“The season of the year at which we visited the country was unfavourable to obtaining a knowledge of its botany.  The vegetation, mostly deciduous, had gone to decay, and no flowers nor seeds were collected.  The country generally is entirely destitute of trees.  Along the principal range of the mountains are a few live oaks, sycamore and pine; now and then, but very rarely, the sycamore and cotton-wood occur in the champaign country, immediately on the margins of the streams.  Wild oats everywhere cover the surface of the hills, and these, with the wild mustard and carrots, furnish good pasturage to the immense herds of cattle which form the staple of California.  Of the many fruits capable of being produced with success, by culture and irrigation, the grape is perhaps that which is brought nearest to perfection.  Experienced wine-growers and Europeans, pronounce this portion of California unequalled for the quality of its wines.”