1 ;> & 








■ lhn i 1 










































Price 



£25 Cents. 




A SERIES . OF ARTICLES 

ON 




Written lor the Anaheim Gazette, 

BY- 



Giving Statistics as to the Irrigating facilities of Southern Califor- 
nia, with Estimates of the Cost of Planting Orchards 
and Vineyards ; also/ all the various Crops, 
such as Barley, Rye, Corn, Cas- 
tor Beans, Potatoes, 
etc., etc. 

Together with an Estimate of the Profits per Acre. Giving, also, 
Information in regard to the Prices of Land in Los 
Angeles and adjoining Counties. 



ANAHEIM, Cal.: 

DAILY EVENING GAZETTE PRINT. 
1875. 



IRRIGATION IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 

No. 1. 

The only portion of Semi-Tropical 
California which possesses an abundant 
supply of water for irrigation, is found 
in the valleys of the Santa Ana and 
the Ban Gabriel rivers. These rivers 
take their rise in the Sierra Madre 
range of mountains, and flow southerly 
through the great valleys of Los An- 
geles and San Bernardino counties to 
the sea. 

SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY. 

With the exception of a short period 
in each year, during the winter and 
spring, when their volume of water is 
increased by rains and melting of the 
snow in the mountains, all of the water 
of these rivers is derived from perma- 
nent and deep-seated springs, which 
discharge the same unchanging vol- 
ume during all the varying seasons of 
the year. The source which supplies 
these springs must ever remain a mat- 
ter of conjecture. The Sierra Madre 
is not more than from fifteen to twenty 
miles in width, and is composed en- 
tirely of sharp ridges with precipitous 
sides, generally of bare rock, affording 
no holding ground in which to store 
up a supply of water. 

Judging from the flow of the rivers, 
and the amount of water produced by 
the constantly increasing number of 
flowing artesian wells in the valleys 
of both counties, the artesian streams, 
which furnish all of this water, must 
contain an almost unlimited supply. 
It is a rare occurrence when the sinking 
of one well diminishes in the slightest 
degree the flow of those in the im- 
mediate vicinity, sunk previously. 

It has been ascertained, by boring, 
that the subsoil of our artesian lands 
is composed of great beds of solid clay, 
miles in extent, ranging from five to 
one hundred feet in thick ness, one be- 
low another, with intervening deposits 
of sand and gravel. It is in these 
latter that the artesian streams are 
found flowing on their way to the sea 



I believe it is in every case found that 
the deeper the stream in the ground, 
the higher it will flow. In boring 
they persevere until they reach a 
stream, with sufficient head to rise 
and flow, and if that is not sufficient, 
they bore on down and penetrate other 
streams, until they will aggregate a 
sufficient supply, and then by piercing 
the pipe, at the depth at which they 
found each stream, they combine them 
all in one. By pursuing this plan 
there is hardly any limit to the flow 
of an artesian weli, if they bore down 
to a sufficient depth, except the dia- 
meter of the pipe. Our knowledge of 
the extent of country in which these 
wells can be obtained is yet imperfect, 
but a sufficient number of wells have 
been sunk in the valleys of the Santa 
Ana and San Gabriel, in Los Angeles 
county, to prove that they can be ob- 
tained at pleasure anywhere in an ex- 
tent of country, comprising in its boun- 
daries not less than 100,000 acres, by 
boring from 50 to 200 feet. On the 
more elevated lands adjoining it is 
necessary to bore from 100 to 200 feet 
deeper. It seems to be only a question 
of depth anywhere in the valley. 

The San Bernardino valley is not so 
extensively prospected, but in the ver- 
dant valley immediately surrounding 
that thriving town, wells are obtained 
in the greatest abundance with a very 
strong flow. This is the only place at 
which wells have yet been obtained in 
that county; but in the south-western 
part of the valley, within a few miles 
of the place where the Santa Ana river 
enters the pass through the hills in- 
tervening between the Los Angeles 
and San Bernardino valleys, upon the 
Jurupa, Chino and Rincon ranchos, 
there are very many and very power- 
ful springs which furnish in the aggre- 
gate a very large volume of water. So 
large is this supply that it is sufficient 
to supply all the water needed to irri- 
gate all the lands on either side of the 
Santa Ana river in Los Angeles coun- 
ty in the driest part of the year. If 
these springs can be taken as an evi- 
dence — and nothing but actual flow- 
ing wells could be better — we must add 



a body of land to the artesian well 
district of not less than 30,000 to'40,000 
acres to that already proved in and 
about the town of San Bernardino. 
The whole amount of flowing well 
land in that county may safely be 
estimated at not less than 50,000 to 
80,000 acres. 

Without reckoning upon any in- 
crease that may be obtained in the 
future, the aggregate yield of the wells 
and springs flowing into rivers is 
very large; and what is better it is 
permanent and unceasing. The rain- 
fall on all parts of the water shed of 
both of the previously named rivers 
could not furnish one hundredth part 
of what we now have — so that we 
must look further for the source of all 
this water. 

On the n'orth-eastern side of the 
Sierra Madre is an immense Desert 
Basin, the lowest parts of which are 
four thousand feet above the sea level, 
in this great basin are many lofty 
ranges of mountains, covered every 
winter with heavy falls of snow. in 
the spring this snow melts, and-, 
flowing down their sides, sinks in 
the sand at their feet, and conse- 
quently, is not lost by evaporation, 
if these waters have no outlet under 
tlie Sierra Mad re to the sea, through 
cracks and crevices of the strata, they 
would each year show in form of shal- 
low lakes in the lower part of the basin; 
but 1 am informed that this is not the 
case, consequently the presumption is 
strong that the vast volume of water 
which hows under our valleys lo the 
sea and supplies our springs, rivers and 
liowing webs, is nothing but the melt- 
ed snow of the great interior basin ly- 
ing between the Sierra Nevada and 
the liocky Mountains. But, be that 
as it may, one thing is certain — there 
is plenty of water, and the supply is 
unfailing. With plenty of water there 
can be no agricultural impossibilities 
in Semi-Tropical California. 



IRRIGATION IN SEMI-TROPICAL 

CALIFORNIA. 



Na 2. 

THE VALLEY OF THE SANTA ANA. 

Commencing at the head of the val- 
ley at San Bernardino, near the point 
where the stream emerges from the 
Sierra Madre, in which it takes its 
rise, and where it also receives the 
waters of several branches from the 
north, we find a basin or valley thor- 
oughly irrigated by the waters of the 
river and its blanches, as well as by 
numerous artesian wells, all parts of 
the settlement having abundance of 
water. 

The Riverside colony is 12 miles 
further down the river on the south 
side. That settlement is now consoli- 
dated with the New England and Santa 
Ana colonies, which adjoined it on the 
south-west, the whole tract compris- 
ing 25,000 acres, most of which will be 
irrigated this year by ditches brought 
from tiie Santa Ana river. Immedi- 
ately below these tracts is the Sierra 
Sepuiveda Bancho, containing about 
10,000 acres of irrigable land of simi- 
lar character all of which can be irri- 
gated by the ditch now being con- 
structed; making 35^000 acres of irri- 
gable land on the south side of the 
river. Immediately north, on the 
opposite side of tlie river, is the Juru- 
pa Kancho, containing 30,000 acres of 
irrigabie laud, all of which can be ir- 
rigated by a ditch brought from the 
river; and also at least one-half by 
artesian weiis. Add to this 15,000 
acres or more in iianchos .OhLno and 
Kincon, we have 80,000 acres in the 
lower valley, and adding 20,000 more 
for the town of San Bernardino ami 
vicinity, gives us an aggregate of 
100,000 acres of irrigable land in the 
upper valley of the Santa Ana in San 
Bernardino county. 

The valley of the Santa Ana, in Los An- 
geles county, includes the settlements 
of Orange, Santa Ana and Tustin — on 
the south-east side. The tract occu- 
pied by these settlements contains 
about 40,000 acres upon which irriga- 



lion is required; part of which is now- 
irrigated from a ditch already con- 
structed, and which only needs enlarge- 
ment to irrigate the whole. The soil 
is good, and most of the country is 
quite thickly settled. 

On the north side of the Santa Ana 
is the town and settlement of Ana- 
heim, which is noted as the most suc- 
eessful colony yet planted in Califor- 
nia. The original tract of Anaheim 
has long heen irrigated by the waters 
of the river, and now a ditch is being 
constructed to irrigate some 14,000 
acres on the north side of Anaheim 
which comprises some of the finest 
land in Southern California. On the 
south side another district of equal 
size is being formed, which will en- 
large the ditch of .District Number One, 
arid by or before next fall the two dis- 
tricts, with Anaheim, will comprise a 
body of over 30,000 acres irrigated by 
ditches. There is also, adjoining, 
about 15,1)00 acres that will probably 
be formed into a district and construct 
a ditch next year. Allot' this laud, on 
both sides of the river, is not only ad- 
mirably adapted to the growth and 
production of semi-tropical fruits a nd 
vines, hut also to all kinds of farming 
crops. 

Between these tracts and the sea 
lies an immense body of moist valley 
land, all of which is included in the 
flowing artesian well belt, which 
crosses the lower part of the valleys of 
both the Santa Ana and San Gabriel 
rivers, and extends north-east and 
south-west about 30 miles, with an ag- 
gregate width of rive or six miles. 
Within these limits there is ample 
reason to believe that artesian wells 
can be obtained upon each acre — but 
as each well will irrigate from 4() to 
300 acres (they vary materially in flow) 
one or two wells are sufficient for 10U 
acres. The expense of irrigating by 
these wells is quite moderate. There 
are now flowing and in full operation 
very considerably more than 200 ar- 
tesian wells within the limits of this 
belt, which comprises the thriving set- 
tlements of Westminster and Gospel 
Swamp, in the Santa Ana valley, and 



Artesia, Compton and Florence, in the 
San Gabriel valley. 

The San Gabriel river rises in the 
Sierra Madre, and sinks shortly after 
leaving the mountain canon in which 
it was born; but not before a portion of 
its waters have been diverted by 
ditches on to the Azusa Rancho, upon 
which is the settlement of Duarte. 
The remainder of the stream flows 
under, and its rising moisture keeps 
evergreen the settlement of El Monte, 
below which, in passing through a 
gorge in the Puente hills, it reappears 
in greatly increased volume through 
the medium of springs, part of which 
flows to and from the Old San Gabriel, 
and the remainder unite and flow in 
the channel of the Xew San Gabriel 
river, which continually diverge on 
their way to the sea, their mouths 
being separated by a distance o fabout 
nine miles. The strip of land included 
between the two streams, together 
with a considerable strip east and 
west, is known as Los Nietos, which to- 
gether with El Monte, has long been 
famous for the production of corn, 
which their facilities for irrigation en- 
abled them to produce successfully all 
seasons, dry or wet. The land between 
the rivers has long been irrigated by 
dLches, and also part of the laud on 
the east and west sides of the valley; 
for although there are two streams, 
there is but one valley. Xot more 
than two-rifths of the land in 
the valley is irrigated, that by a 
judicious and economical use of 
the water, under the Irrigation law, 
could and should be irrigated. If it 
was deemed necessary to increase 
the volume of water at the head of 
these streams, I am confident that it 
can easily be done by sinking artesian 
wells at the point where the springs- 
burst forth in the Puente gorge, 
through which passes the drainage of 
not only the San Gabriel, but also of 
one of its affluents — the San Jose creek, 
an unfailing stream of consider- 
able volume and which is supplied 
by numerous springs. As at present 
managed, at least one-half of the water 
is wasted, or, to say the least, does not 



irrigate more than one-half of the land 
that it ought. Water in Southern 
California is too precious to be wasted. 
Public interest requires that it should 
be carefully husbanded. 

The next irrigating stream in im- 
portance is the Los Angeles river, a 
branch of the San Gabriel, which takes 
its rise in the lower part ol the San 
Fernando valley, from numerous 
springs. The waters of this stream 
are entirely devoted to the irrigation 
of lands about the city of Los Angeles, 
amounting to about six thousand 
acres, and without which the fine 
orange groves and other plantations 
of which that city boasts could not 
exist. 

In addition to the irrigation facili- 
ties, furnished by the rivers and ar- 
tesian wells, there are numerous small 
streams flowing out of the Sierra 
Madre, which, with the springs rising 
at the base of the mountains, are now 
and can be utilized to irrigate from 
80,000 to 40,000 acres more. The 
flourishing settlements of San Gabriel 
and Oucamonga are evidences of what 
the springs and mountain streams 
will do. 

