Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-14

Rare faii DnrN.
The fall months preceding the rains
In California are rarely dwelt upon by
loca or general writers Even artists
seldom transfer to canvas tho uniformly
dull hues OF an autumnal landscape in
the southern or mid lie portions Of the
State In consequence OF this tacit ig-
noring Of what is considered the least
interesting season, strangers arriving
In California at this period are apt to
feel shock of disappointment This
land OF interminab!e stubble-telds,
vineyards OF stumpy vines, and dust
clouded orchards, ridgcd by ashen or
brown foothills, is ardly the picture of
their dreams
Except through tho comparatively
small sections devoted 10 the culture of
citrus fruits, an autumn excursion up
CALIFORNIA; great inland valleys pre-
sents a cherries monotony OF color, says
a correspondent writing firm Ukiah,
Cal All the royal crimson and. gold of
an Eastern fail are wholly wanting.
The vegetation on every hand wears a
soiled and faded aspect Nature is
athirst, and eloquent in dumb pleadings
for the rain.
1t is only when one enters the more
sparse settled northern counties that
flying change IS vldent. The absence
of dust on The foliage and the Increased
number OF deciduous trees and shrubs
arc some OF TIE causes of this general
frightening Here the lustroIs ever
green of the wild nutmeg, laurel, noun.
tain lilac, madrone and the sombsr
shades of redwoodS and taabara oaks
are in striking contrast to the bandeaux
and knots OF splendidly. tinted leaves
about to fall. The dense, pea green
clumps OF man7anita show the satin
gloss of claret-colored boughs, and the
WILD grape filings a gorgeous canopy
over streams cas- aiding down the canons'
steps.
In Mendocino the rugged topo; raphy
Of the country is broken into numerous
lovely valleys watcrod by frequent
streams, along whose banks are rich
areas Of agricultural land which arc
never irrigated In early fall bands OF
heavy-coated sheep wander over the
sunny wheat stubbe OF these valleys.
AS the season advances these countless
focks are driven 10 the hills, where
sheariny and slipping" ara resorted to
before turning them, shorn and bleat-
ing, on their winter pastures in the
mountains.
A sheepherders life In these coast
ranges is not without its thrilling mis-
haps and adventures in which mountain
lions, wildcats, wolves, coyotes, and an
occasional grizzly figure prominently. A
month ago watchiul herder near Rock
Peak shot lion that proved to be the
largest ever seen in these parts. IL
measured nearly eight feet from the tip
OF It's nose to The end of its tail. The
night before the beast had killed and
partially buried in the debris of the for.
est the bodies OF fourteen sheep.
The towns scattered throughout the
mountain g.rdel va legs OF Mendocino
have an alert, bus ness-like air unlike
the breeding, "slcepy-hollow" effect OBJ
servable in the usual country village.
Ukiah is the largest and by far the most
deughtfuIIy Iucated. Until three years
back the place could only be reached by
stage, and was, therefore rarely visited
by tourists. Behind the palings sur.
rounding the pretty dwellings the
ground Is strewn in the fall with "wind-
falls"-red, golden, and rus'et-from
branching old apple and pear trees.
Here and the. e friendly bough taps
lightly on pane or roof, as il bidding the
Inmates forth to the feast. The vine
yards, pluckcd Of their purple clusters,
are slowy relinquishing their crimson
ing leaves with the faintest breath Of
tho cordial air
The great red brick kilns standing
among dismantled hop poles and the
wool-loaded wagons entering the main
street of the town indicate the chief
staples of the country. II it be "wool
day" one figure is noticeab among the
crowds OF men at the wool market 1t
is that of slender, resolute-faced wom-
an, neatly clad in plain dark garments,
who is evidently there for purpose.
She has come to dispose OF her bales of
wool-hundreds and hundreds OF them
-one learns UPON inquring, and is en- @
Of the wealthiest sheep rlisers in M en-