greatly increased our commerce and quickened immigration. A sound metallic banking system is in secure operation.

The State funds for educational purposes now aggregate nearly $1,000,000, and the interest upon this, with the aid of school taxes, supports an admirable system of free instruction. The means and the measures are ready for establishing a State University on a broad and permanent basis. The penal and benevolent institutions maintained by the State have been improved considerably, the latter, especially, being quite creditable, and including provision for the insane, the deaf and dumb and blind, the orphaned, and the youthful wrecks of society. Besides these, there are numerous and varied local establishments in San Francisco, which minister to the miseries and wants of the entire State with impartial charity.

The future of California is very bright, and those who have been faithful to her through nineteen or twenty years of remarkable vicissitudes and hardships, may well rejoice in the prospect. Yet, there are some evils and disadvantages which need to be frankly considered. Habits of lavish expenditure, lack of repose in social manners, recklessness in business, undue haste to be rich, want of restraint over the young, too great indifference to the solid essentials of character in public and private, a hard materialism; these are traits which Californians, with all their spasmodic, though hearty generosity, exhibit too frequently. This criticism is less applicable to all the larger centers of population, however, than it would have been a few years ago. The growth of the family influence and of the sentiment of attachment to the State, has been quite rapid. Society is crystallizing into perfect forms; homes have multiplied; domestic pleasures and moral restraints are generally more powerful than frontier vices, and the most intelligent travelers concede that for pleasantness of home surroundings, and regard for all the ordinary sanctities of law and religion, society in the populous centers of California compares favorably with that at the East, while it has undoubtedly escaped the worst effects of protracted war and financial disturbance. Such asperities as remain here and there will be toned down by the lapse of time, the concentration of a more stable population in the mining districts, the homogeneousness that will come with a larger native infusion; but it is worth while to try and subdue them earlier, and to cultivate even more assiduously than we do the quiet domestic traits that make the beauty and the sweetness of Home.

A difficulty of another kind is found in the uncertain tenure of real estate,

and the tendency to retain land in large tracts. This, however, is less apparent than it was a few years ago. Nearly all the Spanish titles have been finally adjudicated, and fair progress is making in settling the many vexatious disputes as to the large tracts of land granted by the United States Government, which the State authorities too hastily and carelessly put into market. Large bodies of land are coming into possession of railroad companies; but under the regulations adopted by Congress, these cannot be withheld from occupation, even if it were not to the interest of the grantees to sell them. Many holders of Spanish grants, which embrace some of the most extensive and fertile districts, could greatly benefit the State, and themselves, by dividing these estates into small farms and selling them to actual settlers at a fair price. It will be a grand day for California when the word "ranch," like the idea and system it represents, has only a historical meaning, and when small farms, well tilled, dot the lovely plains now abandoned to herds of cattle. The floods and droughts of 1862, '63 and '64, compelled many ranch owners to adopt the sensible policy above recommended; and if all would do so to the extent of offering half or two thirds of their property in alternate lots, they would grow wealthy on the remainder, and help to enrich the State.

In conclusion, the publishers of the Natural Wealth of California submit it to the public with the earnest wish that its chief aim, which is to help California in the direction of a substantial and healthy progress, may be fully realized.

The author desires to make especial acknowledgment to J. G. Cooper, M. D., of the State Geological Survey; to Henry Gibbons, M. D.; and to Mr. J. S. Silver, for valuable assistance rendered by them in the several departments of Zoology, Climate, and Agriculture.

Prof. B. Silliman, Dr. Louis Lanszweert, Messrs. Henry DeGroot, Monroe Thomson, T. A. Blake, W. A. Goodyear, F. Bret Harte, and Wm. Henry Knight, have also aided in the preparation of material for this volume, and the author's thanks are due to these gentlemen for the efficient manner in which their duties have been performed.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 1868.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY.

Introduction-Origin of the Name-By Whom Discovered-The Changes in its Boundaries -The Missions-Their Beginning and End-The Aborigines of California-The Early Settlers-Commerce of California while under Spanish and Mexican Rule-The Acquisition of California by the United States.

Page 1

CHAPTER II.

GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY.

Outline of Geography-The Harbors of California-San Francisco Bay-Tidal InfluencesSan Diego Harbor-San Pedro Bay-The Santa Barbara Channel-San Luis Obispo Bay-Monterey Bay-Santa Cruz Harbor-Half Moon Bay-Drake's Bay-Tomales Bay-Bodega Bay-Humboldt Bay-Trinidad Bay-Crescent City Harbor-Improvements to be Made-Islands on the Coast.

71

CHAPTER III.

THE COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA.

Southern, Coast, Northern, Mountain and Valley Counties. Southern Counties: San Diego San Bernardino-Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo-Kern. Coast Counties: Monterey-Santa Cruz-Santa Clara-San Mateo-San Francisco-AlamedaContra Costa-Marin-Sonoma-Napa-Lake-Mendocino. Northern Counties: Humboldt-Trinity--Klamath-Del Norte-Siskiyou-Shasta-Lassen. Mountain Counties:

Plumas-Sierra Nevada-Placer-El Dorado-Amador-Alpine-Calaveras-Tuolumne-Mariposa-Mono-Inyo. Valley Counties: Tehama-Butte-Colusa-SutterYuba-Yolo-Solano-Sacramento-San Joaquin-Stanislaus-Merced-Fresno-Tu

lare.