In the present and preceding article 
1 have endeavored to make a state- 
ment of facts which cannot be dis- 
puted; which will show conclusively 
t hat the two above mentioned valleys 
contain the greatest abundance of the 
line&ft land, and that there is water 
enough now available or which can 
be obtained, to irrigate all of the land 
in those valleys which is low enough 
and sufficiently level to be irrigated. 

We have the finest climate, soil of 
extreme fertility and the greatest 
abundance of water. What we lack 
is population, and at last, thank God, 
that is coming. Cultivated by the in- 
dustrious hands of this coming multi- 
tude, these valleys will soon "blossom 
as the rose," and those among us who 
have worked untiringly and unceas- 
ingly to trumpet forth to the world 
the capabilities of Semi-Tropical Cali- 
fornia will yet reap their reward. 
They will live to see the fulfillment of 



their predictions. These valleys will in 
a few short years become an earthly 
Paradise and the resort of those in 
search of health or pleasure from all 
parts of the world. 



IRRIGATION IN SEMI-TROPICAL 

CALIFORNIA. 

No. 3. 

THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEV. 

The San Gabriel river also takes its 
rise in the Sierra Madre Mountains, 
and issues from them a few miles 
northerly from El Monte, but soon dis- 
appears beneath the immense bed of 
gravel and boulders which form its 
bed after reacbing the plain. To pro- 
perly utilize the waters of this river, 
the water should be brought out in 
flumes and ditches from some rocky 
ledge in the canon, before it lias time 
to sink, then it could be brought out 
on to the table lands on each side, and 
reclaim much land, now worthless for 
want of it. Enough has been done on 
the Azusa Rancho, in the settlement 
of Duarte, to show what could be done 
if the water was properly utilized. 

El Monte comprises the upper valley 
of the San Gabriel, and contains about 
10,000 acres, most of which are made 
very moist and productive by natural 
moisture, or the constant presence of 
abundance of water in the soil, so near 
the surface that crops are grown with- 
out irrigation; and like a large por- 
tion of the valley below, on similar 
land, the crops never fail. East of El 
Monte is the valley of San Jose, about 
L'O miles long by an average of one 
mile wide, watered by an unfailing 
stream of spring water, sufficient, if 
properly utilized, to irrigate the whole 
valley. 

THE LOWER VALLEV 

Commences at the point where the San 
Gabriel river passes through a gorge in 
the Puente Hi lis; and where, as 1 have 
before remarked, the river, after pass- 
ing under EI Monte, encounters a 
ledge of rock, or some other obstacle, 
:»nd lises again in the form of springs, 



part of which flow into and supply the 
Old, and the other part the New San 
Gabriel rivers. Nearly all the water 
of both streams is taken out for the 
purpose of irrigation, during the Sum- 
mer, but there is no system of ditches, 
and the water is wastefully used by 
the parties owning the ditches, so that 
not one-half of the land is irrigated 
that should be, if the whole district 
was organize;! under the law and man- 
aged to advantage. Besides it is pro- 
bable that the quantity of water could 
be indefinitely increased by sinking 
artesian wells at the point where the 
springs burst forth, from which the 
water might be carried on to the fertile 
table lands on each side of the river, 
which are now almost entirely with- 
out water. Seven miles below the 
springs, the flowing well-belt is reach- 
ed, below which point, the country is 
independent of ditch-water. The 
lower valley, or Los Nietos, contains, 
between the springs and the artesian 
well-belt, about 10,000 acres of land, 
which is irrigated, and at least as 
much more of better land which 
ought to be irrigated by the present 
supply of water. 

The Los Angeles river, a westerly 
branch of the San Gabriel, supplies 
with water at and below the city of 
Los Angeles, about 6,000 acres, and 
yet, although the system of ditches 
and the management of them is the 
best of any now in the county, still it 
is proposed to save the water now 
uasted, and irrigate more land. 

The valley of the San Gabriel, in- 
cluding its branches, contains, with 
El Monte, about 30,000 acres, that, from 
irrigation or natural moisture, are cer- 
tain to produce crops any and every 
year — land entirely independent of the 
seasons; and it is quite safe to calculate 
that there is fully 30,000 acres more 
that ought to be irrigated, and will be, 
when a more energetic and enterpris- 
ing population has replaced the slug- 
gish and pig-headed class, that not 
only won't do anything themselves, 
but, like the dog in the manger, try to 
keep all others from doing it. Then 



these extensive and fertile plains will 
cease to be the grazing grounds of com- 
paratively worthless stock, and be- 
come the happy homes of thousands of 
people. Land capable of irrigation in 
these fertile valleys, is too valuable to 
be longer kept as pasture grounds. Our 
large and fertile ranchos must be di- 
vided up, and become the homes of 
the coming multitude, whose advance 
guard is already here. This will en- 
rich their owners, and develop the 
country. No one pretends to dispute 
the fact that our climate is superior to 
that of any part of the world. Our me- 
teorological record proves this beyond 
question, and the writer, an expert in 
agricultural lands, unhesitatingly 
declares from personal observation, 
that there are no lands in any other 
part of California, or in the Mississippi 
valley, not even the Ohio river bot- 
toms, that will compare in fertility and 
productiveness, to the irrigated lands 
of Semi -Tropical California. But by 
far the most valuable of our resources 
is our inexhaustible supply of water 
for irrigation, by the aid of which, and 
our favorable climate, agricultural 
operations are reduced to a mathemat- 
ical certainty. With a simple adapta- 
tion of crops to the season, seed-time 
and harvest is continuous throughout 
the year; two, and sometimes three 
crops being produced on the same 
land continuously, year after year, not 
only without diminution of fertility, 
but, in well known instances, with a 
vast increase of fertility. No instance 
can be named where lands have lost 
their fertility, or become exhausted by 
cropping, when properly irrigated. 
The valleys of Damascus, in Syria, ir- 
rigated and under constant cultivation 
for thousands of years, 1 am informed 
by travelers, could never have been 
more productive and fertile than they 
are now . And the fertility of the Nile, 
as is well known, is constantly re- 
newed by the annual inundations,each 
of which deposits its fertile layer of 
mud. But the Santa Ana river also 
carries in solution its layer of fertiliz- 
ing mud, which fertilizes our lands, 



not once in each year, but every time 
we irrigate. By means of our facili- 
ties for irrigation, our fertilizing stream 
is turned on to the land at pleasure. 
Our land is kept constantly in the 
highest state of productiveness and 
constantly increasing its fertility. By 
this system of cultivation, the largest 
crops are raised at the least cost, and 
with perfect certainty. Forty acres of 
irrigated land will not only make 
more profit than two or three hundred 
acres of their boasted wheat lands in 
the northern part of the State, but 
will, if an average crop of ten years is 
taken as the guageof their productive- 
ness, produce more crop. The rule 
there is one good crop, and three bad 
ones. The profit made on the first, is 
more than lost on the failures. 

When these facts are taken into 
consideration, people will cease to 
wonder at the prices at which lands 
have been sold in this county — at the 
public sales of Artesia and Centinela; 
but, really, where the real value of 
these hundreds of thousands of acres of 
irrigable lands is understood, the won- 
der will be that they ever sold so cheap. 
Immigrants seeking homes should Sefe 
for themselves, and not heed the inter- 
e-sted advice of parties offering to net I 
the parched and unproductive plains 
of the north, and buy nothing without 
water. 

IRRIGATION IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 



No. 4. 

In the preceding articles, I have 
gone over the field and described as 
well as T could, without going into de- 
tail, the actualities and possibilities of 
irrigation in Semi-Tropical California. 
I will now proceed to describe the 
present condition of irrigating ditches 
— those which are actually being con- 
structed in the different localities, and 
what may reasonably be expected to 
be built in the immediate future. I 
will first proceed to describe the most 
important enterprise in ditch building, 



ever attempted in this section. I re- 
fer to the ditch of the first irrigation 
district organized under the Irrigation 
law of Los Angeles county. 

DISTRICT NO. 1 

Includes within its boundaries nearly 
15,000 acres of irrigable land, lyiug 
north-east, north and north-west of 
the town of Anaheim, and comprising 
in one block the largest and most fer- 
tile body of irrigated land in the 
county. (The great body of lands 
heretofore irrigated have been low- 
lying lands, adapted principal iy to the 
production of corn, barley and alfalfa 
— strictly farming and not fruit lands. 
There are, of course, important excep- 
tions, which will be noticed hereafter.) 
These lands all have an elevation 
above the sea of from 150 to 800 feet. 
This secures exemption from frosts, to 
which low-lying lands are subject, and 
added to their extreme fertility, makes 
them most desirable for the culture of 
semi-tropical fruits and vines, whilst 
at the same time they are equally as 
well adapted to the production of 
farming crops as lands in any part of 
the valley. 

In the canon of the Santa Ana river, 
at the distance of 12 miles above the 
town of Anaheim, there is a natural 
dam. A ledge of rock crosses the river 
from bluff to bluff. All the water in 
the river rises and flows over this ob- 
struction, and notwithstanding the 
fact that after having passed this point 
it soon sinks and disappears again, 
there is at all times of the year a large 
stream of water flowing over this dam. 
As most of the water in the riverabove 
is taken out in the Summer to irrigate 
lands about San Bernardino and River- 
side, our supply is derived from the 
springs heretofore described as flowing 
from the lower part of the upper Santa 
Ana valley, a few miles distant. This 
water cannot be taken from us. and 
may confidently be relied upon as ample 
for all our needs, for all time. 

To properly utilize this invaluable 
trea -ui re,al 1 future ditches intended t o i r- 
rigate either side of the Santa Ana river 
must take their water from the river at 



this point. And it is here that theditch 
of District No. 1 commences. The ditch, 
which is a large one, is dug out of the 
solid red clay, on the north bank of the 
river, and at the point where it leaves 
the cation and comes out into the ele- 
vated mesa lands. At this point it is one 
hundred feet above the river, the latter 
having a very rapid fall. At least 
three-fourths of the water will be used 
upon the valley lands. All that is not 
required for the use of the mesa lands, 
can here be dropped down a descent of 
about eighty feet perpendicular, and 
will be made use of for a water power, 
there being abundance of water to fur- 
nish power for several large factories. 
It is believed that at no other place in 
this State can a water power be found, 
of equal volume, in the heart of a fer- 
tile valley, and convenient to both 
railroad and ocean navigation. Wool- 
en manufacturers can buy any quan- 
tity of woo! here at low rates. Thou- 
sands of tons of straw are burnt year- 
ly to get rid of it. Paper manufactur- 
ers can buy the straw at their own 
price. . Castor beans are now largely 
raised, and flax can be raised to an in- 
definite extent, as the crop has been 
tested and does well. Living is cheap; 
the operatives can afford to work here 
for less wages than in countries where 
living is more expensive. In short, 
everything is favorable for the develop- 
ment of a large manufacturing indus- 
try. The water power can be purchas- 
ed at a cheap rate, and it will be steady 
and reliable. The land upon which to 
build the manufacturing town, can 
aiso be purchased cheaply. Every- 
thing is favorable for the introduction 
of manufacturing enterprises, which 
cannot fail, from economical reasons,to 
be very profitable. 

