with ease over considerable surfaces, while in the eastern parts of th mountains they have often acquired a crystaline structure from con tact with other and more recent volcanic rocks, and such as have broken through and disturbed the primitive formation.

On the western side of the valley or basin, the series do not follow in precisely the same order as occurs on the east; the sandstone and slate of the same age is found, but the conglomerate is wanting; if i exists, it is completely obscured from view, except on the west slope of the coast mountains towards the sea and its occurrence there is a reason for the supposition that it does exist below the other stratified rocks on their eastern slope. Above all the others, the miocene rocks are found disturbed a d cut through by the recent volcanic intrusions of that period.

The following then will be the arrangement of the rocks from below upward :

With this arrangement of the stratified rocks which pass under the California Basin, it is obvious, that the waters flowing at the line of junction between the sandstone and the slate-rocks below them, must pass under the sides and central parts of the valley, varying in depth as the distance from either of its borders increases.

It must be remembered that the dip of the sedimentary rocks on which the alluvium of the valley reposes, will increase or diminish the distance that may be necessary to bore for obtaining water, as the inclination of these rocks is greater or less; and with the view to demonstrate if possible, (or at least approximately) the depth that it might be necessary to sink in order to obtain a plentiful supply of water for agriculture or other purposes, an examination of both borders of the basin was made of fifty miles in length, and the mean of all the dips taken.

It was found by measurement that the surface of the basin rises at the average rate of six feet per mile from the river to either of its borders. Taking the grade of the surface with the lowest average dip of the rocks where they pass under it, (being equal to twelve degrees,) and assuming that the sedimentary rocks decrease in inclination, as the distance increases, which is probably the case, it will be found necessary to reach the depth of 775 feet at the City of Sacramento, in order to obtain a permanent supply of water.

This presumption is based upon the fact that a constant source does not exist above the conglomerate, and this point is selected more for the purpose of exhibiting the greatest probable depth at which a permanent supply of water would be found; the probabilities of obtaining water at much less depths is strong, and amounts to almost a certainty, that water would be found immediately below the sandstone, and above the first slates; in that case the depth would be diminished about two hundred and fifty feet.

If a correct idea of the inclination of the sedimentary rocks is presented in the diagram, we shall have the following depths at different distances from the centre of the basin, on both sides.

At the distance of twenty miles the rolling hills are entered in which springs usually abound.

The rocks on both sides of the valley are arranged in the order in which they occur, as observed by the outcrop.

Sandstones and upper Slates.

Conglomerate, EOCENE.

Lower clay Slates.

Granite.

Granite,

These rocks included within the Eocene lines are classed by Mr. Dana, as the early sandstone, slates, and conglomerates, to distinguish them from the more recent tertiaries among the Coast Mountains.

The geological structure of this basin was noticed by Mr. Tyson in 1849. He examined it with a view to ascertain whether a deposit of coal might not exist below the surface; and also whether its structure would indicate the means of supplying water for agricultural and mechanical purposes.

In regard to the first question he says: "The first query is answered by the fact of finding the comparatively recent strata of a formation, not older than the eocene and miocene periods, resting immediately on the metamorphic or hypogene rocks of ancient origin, the remaining members with all the sedimentary rocks of older date being entirely wanting, and the coal formation, which belongs to the lower of the secondary series." A coal formation under the basin is therefore out of the question, unless deeply seated, and entirely covered, edges and all, by the sedimentary rocks above noticed.

The character of the soil in many parts of this valley will render it of little importance as an agricultural district, unless water in ample quantities for irrigation can be obtained. (These remarks apply particularly to the upper terrace of the valley on each side of the river.) And we hope that attention may be called to this very important subject of making the extensive areas of the arid districts of the basin available for market and agricultural purposes."

Experience has demonstrated the almost certainty of obtaining water and in sufficient quantities for agricultural and other purposes, in all valleys resting upon sedimentary formations and having a basinshaped structure, and where the different beds have a degree of uniformity or regularity in their position, and are of a texture that will admit the free percolation of water through the superior beds and sufficiently firm to prevent its escape in those below.

These conditions are all fulfilled in the basin of the Sacramento, and from the united testimony of different observers, we have ample evi

1

dence that the sedimentary formations of one side are the same as those upon the other, with the exception, perhaps, of the conglomer

ate.

The

The absence of the conglomerate on the west side of the basin; will not affect the result of obtaining water by the means proposed. clays and clay-slate, below the sandstone, appear on both sides, and are sufficiently impervious and firm to prevent the escape of any water that may rest upon them.

The SALINAS VALLEY "is about ninety miles in length, and has a varying breadth from eight to fourteen miles; it is situated between the Coast Mountains and those denominated the Monte Diablo Range, and is bounded on the east by that spur of this range in which the Gabilan it situated.

The Salinas River flows through this plain from the Cadesal Pass in which it has its rise, to the bay of Monterey." This valley is described as consisting of three well defined terraces running through nearly its entire length. Commencing on the west side of the river, the lower terrace is about four miles wide, and is composed of a rich alluvium. The second terrace rises abruptly to the height of eleven feet above the first, and consists of a similar soil, though not in so fine a state of disintegration. Both terraces support a dense growth of indigenous grasses and plants, furnishing an abundant supply of pasturage for stock.

With a sufficient supply of water for irrigation this valley will produce an immense quantity of grain, while the third terrace and even the Mesa or table lands of Salinas produces excellent pasturage: the wild oat growing in great abundance.

