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Show • 144 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. .. In no other portion of the world can a more favorable soil or climate be found, for the successful cultivation of all the fruits of the temperate, as well as tropical countries, than the middle and southern portions of California. With a soil unequalled in fertility by any other State in the Union ; with a climate equal, if not greatly superior to that of Italy, or that of the south of France, the finest products of tho.se countries can be produced in prodigal abundanqe. In no other country in the world, does the vine flourish more luxuriantly, or produce larger, or more p.erfect clusters, than in our beautiful southern valleys. Not only the orange and t~e lemon, but the fig, pomegranate and the olive, are now seen here, growiQg in perfection. That sugar cane, cotton and tobacco can be cultivated, equal to any in the world, has been fully demonstrated ; 'vhilst in the more central and northern portions of the State, not only the grape, but. the apple, pear, peach, apricot, and all the lesser fruits, with cereal grains, and vegetables, are produced so easily, and in such rare per- , fection and abundance, as to safely challenge the world. Nor is this all; for in geographical extent, California equals the States of Maine, New I-Iampshire, Vermont, 1\tlassachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Ne,v Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland; ·and with more than their equal of ocean coast ; and this coast, with its rivers, all abounding in fisheries no where surpassed either in variety or productiveness; whilst the gold fields of California, equal in extent, all the world's besides. • APPENDIX • 145 How vast then the field for new enterprise. For the miner, how countless the hills and the valleys; for the • agriculturist, how vvide spread the plains ; and for the lu~berman, how boundless the forests, to cover an area equal to the States we have named. And yet California possesses them all. These are facts ; and these facts were the inducements that tempted the earlier settlers to migrate hither ; and now these settlers urge them as reasons·why they should stay and make homes here. And why not? when already their short sojourn has made them the possessors of wealth they never could have accumulated or enjoyed, but for their spirit of adventure, urging them on to a land of gold, of health, rich harvests, blessed rain in its season, glorious sunshine and flowers. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES ? Emigrants upon the Isthmus or the plains, as they :find themselves approaching California, are ever anxiously inquiring of returning Californians whom they meet on the way, as to the probabilities of their own • success ; or whether their chances for a fortune, are all lost by their late arrival. We will suppose this question to be put by able-bodied men, young or old, who are willing to make a fortune by working for it, and at mining. We say to such, that the probabilities of sudden wealth are against you, as these chances are lessening every year, and yet far from being among the impossi .. I |