On the south and east of the town 
of Anaheim there is a large body of 
land— about 9,000 acres— which 'will 
form the second irrigation district. 
To supply this tract, the ditch of the 
first district will be enlarged; and as 
all of the tract is in the valley, this 
will increase the water power very,; 
largely. The remaining lands, lying" 
west and south of these two districts, 



are all in the flowing artesian well 
district, and include the large and 
flourishing colonies of Westminster 
and Artesia, as well as a vast amount 
.of most fertile lands not yet sold, but 
which are surveyed and in the market. 
These lands are admirably adapted to 
colonies, as many thousand acres can 
be purchased in a body. These are 
the cheapest and best lands in South- 
ern California, and can be purchased 
on easy terms in lots to suit, at prices 
ranging from $25 to $40 per acre. 
Most of these lands are naturally moist 
and on all of them artesian wells can 
be obtained. There is abundant 
proof of this, as there are now consider- 
ably over a hundred flowing wells 
already, and these are scattered over 
the entire area, and thus the whole of 
it is prospected and proved. The whole 
tract lying west of the Santa Ana and 
east of the New San Gabriel, and be- 
tween the hills and the ocean, compris- 
ing a block of about t wenty miles square 
lying in the centre of a great valley 
includes a variety of soils adapted to 
eve y kind of farming and fruit rais- 
ing. Near the sea are vast meadows 
well supplied oy springs and covered 
with perpetual verdure — the very 
finest dairy lands in the United States. 
"In the Eastern States it requires the 
produce, with good cultivation, of from 
four to six acres to support one cow. 
In the northern part of California, in 
the best dairy districts, it requires the 
natural growth on ten acres to support 
one cow; but on these lands the na- 
tural grasses will sustain from one to 
live cows per acre, year after year. 
Drouths do not affect these lands, as 
the rising moisture furnishes an un- 
failing supply. Next to these, going 
back from the sea, is a broad belt of 
bottom land, sufficiently dry for cul- 
tivation. These are the lands for corn, 
barley, alfalfa and kindred crops. As 
we pass from the sea coast on our way 
to the hills, the valley rises with an 
ascending grade of 13 feet to the mile, 
so that although the character of the 
soil varies but little, the gradually in- 
Creasing elevation varies the adapta- 
bility of the soil to different crops, 



and at the same time, contiguity to, 
or distance from the coast varies the 
climate, which although good in all 
parts of the valley, possesses a great 
variety. Any one can lind in some, 
part of it a soil and climate adapted 
to any crop or almost any disease. 



IRRIGATION IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 



No. 5. 

My last referred to the lands and 
ditches lying on the west side of the 
Santa Ana river. In this I will de- 
scribe the fine country lying east of the 
river. 

Commencing at the sea coast, we 
find a belt of elevated table lands, 
reaching from the bank of the river 
eastward, rising in their progress in 
that direction into lofty hills. This 
belt is three or four miles wide. Im- 
mediately north of this is an equally 
broad belt of cienega lands, full of 
large, deep-seated springs, all of which 
is perpetually moist and green, making 
the very finest kind of dairy lands. 
This belt is quite extensive, extending 
in an easterly direction from the Santa 
Ana river 10 to 12 miles in length, 
with a width of 3 to 4 miles, and is a 
part of the previously described belt 
on the east side of the Santa Ana val- 
ley, the whole belt having a length of 
not less than 30 miles, by an average 
of 4 broad. Dairymen should notice 
this fact, that the valley of the Santa 
Ana river contains not Jess than 120 
square miles of perpetual green pas- 
tures. These lands cannot be match- 
ed for productiveness in the United 
States, or any where eise. Those por- 
tions of this cienega, that are sufficient- 
ly dry for cultivation, produce enor- 
mous crops of corn, beets, pumpkins, 
alfalfa, etc. The only objection that 
can be made to any part of these lands, 
is that portions of them are rather too 
wet, and should be drained. Where 
this has been done, the productiveness 
of the whole belt will be as great a 



marvel as is that of the Gospel Swamp, 
and such other portions as are now 
cultivated. 

North of this belt the land gradually 
rises up to the base of the Santa Ana 
range of mountains, which bound the 
valley on the north. This tract of 
land is warm, fertile and productive, 
lacking nothing but a supply of water 
for irrigation to make it most desir- 
able tor the cultivation of semi-tro- 
pical fruits and vines, and also for the 
whole range of temperate fruits, and 
ordinary farming crops. Part of this 
land is now irrigated by a ditch, and 
the whole 30,000 to 40,000 acres could 
be, if the ditch — which is now far too 
small — was enlarged to a proper size, 
and extended up the river to the na- 
tural dam, previously described, a dis- 
tance of some three miles. In flowing 
that distance, after passing over the 
dam, it is calculated that one-half of 
the water of the river is lost, having 
sunk in the sand; therefore, to obtain 
an abundant supply of water for the 
large tract of land requiring it, it is 
imperatively necessary that the supply 
should be taken from the fountain 
head, where it is in abundance. 

If the people of Orange, Santa Ana 
and Tustin will organize under the pro- 
visions of the irrigation law, purchase 
the present ditches, and enlarge them 
to a proper size, their already very de- 
sirable country will present attractions 
that will be surpassed by no part of 
Semi-Tropical California. The above 
named settlements have already ob- 
tained a considerable population of the 
right kind of people, but these are 
only the advance guard of what are 
coming, and they should look ahead 
and provide water, not only for the 
present population, but for that which 
is coming in the immediate future. 
Every settlement in this section should 
endeavor to make their respective lo- 
calities as desirable as possible. Our 
future increase of population, which is 
another word for our future prosperity, 
depends upon this; and the only rival- 
ry between us should be to see who 
can offer the greatest inducements to 
these new-comers. 



FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL. 
CALIFORNIA. 

My previous letters have been de- 
voted to the extraordinary facilities 
and resources for irrigation, which 
Semi-Tropical California possesses and 
which may truthfully be said to sur- 
pass those of any other part of the 
State. We have not only a greater 
abundance of water tor irrigating, but 
unquestionably the best climate and 
the richest and most productive soil, 
capable of producing, successfully and 
profitably, the largest variety of pro- 
ductions of any lands in any part of 
this State. 

With a climate and soil like ours, a 
sufficient supply of water is the only 
thing required to make a certain and 
profitable result with any crop that is 
planted. Water has heretofore been 
the only thing needed to make all 
branches of agriculture in this part of 
California an absolutely certain busi- 
ness. In all other countries, when cal- 
culating the results of un harvested or 
even implanted crops, the chances of 
tin- \\ eather must be taken into con- 
sideration. And it is really the most 
important factor in the calculation. 
Here climate aud soil are always right, 
and water has been the doubtful quan- 
tity. My readers will, therefore, see 
why 1 have devoted so much time 10 
the consideration and elucidation of 
the wafer question. !r was the im- 
portant question for this part as it is 
for the greater portion of the State. 
The rain-fall being small, and at times 
uncertain, a farmer should always be 
so fixed that he can make it rain when 
and where he pleases. The ability to 
do this, makes farming in this section 
a mathematical certainty. I shall 
now proceed to give, for the benefit of 
those who are seeking homes, esti- 
mates of the expenses of cultivation, 
ordinary crop yield, and profit of dif- 



ferent crops, suitable for new-comers, 
who, of course, want immediate re- 
turns, which will furnish them a sup- 
port, whilst their fruit and vine plan- 
tations are growing and have not yet 
begun to be productive, such as castor 
beans, corn, barley, alfalfa, potatoes 
and various descriptions of garden veg- 
etables. I will state first, that in or- 
der to secure the best results on all 
lands there should be two ploughings, 
deep and thorough, before planting 
any crop. Aud this is particularly the 
case on new land never before cultiva- 
ted. This is the practice of our best 
farmers, the men who always raise 
good crops; and when the cultivation 
is thorough it is sufficient to produce 
one good crop, of each of the above, 
nine years out of ten, without irriga- 
tion, the natural moisture and win- 
ter rains being sufficient. The irriga- 
tion is needed for the exceptionally 
dry years, and for the second and third 
crops in all years. With irrigating, 
cropping never stops. The farmer can 
raise as many crops here in one year 
as he can in two or three any where 
else. Life is short, but here we make 
the most of it. 

Castor Beans. 

20 ar-res of beans. 1.500 lbs per acre, at 
$75 per ton. 15 tons $1,125 00 

EXPENSES. 

Two plowings.. § LOO 00 

Two harrowing*. 20 00 

Marking and Planting 20 00 

Seed 2 00 

1 man 3 mos, harvesting at 840 120 u0 

Sa.-ks ' 50 00 

Hauling 30 00 

342 00 

Profit $783 00 

If a man does all the work himself, 
as he could, the cash outlay would be 
only for sacks and seed. Cash is paid 
at the above rates upon delivery. This 
indicates a net profit of more than $36 
per acre; besides it is quite possible to 
raise a ton to the acre without increasing 
the expenses. The advantage of this 
crop is that there is no expensive ma- 
chinery required. The crop has no in- 
sect enemies, and the price and de- 
mand are unvarying. 



—10— 



Corn. 

20 acres of corn, 40 tons, at $20 $800 00 

EXPENSES. 

Two plowings $100 00 

Two harro wings 20 00 

Marking and Planting 20 00 

Seed 5 00 

Husking and Shelling 1 20 00 

Sacks 104 00 

Hauling 80 00 

449 00 

Profit t . . .$351 00 

Or $17 50 per acre. If the owner does 
his own work, the only outlay would 
be $109 for sacks and seed. The crop 
is a moderate one; 50, 60 and even 70 
tons are often raised per acre on our 
best corn lands. This is also a crop 
where there is but little expense for 
machinery. It is not customary to 
cultivate corn, castor beans, or similar 
crops after planting unless they are 
weedy. If the preliminary cultivation 
has been, thorough, there is no necessity 
for any after cultivation, unless in 
case irrigation is required, after which 
the ground must be plowed or cultiva- 
ted to kill the weeds, and prevent 
baking. Many run a small stream in 
a furrow, in every 10th row, for six to 
eight hours. On most of our valley 
lands this will thoroughly wet a strip 
10 yards wide, by underground seep- 
age. As this does not wet the surface, 
i t does not cause the growth of weeds 
nor require after cultivation. 

Barle>. 

20 acres of Barley, 30 tons at $20. $600 00 

EXPENSES. 

One good plowing $60 00 

Harrowing 20 00 

Sowing 5 00 

Seed 11 00 

Heading 40 00 

Expense of Threshing 60 00 

Sacks 98 00 

Hauling 60 00 

357 00 

Net Profit $243 DO 

Or S12 75 per acre. If cut for hay, it 
will yield say a tons to the acre, and the 
expenses would be about S50 less .and 
the net results about that much more. 



But as grain is always saleable and 
the demand for hay is limited, it is 
better to make grain. In most in- 
stances the above is a fair average of 
good crops. It will be seen that the 
machinery eats a large hole in the pro- 
fits. 

Although barley does not show as 
large a margin of profits as either 
corn or castor beans, still it pays to 
raise on the two crop system. It is a 
winter crop, and can be sown early so 
as to be cut for hay or grain. Then 
the ground is irrigated, plowed and 
planted in corn, potatoes, beans, etc. 
When planted in corn, the chances for 
a full crop are as good as if planted 
earlier. Our seasons are s© long that 
the corn has plenty of time to mature, 
and if an early variety of corn is plant- 
ed, it is quite common to raise a crop 
of beans afterwards — making three 
crops in one year from the same piece 
of land. The irrigation necessary to 
such a system of crops seems to keep 
up the fertility of the soil, for lands 
which have been cultivated on this 
system for years show no signs of de- 
terioration. 

Potatoes. 

20 a res of Potatoes, 300 tons at $20. . .$6,000 00 

EXPENSES. 

Two plowings $ 100 00 

Harrowing. 20 00 

Plowing and Planting 50 00 

Seed. 1U0 centals 100 00 

Sacks 1,500 00 

Digging and Sacking 420 (X) 

Hauling 600 00 

2,790 00 

Net Profit $3,210 00 

Or S160 50 per acre. I have placed 
both potatoes and seed at a low rate — 
the lowest they ever reach. They 
are now worth from three to live 
cents per pound by the cental, and as 
the ordinary price is from H to 2h 
cents per pound, it will be seen from 
this that there is a fortune in pota-oes. 
The lands in the northern part of the 
State, which have been devoted to the 
cultivation of potatoes for the last 20 
years, have become tired of them, and 
the crop is now small and inferior to 



—11— 



what it used to be. Our virgin soil is 
not only admirably suited to their 
growth, producing the very finest qual- 
ity, and crops of such immense bulk, 
that I will not tax the credulity of my 
readers by stating them, but will 
merely say that the fifteen tons per 
acre, upon which the estimate is based, 
is not by any means a large yield. My 
plan in making estimates is to figure 
the expenses high and the profits low, 
and any margin of profit thus obtained 
may safely be calculated upon. 

Bean*. 

20 acres of Beans, 20 tons at $40 *800 00 

EXPENSES. 

Two plowings $100 00 

Harrowing 20 00 

Plowing and'Planting 50 00 

Seed 120 00 

Sacks 86 00 

Harvesting 100 00 

Hauling 40 00 

516 00 

Profit $284 00 

Or a net profit of $14 20 per acre. The 
cost of seed and sacks being the only 
item of expense, requiring a cash out- 
lay, the actual returns to a working 
farmer would be nearly $600 00. And 
as this is supposed to be a second or 
third crop, the pay is sufficient. 

