, and 90 q diameter Of ID feet. The trunk il
straight ard often rises more than 100 feet without
a hnib. The bark is reddish brown in color aud
very :Aick, sometimes . 10 inches. The wood Is
red IN color, soft straight grained free splitting and
eAtrtmey durabe-so durable that II l. said l. la,t
for lCO years, either above or below ground. Rcd
wood spite 20 freely that boards - feet llng ana
mcbe- WIDE are frequently spit out with a regular