The natural vegetable productions of California have been sufficiently noticed in the course of this work, for the reader to form a correct estimate of the capabilities of the soil and climate.  It is supposed by some, that cotton, sugar, and rice, could be produced here.  I do not doubt but there are portions of the country where these crops would thrive; but I question whether, generally, they could be cultivated to advantage.  Nearly all the fruits of the temperate and tropical climates are produced in perfection in California, as has before been stated.

The principal product of the country has been its cattle and horses.  The cattle are, I think, the largest and finest I ever saw, and the beef is more delicious.  There are immense herds of these, to which I have previously referred; and their hides and tallow, when slaughtered, have hitherto composed the principal exports from the country.  If I were to hazard an estimate of the number of hides annually exported, it would be conjectural, and not worth much.  I would suppose, however, at this time (1847), that the number would not fall much short of 150,000, and a corresponding number of arrobas (25 pounds) of tallow.  The average value of cattle is about five dollars per head.

The horses and mules are correspondingly numerous with the cattle; and although the most of them are used in the country, considerable numbers are driven to Sonora, New Mexico, and other southern provinces, and some of them to the United States, for a market.  They are smaller than American horses, and I do not think them equal for continuous hard service; but on short trips, for riding, their speed and endurance are not often, if ever, equalled by our breed of horses.  The value of good horses is from ten to twenty-five dollars; of mares, five dollars.  The prices have, however, since the Americans came into the country, become fluctuating, and the value of both horses and cattle is increasing rapidly.

The wild animals of California are the wild-horse, the elk, the black-tailed deer, antelope, grizly bear, all in large numbers.  Added to these are the beaver, otter, coyote, hare, squirrel, and the usual variety of other small animals.  There is not so great a variety of small birds as I have seen elsewhere.  I do not consider that the country presents strong attractions for the ornithologist.  But what is wanting in variety is made up in numbers.  The bays and indentations on the coast, as well as the rivers and lakes interior, swarm with myriads of wild geese, ducks, swans, and other water birds.  The geese and ducks are a mongrel race, their plumage being variegated, the same as our barn-yard fowls.  Some of the islands in the harbour, near San Francisco, are white with the guano deposited by these birds; and boat-loads of eggs are taken from them.  The pheasant and partridge are abundant in the mountains.