GARDEN VEGETABLES 

Are raised here in the greatest variety 
and perfection, and the hardier 
kinds grow admirably in the winter. 
Gardening, like farming, never stops. 
At present there is a limit to the 
amount that can be sold fresh, but in one 
year the mining markets east of us 
will take all of our surplus products of 
every kind. Our future market is 
without limit, and the demand will 
come as soon as we can get ready for 
it. 



FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 



No. 2. 

ALFALFA 

Is by far the most important and valu- 
able of all the farming products, enu- 
merated in the previous letter. Nothing 



in the whole list of grasses, wild or 
cultivated, even approches it in nutri- 
tion or productiveness. Our rich, moist 
valley alluvions are its natural home, 
but it will grow on any kind of land 
if properly prepared and sufficiently 
irrigated. In naturally moist lands, it 
requires little irrigation, but must be 
flooded even on these lands, as a pro- 
tection against the gopher, once or 
twice a year. To make these floodings 
effectual, the land upon which it is 
sown should be laid out in level ter- 
races, of a size proportioned to the size 
of the reservoir or head of the ditch 
water by which it is to be irrigated. 
These terraces should be surrounded by 
a bank of earth ten or twelve inches 
high, to retain the water within 
bounds when turned on. This some- 
what increases the first cost of prepar- 
ing the land, but is an immense sav- 
ing afterwards, as the labor of irriga- 
tion is reduced to simply shutting the 
gates when the* water has filled the 
pond or enclosure to the required 
depth, which, for irrigation, would be 
about two or three inches, but for 
drowning out gophers, if the ground is 
badly honeycombed by the pests, it 
might require six inches to fill all 
their large underground passages. This 
mode of treatment is always effectual, 
and extirpates them, but it cannot be 
done in any other way. Running 
water on the land, poisoning, and 
traps will reduce their numbers and 
keep them in check, but there are al- 
ways enough escape to keep up the 
stock. But the terraced ponds extir- 
pates them— there is no escape from 
such a sudden and overwhelming flood. 
The preparation of the land, when na- 
turally level, only requires the reduc- 
tion of the elevations and filling the 
depressions; but where lands have a 
gentle slope, the object is obtained by 
the use of a hill side plow, which 
throws all the furrows down hill. This 
process is continued until the high 
side is depressed and the lower side is 
raised to a level. A long strip of land 
can be leveled in this way, and then 
divided into ponds of a proper size,and 
provided with its proper svstem of 



ditches and gates. If alfalfa is thus 
protected from its enemy, and properly 
and. sufficiently irrigated, it is peren- 
nial in the most extended sense of the 
term. I am told that there are in Peru 
and Chili alfalfa fields that are 50 years 
old. It will be seen,therefore,that there 
is great economy in the thorough pre- 
paration of the soil for so permanent a 
crop. 

When all of the before named con- 
ditions have been fulfilled, this crop is 
absolutely certain and unvarying. It 
is entirely unaffected by the conditions 
and circumstances which often destroy 
the crops of grain and fruit. Frost 
and cold may diminish thegrowthand 
product temporarily, but cannot ma- 
terially affect the gross yield of the 
whole year. Under favorable circum- 
stances the ordinary growth of alfalfa 
from March 1st to October 31st is one 
inch per day of twenty-four hours; and 
from November 1st to the end of Feb- 
ruary one-half an inch per day. This 
makes a total growth of 25 feet per 
year. It is usually cut at the end of 
each month, by which time it has at- 
tained a height of thirty inches, and is 
in bloom. This is on warm, sandy 
loams; on richer and heavier lands it 
does not bloom until it is from H to 4 
feet high, upon which, although not cut 
so frequently, it produces even a 
heavier yield than on the lighter soil; 
but, as the latter is warmer, produces 
a better growth during the winter or 
cooler months. The difference in the 
amount of annual production is not 
material, and is ordinarily estimated, 
in the country about Anaheim, at 15 
tons of dry hay per acre. This may be 
considered a fair average yield in the 
valley of the Santa Ana, for a crop of 
alfalfa under the above conditions. 
This much is done on river bed sand, 
so poor and dry that without a 
thorough monthly irrigation for each 
crop, nothing would be produced, and 
the plantation would die out. But 
with sufficient irrigation with the 
muddy waters of the Santa Ana, these 
large crops are not only constantly ob- 
lained, but the land is all the time 
• rowino better from the heavy 



monthly deposit of rich sediment— 
another proof that irrigated lands 
under constant cropping, not only do 
not deteriorate, but improve. 

Alfalfa is preeminently valuable 
either for pasturage, soiling and for hay 
— in all these capacities surpassing all 
other grasses. 

When pastured, one acre of alfalfa 
will sustain constantly 25 sheep. To 
do this to the best advantage the pas- 
ture should be divided into two fields, 
pasturing each alternately one week, 
whilst the grass in the other is grow- 
ing. This is no surmise. It has been 
done, the sheep maintaining splendid 
health and yielding fleeces of remark- 
able length, and strength of fibres, and 
equally remarkable weight, notwith- 
standing its freedom from dust and 
dirt. 

cows. 

One acre can and does constantly 
sustain three cows, knee deep in suc- 
culent green feed, the entire year. The 
cows fed in such pastures yield from 
twenty-five to fifty per cent, moiv 
milk, butter and cheese than the same 
cattle will on any other kind of feed. 
The importance of this fact to dairy- 
men, can hardly be estimated. 

HOKSKS 

Fed on green alfalfa are constantly fat 
and healthy, and are equal to ordinary 
work, only requiringgrain when work- 
ed heavily. 

Hons 

Grow rapidly, thrive, and grow fat on 
a Haifa alone, wheu either pastured or 
soiled, and even when confined in pens, 
are always in perfect health. When 
fattened on grain, if they can have 
daily an allowance of green alfalfa, 
they will never lose their appetites, or 
get sick. 

SOILING. 

When alfalfa is in bloom, it is sup- 
posed to contain the largest amount of 
nutriment, and consequently the most 
economical and advantageous way to 
feed it, is when cift at that stage,eit her 
green or slightly wilted, or cured as 
hay. It is the opinion of those who 



have had large experience in feeding 
stock upon it, that when allowed to 
mature, each acre will sustain at least 
doubly the quantity of stock that it 
will when pastured. The grass or hay 
contains more nutriment, and as each 
animal pastured has five months, 
nothing is lost by tramping. The extra 
expense of cutting and hauling is 
trebly compensated by the increased 
quantity of food obtained. 

SEED. 

This grass is extensively cultivated 
at San Bernardino, principally for hay 
and seed, the latter being in great de- 
mand at high prices, often yielding 
from one to two hundred dollars per 
acre, besides yielding a large crop of 
hay, in addition to the threshed straw 
which is also used as hay, being con- 
sidered equal to hay. 

COST OF PREPARING 20 ACRES OF LAND 

FOR ALFALFA. 

Leveling. 3 plowing* at S2^per acre. . .SI 50 00 

Scraping, at §2H per acre 50 00 

Ditches 50 00 

Gates 100 00 

Seed. 400 lt>s at 2 cts : i 80 00 

Brushing in 20 00 

Total 8450 00 

Or $22 50 per acre. This would be a 
high rate if done by contract, but if 
none by the fanner himself the only 
outlay would be for the seed. The best 
quality can be obtained at the price 
named. Lands suitable for alfalfa can 
be obtained near Anaheim at prices 
ranging from 520 lo $40 per acre, in 
the artesian well belt, and from $40 to 
$60 in the ditch districts. ■:. 

fake 820 as the average price of 
land, and $20 as the cost of preparing 
and seeding. Then the actual cost of 
the land to the farmer per acre will be 
$60. And the cost of land persheep,at 
25 sheep per acre, will be S2 40; and 
the cost of land per cow or horse at 3 
of each per acre will be 320; or of hogs 
at 20 hog- per acre would be S3. If 
this is compared with the price of land, 
and the cost oj sustaining the same 
amount of stock equally well, on other 
lands and other feed, the comparison 



will be found immensely in favor of 
alfalfa. I have strong doubts if there 
is any product of the soil in California 
that is so reliable or which will pay 
equal returns on the investment with 
the same certainty — this word certain- 
ty expresses the idea exactly. This 
crop is absolutely certain, and no other 
can be considered equally so. Another 
advantage is that after the first cost, 
but little labor is required. This is a 
great recommendation in California, 
where reliable labor is so scarce, and 
where wages are high. The cost of 
labor is what eats up the profit of 
farming. Let a man have plenty of 
alfalfa and he can have an easy fortune 
out of stock, and be entirely indepen- 
dent of bad seasons, or any other cal- 
amities. 



FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 



ALFALFA. 

Many who have been in the habit 
of pasturing sheep and other stock on 
the natural herbage, object to the cul- 
tivation of alfalfa on account of the 
expense, when the fact is, that it is 
cheaper to purchase, prepare and sow 
the land in alfalfa, than to purchase 
natural pasture lands. 

sheep. 

I will estimate the cost of an acre of 
alfalfa, prepared as described in my 
previous letter, at $50. This acre will 
feed 25 sheep constantly ; consequently 
the cost of land per sheep is only $2 
per head. On the other hand, of the 
natural pasture lands that can be 
bought for say $1 50 per acre, it will 
take at least three acres to keep one 
sheep, on a good average season. On 
a dry year it often happens that 20 
acres will not keep a sheep; these lands 
being dependent on rain, which is 
somewhat uncertain in all parts of 
California, and particularly so in 
in Southern California. The large 
ranchos, that are sometimes sold at 
the above low rate, have generally a 
very large proportion of worthless 



— 14 — 



land. In buying large tracts, the 
purchaser pays for a large area that he 
does not want, to get^the little that he 
does. Land at $1 50 per acre, 3 acres 
per sheep, will cost $j 50 per sheep, as 
against $2 for alfalfa, with the chance 
that one year out of three will be dry, 
and nothing will grow on the land at 
all. If a better quality of land is se- 
lected, say 2 acres to one sheep, the 
cost will be $2 50 to $3 per acre, 
making the cost $5 or $6 per sheep. 
If land is selected where an acre will 
sustain a sheep, the cost is still greater. 
Such lands are generally arable, and 
worth from $10 to $30 per acre. In 
this section the question has narrowed 
down to this: the owner of sheep 
must make his choice— it is alfalfa or 
the desert. The more intelligent of 
the sheep men recognize this fact, and 
are sowing alfalfa extensively; whilst 
the others, the natural pasture men, 
are many of them, even now, facing 
the dust storms of the desert, where 
their losses from the depredations of 
wild animals, and other causes, and 
t he heavy cost of transportation, will 
be twice greater than any advantage 
they may gain by the saving in rent, 
or eost of land. The wool is dirty, 
and full of foul seed burrs, etc., and 
consequently brings a low price. On 
the other hand, the alfalfa man's wool 
is free from dirt, and is first-class in 
every respect, clean, with a long and 
strong libre, and commands the high- 
est price. He, moreover, lives like a 
civilized being, and the other like a 
savage. Alfalfa is not only cheaper, but 
better in every respect. 

COWS DAIRYING. 

Dairy cows (unlike sheep) cannot 
rough it. No dairy can be successful 
unless the cows have abundance of the 
very best and most succulent food, to 
keep the yield of milk, butter and 
cheese at the highest possible rate of 
production. To do this a constant 
supply of green feed is required. 
Natural pastures are generally green 
about one- hall' the year. The grasses 
being with few exceptions, annuals, 
they ripen ami become dry, when they 



arrive at maturity, and the cows fed 
upon them in the dry state, rapidly fail 
in their milk and become fat. The 
dried grasses, being full of seed, are 
very fattening, excellent for beef stock 
and horses, but bad for milking stock. 