A large portion of the valley, within eight or ten miles of the coast, and on its south-east border and center, is made up of low wet lands, covered with willows and tule, these terminate in lagoons and sloughs as they approach the coast, and contain sufficient depth of water to float a medium sized vessel to the bay of Monterey. The only obstacle that renders these waters innavigable for some distance into the interior of the valley, are the bars of drift and sand which are thrown up by the surf on the coast: a good and substantial breakwater, constructed at some one of these points, would render navigation safe.— The extent of land in the interior that would be affected by a measure of this kind would be great; it being not less than one hundred and

Since October last, there have been three Artesian borings, carried to depths within one hundred feet, on the valley of Santa Clara, and in the vicinity of San Jose. The result of each has been successful, and a head of water from four to nine feet has been obtained. These indications of water so near the surface and in such quantities, will much enhance the value of agricultural land throughotu this valley and render available much that would otherwise have laid unoccupied and unimproved for years.

fifty miles in length, and possessing capacities for agricultural production equal to any in the State.

This will appear the more evident and necessary, when we find that the lower bottoms above the Salinas valley are capable of producing a wheat crop (at thirty-two bushels per acre,) sufficient to meet the demands of a population numbering three times that of the present State-say nine hundred thousand."

There are other fertile valleys of considerable extent described by the author, but lest we should extend this article to too great a length, we will conclude with a description of the

SOILS OF THE VALLEY SANTA CLARA AND SHORES OF THE BAY SAN FRANCISCO.

The soils on the Bay San Francisco differ much on its eastern and western sides; both borders of the Bay present the tertiary series, but both do not present the trapean rocks to the same degree of development; this, then, of course, will cause a distinctive and marked difference in the productive capabilities of either shore. It will be found, that in all the soils which have been derived, in whole, or in part, from rocks more recent than the tertiary group, that a more extensive and varied adaptation to agricultural purposes will be present; this will be particularly manifest in those sections where the tertiaries, containing organic remains, enter somewhat largely into the components of the soil produced from such sources.

We often meet an extensive and even tract of country lying at the base of a range of hills of the character named above, which are found not to possess so high a degree of fertility as an adjoining section, yet both have derived their soil from the same sources; it becomes not only interesting but important to ascertain the cause of such a discrepancy, and an attentive examination will often point out a natural obstruction of a mechanical nature which has thus been the cause of the impoverishment which may be present. In this case a barrier will often be found among the foothills which has prevented the uniform distribution of the disintegrated rocks above, rendering the plain within its line less productive, rather than the introduction of any new agent, except, perhaps, that derived from the rocks forming that barrier, the amount of which would be inconsiderable, compared to the mass of alluvium beyond.

In illustration of this a single case only will be mentioned. On the Valley Santa Clara, a few miles east of San Jose, the mountains are capped with fossiliferous sandstone for miles in extent, north and south. On examining the slopes of these hills and the broad ravines among them, a rich and deep soil was found to cover the whole, and the vegetation growing upon them bore a just relation to the character of the ground on which they flourished. Passing to the westward toward the valley it was found that the same character of soil continued to the first hills rising from the plain, these bearing an attitude of one hundred feet above its level. On reaching the summit of these hills, the rich, mellow soil to the east instantly gave out, and in its place a heavy, clayey covering was found upon the surface for a considerable distance into the valley; this transition occurred within so

short a distance that I was led to examine more particularly the cause producing it, and accordingly followed the line of these hills until an outcrop of these rocks were found; they consisted of aluminous and chloritic slates, having a high inclination and dipping to the west; from their position they presented a perfect barrier to the passage of the richer soil of the hills passing on to the valley in any other junction than north and south. As far as this line of slates extended, the valley beyond partook, in a greater or less degree, of the character that would be produced by their disinteration, and ill adapted generally to purposes of agriculture unless by artificial application of reclaiming agents and tillage. As soon as the slates began to disappear in the foothills, the character of the soil on the plain beyond assumed a different appearance, and a marked and corresponding change in its vegetable productions.

A mechanical impediment simply is the cause of unproductiveness in such cases, and in instances of this kind, the remedy usually abounds in abundant quantities and at short distances from the points where it may be required.

On the south-east shores of the Bay San Francisco, there are large areas of land that at the present time are considered useless for agricultural purposes, from their low position and semi-argilaceous character; they have often been denominated "mud flats," and heretofore have been considered unadapted even to grazing for sheep. These flats generally extend (toward the bay,) one or two miles from what are considered available and good agricultural lands. Their general appearance to the passer-by is such as would not be likely to impress a person very strongly in their favor, as lands retaining much fertility, but from their superficial appearance would be regarded as a poor representation only of a salt meadow, productive of little else than the common samphire. But such is not the fact, and if experience and experiment have any value or weight, they will be thrown in the balance to the favor of those lands; experiments have been made during the past season on these sections, which cannot fail to convince us of the fact, that the opinions heretofore entertained respecting the available character of a large portion of these districts, are entirely erroneous. A single experiment illustrating their capacity for production if properly tilled, will be given.

Near Uniontown, in the County of Alameda, several acres of land, producing the samphire on their flats, was broken up and planted to corn; in one case it was sowed in drills; the corn continued to flourish until September which was the last time I saw it; and at this time the stalk of that in drills had acquired an average height of about nine feet. On the south side of the arroya Alameda another field was planted in hills, which was equal, if not superior in heigth. The soil when broken up, is rich and highly productive in other grains, notwithstanding the meagre appearance it presents prior to tillage, and will in a few years be as successfully and largely cultivated as any other of the valley sections. The saline lands of the interior sections are also of the same character, to a certain extent, and if properly tilled are equally productive. Near the rancho San Felipe, Santa Clara County, a similar circumstance was met with; the corn grown upon these lands was being harvested in September and produced a full and well