Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01

III tue ILLS dt Tue ilOl thCll
end OF the valley gives greater density to
the forests, and permits them to grow at
lower elevations than in the southern end
OF the valley. AT the same time the differ
ence IN temperature is so small that the
character OF the vegetation of the hills at
each end of the valley is not dissimilar.
Inc trees that are found in the vicinity of
heddInS, at the northern end of the valley,
Deiow an elevation of 800 feet, are not
found at the southern end until we pass
Callente at an elevation OF | 300 feet. 1t
would seem that the temperature of the
valley prevails up the Sierra to an elevation
that equals the average hight of the Coast
Range OF mountains. If a line were drawn
parallel to the surface of the ocean from
the top OF the Coast Range east until it
met the TANKS of the Sierra, it would
mark level ON the Sierra below
winch the temperature would not
materially dliler from that in the Sacra-
mento valley This fact is probably to be
ascrloeu 20 The prevailing southwest return
trade wind, which blows over the State
ifom the ocean for more than three hun
afeq Gays IN the year. Passing the sum-
I mlts OF the Coast Range but small por-
| mons descend into the valley; the re-
mainder reach the sides of the Sierra at
about the level of the SUBMITS they have
passed.
ARBoREAL VEGETATION.
At the northern end of the valley, at an
elevation of 500 feet above the sea. of the
Sanfernia oaks are found Qacrclts lobota,
SoaoRaeasis, Chrysotopis H'iS}esenii: of pines,
only the nut or Digger pine (Pinais SaJiit,-
tand); the buckeye .Esctlus Crfi5ornica1
and chemisal (Adenestoala fasicaiqfG>. This
Is the characteristic arboreal vegetation
| throughout all these $50 miles. Its pres
| ence everywhere shows increased rainfall
! over the valley, and similarity of temper
azure TO that of the valley. Our pasture
oak (Qaercats lo6dta) is found at lower ele-
vations, in the valley, but always on moist
| land or near river courses, proving that it
demands, in addition 10 temperature the
, increased moisture. In the southern end
OF the valley this vegetation prevails at
| hlgher elevations, because it there finds the
proper temperature and moisture. Where
ever on the foothills any of the trees named
constitute the predominant arboreal vege-
tauon, 1t is evidence that the temperature
is the same as that of the val
ley, and that plants that can be success
| fuily grown IN the valley can be grown
| 10 as high an elevation on the hills
as these trees abound. If one tree were to
| be taken as the evidence of this uniformity
OF temperature it would be Sabin's (the
nut, or Digger pine. It's never seen in the
! valley or on the hills below an elevation of
about 400 feet. Ii is not foana az q higher
elevation than that in which the tempera-
ture is the same as that of the valley. It
Is never found in groves, but singly among
| other trees, yet 1t prevails throughout these
800 miles OF foothills While the vegeta-
ton IS more dense on the hills at the north
! ern end of the valley, due to increased pre-
cipitation, there are also local differences
where there is similarity of soil-due to
exposure. Throughout all the lower hills
the greatest number Of trees is found on
| gently sloping eastern, northeastern and
northern hilsides, which necessarily are
more moist and cool. The southern aspects
contain less trees because exposed to the
direct rays of the sun and to the full force
Of the prevailing winds
AREA OF FooTHILL REGION.
On the line of the Central Pacific Rail
road the foothills commence at Roseville
which has an elevation of 1853 feet From
this point to Characterization 2,42l feet
in a direct line is a distance of 90 miles.
To allow for all possible errors it would be
safe TO estimate that the width of the foot
hills, where the valley temperature pre-
walls, is 20 miles. This region, therefore.
embraces tract of country from Redding
to Calaveras county, 20 miles wide. The
principal towns in this part of the
| States are Orovilie, Nevada, Grass Valley.
Colfax, Auburn, Newcastle Georgetown,
Placeryille, Coloma and Jackson. In the
vicinity of these towns, and also near the
line of the Central Pacific Railroad the
land is occupied by settlers. 1t would be
using large figure to state that half
million acres of these foothills have been
pre-empted. Throughout the whole region
| everything springs are numerous ; and in
/ those parts where there has been placer
mining there are many canals from which
water, by purchase, can be obtained for
| Irrigation. The immense precipitation
that takes place during the rainy season
along the western face of the Sierra passes
through this region in streams that are
tributaries to the Sacramento.
ADAPTATION TO CULTIVATION.
Every agricultural product that can be
grown in the valleys, including the semi
tropical fruits, can be grown with equal ia
cility in these foothills. Ordinarily the
land has to be cleared of the trees found
upon 1t, and cultivation must be continu-
Gus, for on the whole western face of the
Sierra the native trees, when cut or burned
down, are rapidly replaced by a new
growth OF the same kinds These
| lands are found to have all of the
requisites for the successful growth
of orchards. Fruit trees thrive better
upon them than on the lands of the valley.
the cause of the treeless condition of MANY
plains and prairies having ample rainfall
seem to be entirely satisfactory, but expert
ence has demonstrated that orchards grow
best and thrive with less artificial aid on
lands that in a natural condition are Gov
cred with treee. The increasing exports of
small fruits, such as small strawberries
backberrles, and raspberries from The vi
cinity of Newcastle and Auburn. and their
a tv fkat ~.
better adapted to their culture than any
place yet found on the level lands of the'
valley. The peaches of Coloma have a
State reputation for flavor and size The
apples of Nevada and Georgetown are
equal in size, taste, and keeping Qualities
/ to the best imported from Oregon. The
Oroville oranges have been pronounced
equal to the best Los Angeles The vine
grows with luxuriance and bears abund-
antly wherever it has been planted
throughout all this region The wines of
! Coloma have more than a local reputation.
Persons competent to judge assert that
wine from grapes grown on the foothills is
free from the earthly taste that character
! ICES much of the wine of the fat land of
\ the valleys. They also express the belief
that if ever wineis TO be made in California
as light as that from the Rhine and as free
from alcohol, the grapes will he grown in
IilS Vi Tue lOOlDlliS, WIlerS
snow falls and remains on the ground q
few weeks each season. 1t is said that
/ the long summers and great heat
of the valleys develop the saccharine mat
ter in the grape. which by fermentation is
converted into alcohol.
LANDS OPEN TO SETTLEMENT.
| Land can only be obtained from the
Government in tracts of eighty and one
hundred and sixty acres. A monopoly OF
( the land in large estates is consequently
/ impossible The character of the country
being of rolling and rounded hills prevents
/ the possibility OF very large farms. Ex-
periments have shown that the soil is more
/ productive than the dry plains of the val
ley, but of course it does not yield crops as
largely as the deltas and bottom lands of
the rivers. Il is certainly better and more
productive than lands similarly situated in
France, Switzerland, and Italy, which now
sustain population of millions. Wood is
everywhere to be found, and in this region
north OF Oroville there is an abundance of
water in the streams and springs not yet
appropriated. These lands have remained
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