On Point Keyes, where, owing to the 
constant fogs which prevail, much of 
the grass remains green for most of 
the year, it takes ten acres of land to 
sustain one cow on the natural pro- 
duce of the land. These lands and 
their fences are worth probably not 
less than $50 per acre. These are 
considered the best dairy lands in the 
northern part of t he State, and the 
best are always the cheapest; conse- 
quently it costs $500 for land for one 
cow. In many places land can doubt- 
less be bought for Jess money, but 
they are either interior in production 
or are distant from market, or there is 
some other equally good reason for the 
difference in price. The difference in 
the cost of land per cow, between na- 
tural pastures and alfalfa, is as fol- 
lows: 

Natural pastures, one cow to Hi acres. at 

$50 $500 On 

Alfalfa, at 3 cows p»r acre, at *50 1 7 00 

Difference in favor of Alfalfa $483 00 

If the cattle are soiled, the differ- 
ence will be still greater, as each acre 
would support six, and all necessity 
for fences would be avoided, with the 
exception of the enclosure where the 
cows are kept. The soiling really 
costs nothing, as one man must neces- 
sarily be kept for every 20 or 25 cows, 
and he can cut and haul the grass for 
them in the interval between the 
morning and evening milking. 

Notwithstanding tiiis immense dif- 
ference bet ween the cost of land, the 
difference between the cost of dry and 
green feed is still greater. The dairy- 
man, who depends upon the natural 
grasses, must necessarily manage "so as 
to have his cows fresh at the com- 
mencement of the rainy season, and, as 
at that time every one has green feed, 
the price of dairy products, which had 
been high during the dry season, im- 
mediately falls. Now, the alfalfa 



dairyman can either let his cows come 
in fresh at all seasons of the year, and 
keep his dairy running constantly, or 
he can manage so as to have his cows 
fresh just at the season when other 
dairies are drying up, and thus secure 
the cream of the season, when prices 
are always high. With alfalfa, the 
dairyman is master of the situation. 

I will say in this connection that 
there are thousands of acres of natural 
evergreen pastures in Los Angeles 
county that will sustain from one to 
live cows to the acre during eight 
months of the year. They are not so 
good in the winter as in the summer, 
being too wet and cold. These are 
vers much superior to the ordinary 
natural pastures, and they are not 
found in any other part of the State. 
The principal grasses growing on these 
lands are perennial, and form a heavy, 
permanent sod. Cows, and also sheep 
and horses, do admirably on these 
lands; the two latter, however, prefer 
the annuals when they are abundant. 

HOGS. 

Dairying and hogs are inseparably 
connected. Many dairymen pay the 
current expensesof their establishment 
by the sale of hogs that have fatten- 
ed on the sour milk and whey of the 
dairy. But now I propose to consider 
tlie hog question on its merits, as a 
distinct branch of farming. Cattle 
and sheep cost money, and, compared 
with hogs, they increase slowly, and 
it lakesaconsiderable capital to gointo 
either business; but, on the other 
hand, hogs increase and multiply so 
rapidly that a poor man with a few 
head generally finds that his stock in- 
creases luster than his means of feed- 
ing them. It is my confident belief 
that a system of farming, where hogs 
consume all of the produce of the farm, 
is the most profitable of any of the 
plans of which I have heretofore treat- 
ed. Alfalfa is the basis of the system; 
this grass, either pastured or soiled, 
(both plans are good) will keep the 
hogs fat, and in a fine, thriving and 
growing condition all the year. Barley 
is sown, and when sufficiently mature, 



portions of the crop are enclosed by a 
movable fence and the hogs turned 
upon it. The hogs will harvest, thresh 
and sack all of the barley without ex- 
pense to the owner, and, if need be, 
will walk to market afterwards. If 
roots are planted, they will harvest 
them in the same way. The corn only 
requires husking and cribbing; the 
hogs save all the expense of shelling 
and sacking, and, as in the case of the 
barley, make no charge for it. They 
are the best labor-saving machines 
ever invented, with the advantage that 
they don't wear out, nor require re- 
pairs, if the proper arrangements have 
been made for controling their move- 
ments. No kind of stock are so profit- 
able, nor so little trouble, nor any that 
require so little capital to commence 
with. It is unnecessary to go into the 
details of the profits of hog-raising; 
where food is abundant, it is well- 
known that they are very profitable. 
With alfalfa, barley, corn, roots, pump- 
kins, peas, artichokes, etc., there is no 
limit to the amount of food that can 
be cheaply and certainly produced. 

In the last three letters I have en- 
deavored to show that the men of 
small means, who form the bulk of our 
immigrants, can have in this section no 
difficulty whatever, not only in making 
a living, but. if they are industrious, 
in making money by farming, pure 
and simple; and as their wants were 
immediate, I wished to show that 
there were plenty of crops that would 
make immediate returns. After pres- 
ent necessities were provided for, they 
could proceed to raise stock, that re- 
quire more time to mature and re- 
turn a profit,such as horses and mules: 
or go into the cultivation of semi-tro- 
pical fruits and vines, as well as those 
of the temperate zone, all of which are 
very profitable, but require time for 
growth and development before yield- 
ing a profit. Having settled the living 
question, I will proceed in my next to 
give estimates of the cost and profit of 
the cultivation of fruits, vines, etc. 



—16— 



FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 

No, 3. 

BENCHES REQUIRING CAPITAL. 

Horses and mules can be fed on al- 
falfa in just about the same propor- 
tionate numbers per acre as cows, 
either pastured or soiled; and when fed 
liberally with it, either in the green or 
dry state, they are constantly fat, and 
maintain their good condition with- 
out grain when worked at the or- 
dinary labors of the farm. It is a par- 
ticularly desirable food for young grow- 
ing stock, maintaining them in fine, 
Thrifty, growing condition, not being 
heating like the grain hay, usually fed. 
All kinds of stock-men, who have tried 
alfalfa, give it the preference over any 
other kind of grass for a permanent 
and reliable dependence. Breeders of 
good horses, mules and cattle, will find 
that they can raise much finer animals 
upon the abundant, nutritious and 
constant supply of food furnished by 
alfalfa than by depending upon the 
uncertain growth of our natural 
pastures. In the one case the supply 
of food is constant, and in the other it 
is alternately "a feast or a famine.'' If 
tine animals are to be produced, it is 
necessary that they should at all times 
be kept in fine condition, insuring a 
si eady and regular growth, and conse- 
quently a perfect development of all 
rheir parts. When the railroad con- 
nection between this valley and San 
Francisco is made — and it will be in 
eighteen months from this time — our 
alfalfa pastures daring the winter will 
supply all of the fat cattle and sheep 
required for that market. The winter 
clinipte of the northern part of the 
State is too cold for the growth eve a of 
alfalfa., which is hardly checked here. 
The stock-man will purchase his stock 
during the summer, and turning them 
into his alfalfa pastures, will have them 
fat and ready for the San Francisco 
market 1 when the prices ' are the 
highest, and. when from the small 
cost at which his stock has been fatten- 
ed, lie can make a handsome profit, and 



still undersell the more costly stall- 
fed cattle of the north. He can, more- 
over, keep them at home without ex- 
pense until sold. When stock are 
scarce and in demand, the purchaser 
always comes to the seller. 

Although alfalfa can be, and is, suc- 
cessfully raised in other parts of this 
State, there is no other part where the 
winter growth is at all comparable to 
what it is here. This gives the stock- 
men here an immense advantage. 
With our fertile soil, abundance of 
water for irrigating purposes, and ex- 
tremely mild climate, the growth of 
grass is constant, and those who 
wish to embark in the stock business 
on a large scale, can here find greater 
advantages than in any other parr of 
the Slate. Those who are looking for 
the best stock county in the State, 
wili surely find it here. 

FRUITS A XI) XUTS. 

Fruits of all kinds; both temperate 
and semi-tropical, flourish here, and 
many kinds are profitable for cultiva- 
tion. The peach grows here in the 
greatest perfection. Instead of being 
a short-lived tree, which becomes dis- 
eased and dies after bearing two or 
three crops, as in the country east of 
the Rocky Mountains, or six or 7 crops, 
as in the northern part of this State, 
ir is here a long-lived tree; growing 
to a great size, and bearing enormous 
crops of the finest quality of fruit. We 
have trees in Anaheim li' to 14 years 
old and 10 ro inches in diameter, 
that not only show no signs of deca- 
dence, but annually /require their 
branches to be "shortened in. ''to check 
their too vigorous growth, and check 
their tendency to bear too large crops. 
This crop is very certain, the present 
year being the only failure in many 
years. The present crop was destroy- 
ed by a frost, produced by a six de- 
grees lower temperature than had ever 
been known here at any season of the 
year before, and which occurred whilst 

The peach is profitable either in its 
fresh, ripe state or when dried. For 
the former the demand is in many 



— 17— 



places limited, but in the latter state 
there is no limit but production, par- 
ticularly when dried by the modern ar- 
tificial processes now in vogue.Theseare 
not only cheaper and more expeditious 
than sun-drying, but the quality of the 
product is greatly superior, selling for 
one or two hundred per cent, more 
than the ordinary sun-dried. I have no 
data from which to estimate the pro- 
duce of an acre of peach trees, but will 
only say that I have never seen trees 
anywhere yield anything like the con- 
stant and enormous crops they do here. 
And, although our present market for 
fresh fruit is small, there can be no 
better place for growing and preparing 
the dried fruit, which is good in pro- 
portion to the quality of the fresh fruit 
from which it is made. Transporta- 
tion, which is an important matter in 
fresh fruit, looses much of its impor- 
tance when, by drying, the fruit is re- 
duced to one-tenth of its former bulk 
and weight. Consequently fruit for 
drying should always be produced 
where it grows and ripens to the 
greatest perfection. I consider the 
growing and artificial drying of north- 
ern or temperate fruits is destined to 
be a very large business in this section, 
and one that will be permanent and 
profitable. 

APRICOTS AND NECTARINES, 

Belonging to the same genus as the 
peach, do equally well, being great 
bearers and of fine flavor. 

APPLES AND PEARS 

Are very certain and large bearers,and 
produce fruit of the very finest quality, 
equal to any of the same varieties in 
any other part of the State. These, 
being easier to keep than peaches, and 
bearing transporrion better, there will, 
of course, be a chance to dispose of a 
larger quantity in their fresh state, but 
I take it that those who grow them 
largely will do it mainly for the pro- 
duction of dried fruit, this being a busi- 
ness not requiring a very large capital, 
but one in which the results are certain 
and satisfactory. 



PLUMS 

Of certain varieties bear extremely 
well, and are of fine flavor both for 
drying and preserving. But I do not 
know if all varieties of the plum do 
equally w T ell. Fruit raising, like most 
branches of improved farming, is com- 
paratively in its infancy in this recent- 
ly settled country. 

STRAWBERRIES, 

When properly supplied with moisture, 
bear constantly throughout the year, 
and when planted on warm, sandy 
loam, cannot be excelled in flavor. 
This is an excellent crop for drying, 
the dried product selling for a high 
price. 

The other small fruits, such as cur- 
rants, blackberries, raspberries, and 
gooseberries, where tried, have done 
well, but the limited market for the 
sale of fresh fruits, heretofore, has pre- 
vented their general cultivation, but 
for drying purposes they will do ad- 
mirably. 

GRAPES 

Of all kinds grow, thrive and produce 
abundantly in all parts of this favored 
state; but it is claimed, and I think just- 
ly, that they here acquire a finer flavor, 
yield a larger crop, attain a greater 
size and make a better flavored raisin 
or wine than in the other parts of the 
State. It is very certain in any event, 
that no part of the State can excel 
us in. the production of either grapes, 
raisins or wine, either in quantity or 
quality. The quality of the grape, 
cultivation being equal, is due to the 
soil and climate, but the superior 
quality of raisins or wdne is due partly 
to the kind and quality of the grape 
and also more particularly to the skill- 
ful manipulation of the manufacturer 
of each; the raisins or wine are good 
or bad according to the skill of the 
producer. 

We cultivate manj 7 varieties of the 
European grape,but the one that seems 
to combine more desirable qualities 
than any other is the White Muscat of 
Alexandria which is an early and pro- 
lific bearer and ranks first-class as a 
table, wine and raisin grape, no other 



— 18 — 



single variety possessing all of these 
desirable qualities in equal proportion. 
Most varieties will not bear until the 
third year from the cutting, but the 
Muscat bears a half crop in the second 
year. Several vineyards in the vicinity 
of Anaheim have produced an aver- 
age of seveti pounds to the vine in the 
second year from the cutting. At the 
usual number of vines to the 
acre, say 1,000, his is seven pounds 
of grapes per vine, or 3£ tons, which is 
decidedly better than no crop. . These 
vineyards received ordinary care but 
were not neglected. These, of course, 
are exceptional instances; vines gener- 
ally produce a half crop the third 
year and a full crop on the fourth 
year. The general calculation is that 
the profit on the crop the fourth year 
will pay for the land, cuttings, plant- 
ing and all other expenses up to that 
date, the vineyard costing the pro- 
prietor nothing but the annual ex- 
pense for labor. Plenty of good grape 
land can be bought at prices ranging 
from $10 tof 30 per acre. I will take $20 
as the average rate per acre. The vine 
does not require irrigation in any part 
of this State, and if the vineyard is 
planted without it, the roots are sent 
deep in the soil, and being constantly 
in contact with the natural moisture 
in the soil, the vine becomes inde- 
pendent of either rains or irrigation. 
At all events it is certain that they 
do it here. 

