The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-12-08

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have already somewhat considered. Ths
it would be more inviting and attractive
in aspect. especially to those unaccustom
ed to such sterility through tie latter bal
of each year, cannot be doubted. Will
such rain, it's natural pa.turage would
suffice for twice its present number o.
cattle, while culyitaion could be extend ed
far up into the mountains, on lands now
deemed arabic only when irrigated. Yet
on the other hand, these dry Summers
have their advantages. BY their aid the
most beautiful harsests Of hay and Grain
are secured iu the best order, and By
means of the esst possible labor. Weeds
are not half soinseierate and troublesome
here as in rainy countries. A given "a
mount of labor accompIishes far more in
/ any direction than at the East. The sise
man may start on journey, of business
or pleasure, without consulting his baron
eter, and the fool without looking into his
almanac. Nobody, save in Winter or
early Spring, ever casts an apprehensive
look at the skies; it may be cloudy CT fog
gy, as it often is; but you know it cannot
rain till next November, and lay your
plans accordingly. | have passed large
fields of standing Wheat that have been
desd-ripe for at least month; they will
she'll some when cot, but the Grain will
be bright and plump as ever. All thro'
the Grain region, you see Wheat that has
been tbrcshed and sacked, and piled up
in the open 6eld where it grew, to await
the farmers convenience in taking it to
market. and it III sy lie so for mouths With
out damage, unless from squirrels or goph
ers. Wheat sown throug hout the Winter,
though the earlier sown is the surer--
Ploxing commences With the rains, and
sowing should follow as closely as may
be. Very decent crops of "volunteer'
Grain are often grown, BY simply har-
rowing in the seed sheled out and lost in
the process Of harvesting-sometiue O.
ven though The harrowipg is omitted. But
the ground squirrels arc apt to intercept
this process By filing the graia fields with
their holes. aud eating up all tbs scatter
ed grain and goot deal more They
are great pest in many localities, and
StTycbuiBe is freely and effectively eg-
ployed to diminish their numbers.
TIE MOUNTAINS AND MINES.
| have estimated that barely one third
of the total area of unsubmerged Califor-
MIA is perfectly arabic; but it would be
great mistake to suppose the residue
worthless. At least Thirty Millions of
acres mere are covered by rugged bills
and mountains, mainly tiubered much
of the timber being large and OF the best
quality. Yellow, Pitch and Sugar Pine
the Pitch Pine being scarcely akin to
its stuntcd and serukby New England
namesske. but tall and valuable tree
the Sugar being nearly identical with our
White Pine, save that its sap is ssecha-
Cedsr, Red sood, Spruce,
Balsam Fir--ali these averaging at least
twice the size of the trees in any forest |
ever cav elsewhere, while Balsan is just
tbe most shspely and graceful tree on
esrth-such are the forests which cover
all hut the enowy peaks of the mountsins
Of California. Trees six to eight feet
through arc as conIoon in the sierra Ne
vada. and | hesr in the Cos5, Range also,
as those three to four feet in diameter are
Ior were)ia the pine forests of New York
and New England. Consider that these
giants look down on the Cold Mines
aherein very large proportion Of the
most active population OF this State
must for ages be employed, while the az
ricutural districts lie just below them,
and even the seabosrd cities arc but a
lays ride further, aud the value of these
-orests becomes apparent. The day is
lot distant there are those living who
Sill see it---when what is nov California
will have population of Three to Six
Millions; then eligible timber lands in the
Sisrra will be worth more per aore tn4p
would now be psid for farms in the rich
,st valleys near San Francisco.
The tissber of the lower bills and plains
$ generally Oak short. bodied, wide
and of poor quslity, save for
fuel, being brash (easily broken, like
,lay pipe-sieG), and not surable. The
ore eom IN on variety looks like the White
Oak found in New England pastures but
,esem bles ii in looks only. Live Oak is
lext in abundanee, and also poor arti-
lie. Ii has a smooth, dark bark, short
rocked trunk, profusion Of gooi-for-
,othing limbs, end small, deep green
caves. which defy the frosts Of Winter.
The trunk is often bafked By Wand ala for
aiming, leaving the tree standing alive,
,ut certain 70 die Black and Rock Oak
ire found 10 some of the mountain val.
eys, and seem to be OF fair quality
large Cottonwood and Sycamore line
ome of the streams, but very sparingly.
Ter Esergreens are the pride Of Califor-
Iis.
The Gold Mines are generally found
.moDg the foot hills of the Sierra or in
be beds OF the streams which traverse
bose bills. In many instances, bills now
over where rivers once ran--how long
inee, who may telll Trees in state of