CHAPTER IV.

CLIMATE.

92

General Remarks-Temperature-Extremes of Heat and Cold-Winds-The Sea BreezeNorthers-Southeasters-Rains-Storms-Cloud and Mist-Snow and Hail-Thunder and Lightning-Relations of Climate to Agriculture and other Pursuits-Health, Domestic Economy, etc.

330

CHAPTER V.

AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE. Preliminary Observations. The Cereals: Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rice, etc. Grasses: Alfalfa, Clover, etc. Cotton-Flax--The Sugar Beet-Melon Sugar-HopsTobacco-Mustard Seed-The Amole, or Soap Plant-The Tea Plant. Fruits and Nuts: Apples Pears-Peaches - Plums-Cherries-Oranges-Lemons-Limes-BananasOlives-Almonds-Chestnuts, etc. Berries: Strawberries-Raspberries-Blackberries. Dried Fruits: Raisins-Currants-Prunes--Figs, etc. Pickles, Preserved Fruits and Vegetables: Orange Marmalade-Quince Jelly-Onions, etc. Potatoes-Large Growths. Dairy Products: Butter-Cheese. Cattle and Horses-Sheep and Wool-Hogs--Bees and Honey-Insects. Wood Planting: Transplanting Trees-The Sirocco. Agricultural Implements: Steam Ploughs-The California Land Dresser. Irrigation-Under Draining-Famine Years-Late Rains-The Farmer's Troubles in California-Hints to Emigrants-Contrasts-Advantages-The Chinese in California-Farm Labor-Harmony among Producers. VINICULTURE. Grapes-Wine-Brandy-Wine Merchants, etc. SILK CULTURE. Mulberry Trees-Cocoons-Diseases of Silk Worms, etc.

CHAPTER VI.

GEOLOGY.

Page 352

General Outlines of Topography-Geology of Coast Ranges-Monte Diablo Range-Coal Beds--Peninsula of San Francisco-North of San Francisco Bay-South of Monterey Bay-Southern End of Tulare Valley-Geology of the Sierra Nevada-The Great Auriferous Belt-Southern portion of the Gold Field-Mariposa County-The Fremont Grant -Mining-Tuolumne County-Table Mountains-Fossil Remains-Calaveras CountyUnion Copper Mine-Gold Mining-Amador County-El Dorado County-Placer County Nevada County-Sierra County-Plumas County.

396

CHAPTER VII.

ZOOLOGY.

General Plan. MAMMALIA: Bears-Raccoon--Skunks-Glutton-Fisher-Marten-Weasel Otter-Cougar-Jaguar-Ocelot-Wild Cats-Wolf-Coyote-Foxes-Sea Lions and

Seals-Sea Elephant-Shrews-Bats-Beaver-Marmots-Squirrels-Rats-GophersPorcupine -Hares-Elk-Deer-Antelope-Bighorn-Whales and Porpoises. BIRDS:

Paysano—Cuckoo—Woodpeckers—Eagles-Hawks-Owls-Vultures-Crows-Magpies Jays-Kingfishers--Flycatchers-Nighthawks-Humming Birds-Swallows-Waxwings Thrushes-Mocking Birds-Grosbeaks-Linnets-Goldfinches- Sparrows - PigeonsDoves-Cranes-Herons—Ibis-Plover-Snipe-Curlews--Quail—Swans--Geese-Brant Ducks-Pelicans-Cormorants-Albatross-Fulmars-Petrels-Gulls-Loons-Grebes -Sea Parrot-Sea Pigeon-Murre. REPTILES: Tortoise-Turtles-Lizards-IguanaHorned Toads-Glass Snake-Rattlesnakes-Harmless Snakes-Frogs, etc.,-Salamanders-Four-legged Fish. FISHES Perch-Kingfish--Bass-Moonfish-Goldfish-Viviparous Fish-Redfish — Kelpfish — Mackerel-Bonito —Albicore-Barracouta-Flying Fish-Panther Fish--Sticklebacks-Rock-Cod-Sculpin--Wolf-Eel--Gobies--Toad Fish -Lump Fish-Flat Fish-Halibut-Turbot--Sole-Cod-Whiting-Codling-Tom-Cod -Snake Fish-Salmon Trout-White Fish-Smelts-Killies-Herring-Anchovies— Chubs-Suckers-Conger-Eel-Balloon Fish-Sea Horse-Pipe Fish-Sturgeons-Rays -Sharks-Torpedo-Angel Fish-Stingrays-Lampreys-Worm Fish. MOLLUSCA : Oysters-Clams-Date Fish-Mussels. CRUSTACEA: Crabs-Lobster-Shrimps-Craw

fish.

:

434