ESTIMATE. 



20 acres Grape Land, at $20 per acre . . .$400 00 

1,000. cuttings and planting 210 00 

2 good plowing* and harrowings 100 00 

1st year labor and board of 1 man, six 

months at $40 240 00 

2d vear " " '• . *« " 240 00 
3d" " •' " " 240 00 
4th •' - *• " " 240 00 
Cost of picking grapes 4th year 250 00 

Total cost of vineyard SI, 920 00 

In estimating the crop, I will take 15 



lbs as the average produce of the vine, 
making seven and one-hall' tons per 
acre, or 15,000 lbs f grapes at I cent 
per pound, or $150 per acre, making 
for 20 acres , $3,000 00 

Leaving a balance in favor of crop of $1,080 00 



And making no account of the third 
year's crop, which is always good for 
expenses. The price, 1 cent per pound, 
is always realized in Anaheim for 
what is known as the old mission 
grape. Foreign grapes are worth, for 
wine-making, at wholesale, 1\ cents 
per pound ;but as most of our wine-men 
are also vine-growers, they realize 
more than double the profit above 
stated. But suppose we take the pro- 
duce of an acre of muscat grapes at,say 
15,000 lt>s,3fbsof these grapes produce lib 
of raisins, or 5,000 lbs, per acre, worth 
at wholesale, say 10 cents per pound 
(they are soid at from 15 to 25 cents). 
This would be a gross yield of $500 per 
acre, which would leave a liberal mar- 
gin for profit after deducting the ex- 
penses of picking, drying and market- 
ing. 



FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 

No. 4. 

TH.u PL h 

Is a tree of rapid growth and great 
capacity for producing fruit. In this 
section it is very hardy and bears 
regularly two crops <>i tigs in each 
year, the first ripening in the early 
part of summer and the other in the 
early fall. The production of the 
dried tig of commerce has not been 
attempted very generally in this coun- 
try, but, as in no other country is the 
tree grown, or the fruit produced in 
greater perfection than in Semi-tropic- 
al California, there is no reason why 
the cultivation of the tig for drying 
purposes should not become a profitable 
business. It has this important fact 
in its favor, that it bears a second crop, 
consequently the cultivator is sure of 
one crop in any year, and of two, in 
rive years out of six, possessing this 
advantage over the other fruits already 
enumerated. I do not know of any tig 
orchard that has been planted for the 
purpose of drying, nor of any person 
who has gone into the business; but 
when the yield is so large and certain 
and the quality so fine, there cannot 
be the least difficulty in producing 



— 19— 



dried figs equal to the best dried fig of 
commerce. The reason why this 
business is as yet untried, is that it is 
one of a thousand other industries that 
remain untried simply from want of 
population. Those who are here find so 
many branches of farming which are 
tried and proved to be paying, th££ 
others, that would probably pay much 
better, are neglected. The develop- 
ment of any new country depends 
upon its population and capital. 

COST OF A FIG ORCHARD. 

5 acres of land, with water right, at $50 
per acre $250 00 

Plowing, harrowing and preparing the 
land : $5 per acre 25 00 

250 yearling tig trees, at 10 cents each. . 25 00 

Total Cost $300 00 

T make no estimate of the cost of 
after cultivation, because the profit of 
the potatoes, beans and crops of a sim- 
ilar character, raised on the land du- 
ring the next two years, will not only 
remunerate the owner for the cost of 
cultivation but will yield a handsome 
income besides. The tree begins to 
bear during the second year, and by 
the fourth will yield a considerable 
crop, increasing yearly for an indefi- 
nite number of years. I advise the 
planting of only fifty per acre, because 
the tree grows rapidly to a great size. 
Trees in Anaheim of 14 years are 15 
inches in diameter in the trunk, with 
limbs covering a circle of 30 feet in 
diameter. When trees grow to such a 
size in so short a space of time, 50 per 
acre is probably too many and 40 
would probably be sufficient. I have, 
as I have before remarked, no data for 
estimating the value of the crop, but 
they bear profusely; and I am certain 
that in the near future this tree will 
furnish in its dried fruits an impor- 
tant part of the productions of this 
section. 

THE ORANGE 

Is perfectly hardy in this section, 
and during the past fifty years there is 
no evidence that frost has affected the 
mature bearing orange tree in any 
manner whatever. If the orchard is of 
reasonable size the annual yield varies 



but little. When a tree is permitted to 
over bear on any one year, its ener- 
gies are exhausted in perfecting the 
crop, and produces little or no bearing 
wood for the following year, conse- 
quently the crop of the succeeding 
year will be light; but as all the trees 
do not bear full on the same year, the 
average yield is preserved. The bet- 
ter plan is to pick off all the excess, 
and only allow a tree to produce a fair 
average, as the quality of those per- 
mitted to remain will be very superior 
and sell for a larger price than if the 
whole had remained and ripened, 
and then the tree has sufficient energy 
to produce the requisite bearing wood. 
This industry has been tested and is 
well established. The orchards planted 
by the few men of enterprise living in 
this section 15 or 20 years ago, are 
yielding princely incomes to their 
proprietors. The profit on an orchard, 
that has been well cultivated and well 
managed, upon its cost, is, notwith- 
standing the fact that it is well au- 
thenticated, and cannot be doubted, 
seemingly fabulous; but then we must 
remember that the men who planted 
these orchards, had to wait ten long 
yea rs from the time they planted the 
seed, until the tree produced any re- 
turn, and two or three years longer 
before they could reasonably expect a 
large crop. At this time money 
brought a high rate of interest, and 
capitalists preferred to loan their 
money rather than invest it in orange 
orchards and wait ten years for a re- 
turn. The trees then planted were 
natural fruit, but now the planter can 
buy two, three, four or five year old 
budded trees that will be in full bear- 
ing in half the time stated above. 
These trees cost money, but the great 
saving of time warrants it; besides, 
budded trees are certain to produce the 
same first-class fruit which the tree 
from which the buds were taken did. 
Seedling trees vary materially in this 
respect, but although the fruit varies 
considerably in size and flavor, still 
none of them fail to produce good 
marketable fruit. Many persons have 
an idea that orange orchards can only 



—20— 



be planted by the rich, but I will en- 
deavor to show that this is a mistake. 
The land upon which they are to be 
planted should have a water right, not 
only for the purpose of irrigating the 
trees, but also for the purpose of des- 
troying gophers, if there happen to be 
any in the ground. These pests have 
a passion for the best things in the 
vegetable kingdom, consequently they 
gopher the roots of both alfalfa and the 
orange. A good flooding of the land, 
once or twice a year, destroys them and 
they give no trouble. 

The cost of an orchard of orange 
trees is about as follows: the land may 
cost from $50 to $500 per acre, just as 
the buyer elects; but it need not neces- 
sarily cost more than S20 or S25 per 
acre. I will take S50 as the price of 
the land. The trees (seedlings) cost by 
the quantity — say from 100 up to any 
number— 1 year old, 2c; 2 years, 15c; 3 
years, 30c; 4 years, SI; 5 years, S2: 6 
years, S3 to S3 50; 7 years, S4 to So 
each. It is to be understood that 
these are average trees — taken as they 
come. Selected trees command a higher 
price. 

Budding is usually done on the 
seedliug at the age of two years (it can 
be done at any age afterward) and the 
age of . the tree is afterwards counted 
from the age of the bud; consequently 
a tree one 3'ear from the bud is 3 years 
old, and is worth $1 00; 2 years, or S2, 
3 years, S3 to SI: but the owner of 
seedlings can hire them budded at 
a small cost per tree. The rich man 
will save time by buying of the 
nurserv-man the treesjust as he wants 
them. He knows that the profit on 
them will be so disproportionate to the 
first cost, that a difference of $500 or 
Si, 000 in the cost of an acre is a small 
matter compared with the saving in 
time. The poor man, who has more 
time than money, will buy yearling 
trees at 2c, and plant them in nursery 
form. At the end of a year, if he 
lacks the skill, he will employ an ex- 
pert to bud his rrees. This costs out 
little. At the end of a year the trees 
should be planted where they are to 
grow; and here is where most men 



make their mistake. They plant their 
trees too close together. They should 
not be planted less than 30 feet apart. 
At that distance, when 20 years old, 
they will shade the ground completely, 
which is a disadvantage. I would 
^advise planting 40 feet apart, but will 
make my estimate at 30 feet, or 50 trees 
to the acre. 

5 acres of land, with water right, at S50 

per acre §250 00 

Two plowings.harro wings and preparing 

the land 25 00 

50 bndded trees, 1 year from the bud, at 

SI ".: 250 00 

First cost S525 00 

4 years interest aT 10 per cent 21 00 

Cost of orchard in fall bearing . .$546 00 

I make no provision for after culti- 
vation, because the crops of garden 
vegetables, melons, potatoes, beans, 
etc., raised upon the ground, will pay 
the cultivator a handsome profit. 
Shallow-rooted plants do not interfere 
with the growth of deep rooted trees, 
but grain crops should never he grown 
among trees. If corn i> planted, it 
should be only in the middle of the 
intervals, and should not shade the 
trees. This seems a trifling expense, as 
the cost of so valuable a property; but 
a poor man can, by waiting two years 
longer, reduce the cost more than 50 
per cent., making a saving on the price 
of land and also on the cost of the 
trees. 

It is evident, therefore, that an 
orange orchard is something easily at- 
tainable by the man of little or no 
capital, and is not a monopoly of 
the wealthy alone. The ordinary yield 
of a seedling orchard of 12 years or a 
budded orchard of S years will be, say 
1,000 oranges per tree. At 50 trees per 
acre, the yield will be 50,000 oranges, 
which at S10 per thousand, will be S500 
per acre, or S2,5u0 income on a first cost 
of $546. I have made no account of the 
fruit borne on the two previous years, 
the sale of which has already paid the 
first cost of everything; consequently 
this S2,500 is all profit, except the tri- 
fling cost of cultivation and watering 
the orchard. And here I will state 



that the price named is probably the 
lowest rate, that oranges of good 
quality will ever sell at here on the 
tree (the wholesale dealers buy them 
on the tree.) The present rate ranges 
from $10 per thousand for inferior to 
$30 per thousand for the best qualityand 
$20 is the average rate for fair medium 
quality. Keferring to my previous cal- 
culation, it will be seen that at the 
present time the orchard would have 
returned, at present prices, not $2,500, 
but $5,000. Three years later the 
same trees would average 2,000 oranges 
each, or, at present rates, $10,000 in 
cash. These are the fabulous returns 
that are actually rewarding the enter- 
prise of the men who planted the first 
orchards. But, however difficult to 
believe, these are actual facts. There 
is no danger of over production. The 
growth of our Pacific Coast states and 
Territories are an ample market for all 
that can be produced. When I come 
to treat of our markets this will be fully 
explained. 

THE LEMON AND LIME. 

What I have said about the orange, 
applies with equal force to the lemon 
and lime. The lemon has this advan- 
tage over the orange and the lime: that 
it is propagated from the cuttings with 
as much facility as the willow. The 
cuttings from bearing wood bear at 5 
years, and bear heavily at 7 years. Itis 
louu. lived,anda tree of vigorous growth, 
and requires a severe cutting back 
each year. Although tht* principal 
part of the annual crop ripens during 
the winter and spring, still the trees 
are blooming and fruiting at all sea- 
sons. Cultivators, I believe, consider 
the lemon more profitable than the 
orange. The fruit not being so perish- 
able, can be sent in its ripened perfec- 
tion to distant markets. 

The lime is a smaller tree than either 
of the preceding, and should be planted 
about 20 feet apart. It commences 
bearing about the fifth year from the 
seed, and yields a continuous crop ever 
after. 15-year-old lime trees in Los 
Angeles have yielded fruit to the value 
of $100 00 each in a single year. They 



are consequently very profitable. The 
wise cultivator will not devote his en- 
tire attention to any one variety of 
the fruits I have enumerated, but 
should plant some of each. It is im- 
possible that there should be a failure 
of all in any one season. Consequent- 
ly by cultivating a variety of products, 
he is sure of a good return in any 
year. _ 

FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 

No. 5. 

NUTS. 

The almond has been sufficiently 
tested in California to prove that the 
tree is vigorous, hardy and a prolific 
bearer of first quality nuts. This is 
more particularly true of the Langue- 
doc and other soft shell varieties. The 
hard shell varieties, which were first 
planted in Los Angeles county, 
although healthy, vigorous trees, do 
not bear large crops. The reason pro- 
bably is that all varieties of almonds 
bloom very early in the winter, at a 
time when even in this climate, frosts 
occasionally occur; and although these 
frosts are li^ht (the thermometer never 
having fallen below 28° Farenheit, ex- 
cept on two days last April, during 
the last twenty years) they are suffi- 
cient occasionally to blight the bloom 
or destroy the tender young germs 
just set on. It has been found how- 
ever, that by budding the almond on 
the peach, which blooms later, the 
risk of injury from frost is almost en- 
tirely avoided, and nurserymen use 
the peach stock almost entirely. Here- 
tofore the extensive cultivation of the 
almond has been principally confined 
to that part of the State lying to the 



north of what I have defined as semi- 
tropical California. The probabilities 
are that it can be profitably cultivated 
whereevef the peach tree can; but 
■whether the almond will be as short 
lived as the peach is in most places is 
not yet ascertained, but it is an im- 
portant question for those localities. 
Here no man will ever find it neces- 
sary to renew his plantations of peach 
or almond on account of their failure 
to bear from old age. 

In those parts of the State where the 
semi-tropical fruits do not flourish, the 
almond has been adopted as a profit- 
able substitute. Gen. BidwelJ, at 
Chico, near the' head of the Sacramen- 
to valley, has a large orchard which 
produces almonds of the finest quality. 
There are also orchards in the coun- 
ties lying on the bay of San Francisco', 
but probably the largest plantations 
in the State are in the county of 
Santa Barbara, where Messrs. Hoi lis- 
ter, Cooper and others have planted 
the almond very extensively, with 
every probability of a profitable re- 
turn. The few trees in this county 
that are old enough to bear, yield 
good crops of first-quality nuts, and 
afford encouragement to those who 
have planted extensively. To give an 
idea of the vigorous growth of the al- 
mond in this valley, trees half an inch 
in diameter, planted in March, 1874, 
measured four inches in diameter in 
July 1875, (16 months) and this with- 
out irrigation or anything more than 
ordinary care. If that rate of growth 
is continued many years it will be 
necessary to give these trees plenty of 
room, and I think they should be 
planted not less than 30 feet apart or 
100 to the acre. As the tree does not 
need irrigation, abundance of good 
land for almond culture can be had at 
prices ranging from S10 to 840 per 
acre. When trees are to be grown 
without irrigation the previous pre- 
paration of the land should be thorough 
and to secure the best results the land 
should not only be thoroughly plowed 
but also subsoiled. For reasons, al- 
ready given, 1 should advise the se- 
lection of trees budded on peach stocks 



at say 18 months from the seed. These 
should remain in the nursery one 
year after budding. The trees would 
then be about 3 years old and should 
not then cost more than 20 or 25 cents 
each for the very best varieties. 

COST OF FIVE ACRES OF ALMONDS. 



5 acres of land at S20 per acre §100 00 

2 plowings and 1 snbsoiling at $10 per 

acre. 50 00 

100 trees at 25 cts. each 250 00 

Planting, at $o per acre 25 00 



S425 00 

Two years interest at 10 per cent 85 00 



Total cost of orchard, at 5 years. . . .$510 (.0 



The second year after planting, the 
trees will bear sufficient to pay the 
expense of cultivation, provided no 
crop was raised on the ground; but on 
and after the third year, a good and 
constantly increasing crop may be ex- 
pected. I am aware that the custom 
is to plant from 25 to 50 per cent, more 
trees per acre than 1 have estimated; 
and possibly on poor soil, where the 
trees do not make much growth, they 
may not be too much ero.v !e 1, but in 
this section, where land is cheap and 
good, it is better to sec.ie the best re- 
sults from each tree by giving them 
plenty of room, than to be forced to 
dig up and destroy valuable trees be- 
cause they were too crowded, by an 
inordinate greed for gain. The roots 
of trees require sunshine as well as 
the leaves, and space should be left for 
the sun to warm and renovate the 
earth with its rays. 

Parties, conversant withjthe profits of 
almond culture, say that they will pay 
handsomely if two good crops can be 
secured in each five years. That they 
will pay is pretty evident; or at all 
events some men have faith that they 
will, as Col. HoUister, of Santa Bar- 
bara, has an orchard of 25,000, and Mr. 
Cooper, of t he same place, has also an 
orchard of 12.500 almond trees. Men 
of their known business sagacity would 
not have gone to the enormous ex- 
pense required to plant and cultivate 
such large plantations unless they 
were sure. The almond can scarcely 
be classed among perishable products, 



and its sale is not confined to any par- 
ticular locality; it has the whole world 
for a market. 

THE WALNUT. 

By this term is meant the tree com- 
monly known as the English walnut, 
or the walnut of commerce in semi- 
tropical California. These trees acquire 
a growth and vigor which I have seen 
nowhere else. Trees in Anaheim, that 
have had little or no care, 14 years of 
age, have attained such a size that 
they measure 42 inches in circumfer- 
ence around their trunks, and shade 
with the spread of their branches, a 
circle of 35 feet in diameter. These 
trees, with ordinary care and attention, 
begin to bear nuts at nine years, and 
at twelve years will produce 100 lbs of 
nuts per tree; at 16 years 200 lbs of 
nuts per tree, and so on with a corres- 
ponding annual increase. The im- 
mense and rapid growth of this tree 
requires plenty of space for its best 
development; they should not be 
planted les* than 60 feet apart, as at 
that distance their branches will pro- 
bably touch by the time they are 20 
years old. This tree is valuable from 
the fact that the nuts are of very large 
size and flavor. They will bear trans- 
portation, and the crop is one that 
may beconsideied absolutely certain. 
Besides planting in orchards, it is an 
excellent plan to plant these trees 
along roads and outside boundaries of 
other orchards, as, being deciduous, it 
makes shade in summer when it is 
wanted, and none in the winter wheu 
it is not wanted. Besides, its large 
top and broad spreading branches 
break r he force of the wind from the 
orange, lemon and other trees, when 
they are loaded with fruit. To give an 
idea of the profit of these trees: 40 trees 
per acre, 12 years old, yielding 100 lbs 
of nuts each, would amount to 4,000 
lbs. At 10 cents per pound, the whole- 
sale rate, it would be 6400 per acre. 
There is also a great demand for these 
nuts, when half grown, for pickling, 
At this stage they will weigh about 
double what they will when mature, 
and bring an equally high rate, the 
pickled article having a tine flavor and 



being in great demand. 

The black walnut, or the native wal- 
nut of the Atlantic States, has been 
tried in California and grows and pro- 
duces well. The nut has but little 
commercial value, but the wood is in 
such demand for cabinet work that it 
w T ould undoubtedly pay to plant it in 
forest for its timber. This is particular- 
ly the case in California, as our grow- 
ing season lasts nearly the whole 
year, trees make timber twice as fast 
as in the Atlantic States. 

The chestnut, pecan and shell bark 
have all been tried in California. They 
commence bearing at an early age, 
compared to other countries, and 
thrive admirably. Their nuts have a 
commercial value and their cultiva- 
tion will undoubledly pay for nuts 
alone. 

THE OLIVE 

Thrives almost all over this State, 
being a hafdj' and vigorous tree. At 
all the old Missions the old trees are 
to be found of very large size, bearing 
yearly heavy crops of fruit. The tree 
is propagated by cuttings, quite as 
easily as the willow and after the 
second year requires little or no care. 
At the age of seven years it com- 
mences to bear, and the crops continue 
to increase with the increasing growth 
of the tree for hundreds of years. The 
fruit is used for pickling and also for 
making oil, and the crop pays now 
at the present high rate for labor; and 
as in the usual course of new settle- 
ments, ths cost of labor diminishes 
with the increase of population, the 
olive will doubtless prove one of our 
most profitable productions. The 
fresh oil sells readily at So per gallon 
at wholesale and the difference be- 
tween the genuine olive oil of Cali- 
fornia, and the lard oil of Cincinnatti 
exported to France and returned to the 
United States, in bottles with fancy 
labels under the guise of olive oil, is 
decidedly marked. 



—24— 



FARMING IN SEMI-TROPICAL 
CALIFORNIA. 

No. 6. 

HOPS AND TOBACCO 

Are two other products that do well in 
most parts of the State and which 
seem especially adapted to our soil 
and climate. 

HOPS 

Have been tested in two localities in 
this section with extremely favorable 
results. Last season, plants of the 
second year, near Anaheim, produced 
at 32? cents per pound, over four hund- 
red dollars per acre. The quality of 
the product is first-class; the effect of 
our equable climate in the gradual 
ripening or maturing ot all kinds of 
plants is such that they arrive at a 
perfection which they do not attain 
in the more rapid maturation of other 
climates and shorter seasons. The 
expense of cultivating hops consists in 
the cost of plants and poles and the 
preparation of the ground. The first 
year tiie yield is expected to pay ex- 
penses; on the second, the crop is large 
and continues annually to increase. 
In this section tiie crop seems ab- 
solutely certain and the only un- 
certainty about the crop seems to be 
the market price, which ranges from 
60 cents per pound down to less than 
the cost of gathering and preparing 
the crop. California hops have this 
advantage, however, one pound being 
considered equal to three pounds pro- 
duced elsewhere. Notwithstanding 
the above mentioned uncertainty, the 
immense margin of profit, in seasons 
of favorable prices, is such that all 
those who have gone into hop culture 
and stuck to it have got rich; still, as 
the market is sometimes uncertain, it 
is safer to make the hop crop one of 
many others. The prudent farmer 
culti vates many crops, some of which 
are sure to pay and to make up for the 
deficiencies of the others, and. does not 
"put ah of his eggs in one basket." 

TOBACCO 

Has been cultivated in California 



since its first settlement by the Spani- 
ards, more than a century ago, and is 
perhaps, one of the most certain and 
productive crops that are cultivated. 
Its production is in fact so easy and 
certain that it would now be one of 
the great staples of the country, but 
for the fact that the difference in our 
climate necessitates a variation from 
the established processes of curing 
that are in vogue in the countries 
where it is now a staple production, or 
in other words, the curing process has 
got to be adapted to the climate. 

The Culp process, by means of 
which the Consolidated Tobacco Com- 
pany of Gilroy cure their tobacco, 
seems to be a decided step in the right 
direction. As a test of its quality, 
tobacco cured by this process was sent 
to the Louisville, Ky., market and 
sold from 80 to 100 per cent, higher 
than any other tobacco in that market. 
Quality is everything in tobacco, and 
it is believe! that wten tiie process 
of curing has been perfected, that Cali- 
fornia will attain the same preemi- 
nence in the production of tobacco 
that she already has hi the production 
of wheat. The tendency of our climate 
and soil is to perfection both in the 
animal and vegetable kingdom. 

Tobacco makes in Semi-tropical 
California a most remarkable growth, 
plants having attained a size of from 
8 to 10 feet in height with leaves 3 feet 
long by 20 inches wide, which when 
dried, were as thin, soft and pliant as 
a tine kid glove. 

Here the plant is perennial and 
yields three cuttings in each season. 
More than 3,000 pounds per acre have 
been produced on a tract of 8 acres in 
Anaheim, and this rate of production 
can reasonably be calculated upon on 
good soil any where in this section. 
The plant may be said to have no 
enemies; the worm does but little 
damage and the crop is destined to 
become one of our great staples when 
tiie curing process is perfected, which 
is as yet tar from having been done. 

The certainty of such a large yield, 
together with the high price and 



limitless market for first-class tobacco, 
will, when the best system ot* curing 
has been perfected, make tobacco the 
most profitable crop of all those which 
have been enumerated. Think of a 
crop which will produce a gross yield 
of more than one thousand dollars per 
acre, which can be cultivated and 
grown up to the point when curing 
commences at but little more expense 
than that of a crop of corn. The in- 
ventor of that perfect process of curing 
has an immense reward awaiting him. 

textile chops. 

Cotton has been rested in Southern 
California with such successful results 
that in some places it has been adopt- 
ed as the staple crop, superceding 
corn and wheat. The yield is about 
double the average yield of the cotton 
growing States, whilst the cost of pro- 
duction and gathering is about 50 per 
cent. less. The cost of preparing land 
is the same as for corn, and after 
planting the seed and thinning the 
plants to a proper stand, nothing more 
in the way of attendance or cultivation 
is required until picking time com- 
mences, when gangs of Chinamen are 
employed. These are far more reli- 
able than the negro and being steady 
and industrious are really "cheaper. 
When fairly treated, they invariably 
live up to their contracts." 

Owing to the absence of rain, the 
cotton is of most dazzhig whiteness; 
the libre is finer and the staple longer 
than that of the cotton of the same 
variety produced any where in the 
Mississippi valley. At least this is said 
by experts whose long experience 
qualities them to judge. It has been 
tested in this valley with decided suc- 
cess, but it was found that there were 
many other crops which were equally 
or even more profitable, and were less 
trouble to grow and market. 

HEMP 

Has been tested on a small scale and 
made a wonderful growth, and there 
is no question as to its being adapted 
to our soil and climate, but whether it 
can be made • to pay is yet to be 



ascertained. 

FLAX 

Has proved a profitable crop in many 
parts of this State when grown for the 
seed alone, and is particularly so 
when a paper mill is sufficiently near 
to make a market for the straw. The 
crop of seed varies from 1,000 to 2,000 
lbs. per acre, which at the standing 
price, will make a crop yield from $30 
to $60 per acre. When the straw can 
be disposed of for sufficient to pay ex- 
penses, the crop pays well. 

RAMIE 

Grows well in our valley, but as yet 
has only been experimented with. The 
fibre is the best and strongest known. 
Many parties are testing it, but as yet 
no practical results have been obtained, 
but those who are engaged in its cul- 
ture think that it will not only be suc- 
cessful, but exceedingly profitable. 

OUR MARKET 

At present is San Francisco, which 
takes all of our surplus of oranges and 
other semi-tropical fruits, as well as 
most of our surplus grain and other 
farm produce, but we are to have an 
immense market opened to us in the 
great desert basin lying north and east 
of the Sierra Madre mountains, which 
bound our valley on the north. For 
several years a considerable portion of 
our corn and barley has been consum- 
ed by the teamsters, hauling supplies 
to, and bullion from, these mines,only 
a small portion of which have been 
worked. But within a few months 
railroads, now being actively con- 
structed, will, by affording cheap trans- 
portation, render possible the working 
of hundreds of mines who have here- 
tofore lain idle on account of the im- 
mense cost of transportation. Within 
the next two years these mines and 
those of Arizona will take all of our 
surplus produces, and then we will 
have nearly a home market for what 
we have to sell, and we will not be ob- 
liged to ship to San Francisco, and 
compete in that often glutted market 
with the balance of the State. 

This tremendous market will really 



belong to us, as we will be the nearest 
point of supply, and the value of such 
a market will be better appreciated 
when it is known that the country in 
question is an utter desert, producing 
nothing except the precious metals, and 
will be entirely dependent upon us for 
meat, grain, hay, vegetables, butter, 
cheese, fruits, and, in fact, for every- 
thing in the way of supplies for man 
and beast. This mining country is 
so extensive and will contain such a 
large population of miners that the 
productive lands of this valley will, 
within a very few years, be taxed to 
their utmost capacity to furnish the 
needed supplies. 

OUR PRESENT FACILITIES FOR SHIP- 
MENT 

Are not excelled by those of any part of 
the coast of California and are superior 
to most. At present all of our produce 
and all of our merchandise and lumber 
is shipped and received by sea. Vari- 
ous points on our sea coast are so well 
protected from the prevailing winds 
by projecting headlands aud outlying 
islands, that the force of the waves is 
broken and wharves are readily built 
out into the sea to deep water and 
ships of large size can lie alongside 
and load or discharge almost as well 
as in a land-locked harbor. Hereto- 
fore our shipping has been done by 
lighters and they have in times past 
been a great convenience, but are now 
too slow for this age of progress. Ship 
and car must be brought together, 
which can only be done by wharves 
built out to deep water. One of these 
is now nearly completed and when 
finished will have sufficient depth at 
its pier-head for the largest ship navi- 
gating the Pacific ocean to lie safely 
at and discharge or receive freight. 
This is only one of many that must be 
built to furnish the needed facilities 
for the dense population that will 
soon occupy this fertile valley, the 
present inhabitants of which are just 
now awakening to a dim perception 
of the magnificent future that is 
dawning upon them. 



OUR RAILROADS. 

At the present time there are in this 
county, one hundred and three miles 
of railroad in actual operation, branch- 
ing in various directions from Los 
Angeles as a center, to wit: The 
Wilmington road, 21 miles; Anaheim 
branch, 22 miles; San Fernando road, 
25 miles; and Spadra road to county 
line, about 35 miles: total 103 miles. 
Within the next four months the 
Spadra branch, which is already 
finished to San Bernardino, will ex- 
lend through the San Gorgonio Pass 
to the desert, a distance of 120 miles 
from Los Angeles in the direction of 
Fort Yuma, on the Colorado river, to 
which point it will be extended early 
next year. The Anaheim Branch will 
probably be extended during the 
present season 10 mile> further into 
the valley on the east side of the Santa 
Ana river. Between Lria Angeles and 
San Francisco there is a continuous 
line of road, with the exception of the 
gap -between Caliente, the' present 
terminus of the road at the head of 
the San Joaquin valley, and San Fer- 
nando, the terminus of the north 
branch from Los Angeles. This in- 
terval is about 100 miles in length 
and would have been completed long 
ago but for the necessity of first pierc- 
ing with tunnels the Sierra Madre at 
San Fernando and the Sierra Nevada 
at Tehatchepa Pass — both extraordi- 
narily heavy operations. These tun- 
nels are being pushed as fast as men 
and money can drive them, and it is 
confidently expected that within a 
year from this time there will be a 
continuous line of rail from San Fran- 
cisco to Fort Yuma. All of the roads 
mentioned belong to the Southern 
Pacific Railroad Co., who possess 
great resources, and are displaying 
a vast amount of energy in railroad 



building at a lime when financial 
depression has crippled almost all 
other railroad companies and stopped 
their operations. The completion of 
the road to San Francisco places us in 
direct connection with the present 
overland road and will enable immi- 
grants to come directly to this sec tion 
• without change or tronble. We want 
population, and this road will afford 
greatly increased facilities for them to 
get here. The Fort Yuma road, which 
we are assured is to be extended with- 
out delay through Arizona to the Rio 
Grande, will open to us an immense 
mining trade in Arizona. Compared 
to the vast area of rich mining country 
the agricultural lands of Arizona 
amount to but little. The bulk of 
their supplies must be furnished by us. 
Heretofore, the immense cost of trans- 
portion has pre vented the working of 
hundreds of rich mines, The con- 
struction of this road through Arizona 
will bring population and prosperity 
to that now stagnant country and it 
will be our mission to supply them 
with all the necessaries and luxuries 
of life. 

THE LOS ANGELES AND INDEPENDENCE 
RAILROAD 

Commences at the sea coast at Santa 
Monica and passing through the 
Southern part of the city of Los An- 
geles and the Laguna rancho, crosses 
the San Gabriel river at or below the 
pass through the Puente hills taking 
thence the most direct route to the 
Cajon Pass; and after passing that, 
enters upon the immense desert basin 
in which by avoiding the isolated 
spurs and detached ranges of moun- 
tains which are sprinkled about in it, 
throughout its extent, an easy gradual 



grade can be had to the city of Salt 
Lake. This will give us a direct con- 
nection with the Union Pacific at 
Ogden which road can reach the Pacific 
ocean with a down grade and two 
hundred miles less distance than by 
the Central Pacific to San Francisco. 
This is one of the certainties of the near 
future, but the immediate and princi- 
pal object of constructing this road 
was to reach the rich mining districts 
in the southern part of the great Salt 
Lake basin. These ores are almost 
invariably what are termed base 
metal — silver and lead — heavy to 
transport, and' as I have before remark- 
ed, the whole of the southern part of 
this basin is an utter desert with but 
little timber for fuel. Their ores must 
c ome to the coast for reduction, and on 
the other hand, all their supplies must 
be taken from this valley. This latter 
fact is what gives the road its particu- 
lar value to us. We will have the 
supplying of the vast host of miners, 
who wiil populate that country as 
soon as railroads have sufficiently 
lowered the cost of transportation to 
make mining practicable. This road 
will do both; it is backed by ample 
capital and will be built for cash, 
consequently it will be able to do 
business at reasonable rates and still 
pay a handsome profit on the cost. The 
fact that this road creates a new and 
ample market for us, gives us direct 
rail connection with the Atlantic coast 
and will probably build up a large city 
upon the sea coast where the reduction 
works wiil be established, makes it, 
from our point of view, the most im- 
portant road ever projected in this 
section. In connection with. this road 



and the port of Santa Monica a line of 
fast steamers are being built to reduce 
the time between Los Angeles and 
San Francisco to 24 hours. This had 
become a necessity, if the present line 
of steamers expected to retain even a 
portion of the travel that they now 
almost entirely monopolize. 

STEAMER LINES. 

Messrs. Goodall, Nelson & Perkins, 
of San Francisco, are running a large 
fleet of steamers to the Southern Coast, 
for both passengers and freight, which 
are arriving and departing almost 
daily. So far as freight is concerned, 
our business with San Francisco arid 
other coast ports will always be by sea. 
The distance by sea is less than 400 
miles, whilst by rail it is 500 miles, 
on which, at an average of twenty 
miles per hour, passengers will be 25 
hours from San Francisco to Los An- 
geles. The direct distance by sea from 
San Francisco to Santa Monica is about 
360 miles, and to compete with the 
railroad time the steamers will have 
to average 15 miles per hour, which 
can easily be done if fast, first-class 
steamers are put on the route. The 
steamers at present on the route are 
as safe, and as large, and as comfort- 
able as the trade warranted the com- 
pany in putting on. Their capacity is 
quite equal to the handling of all the 
freight shipped from coast ports to San 
Francisco at the present time. It is 
obvious, therefore, that with these 
rival routes, competing with each 
other, our transportation of passengers 
and freight, will always be safe, speedy 
and cheap. 

PA N A M A STEAMERS . 

In addition to the above-mentioned 
line of steamers, I believe it is arrang- 
ed to have the Panama steamers touch 
regularly at the Santa Monica wharf. 
This will enable immigrants, who may 
take the ocean route, to come directly 
to their destination without the trouble 
and expense of previously going to San 
Francisco, and then taking a coast 
steamer from there. Our extent of 
territory and great advantage of soil 



and climate are certain to attract a 
large population, and populous centers 
naturally attract railroads and steamer 
lines, because it pays to go to them. 

LUMBER AND BUILDING MATERIALS. 

At the present time, lumber is 
brought from ports on the northern 
coast on sailing vessels, which, after dis- 
charging their lumber, take back loads 
of grain. 

The lumber is of two kinds— red- 
wood, a kind of cedar, and fir, other- 
wise called Oregon pine. The present 
cost of lumber (rough) in Los Angeles 
and Anaheim is $32 50 per thousand 
feet, and for dressed, $42 50 per thou- 
sand feet. Lumber brought here by 
sea has had to he lightered ashore at 
heavy expense, but the construction of 
wharves out to deep water, and the 
bringing together of ship and car will 
materially re luce the eo-t of landing it, 
and it may a. so reasonably be expected 
that competition in a ia^e market will 
reduce rates to some tinny like San 
Francisco prices. 

We have also a home supply, On 
the north side of the Sierra Mad re is 
an immense supply of timber, which 
will become available after the railroad 
tunnels through the San Fernando 
and Oajon Passes are finished. The 
distance over which it will have to be 
transported is short, and the supply is 
ample both for our own needs and 
those of the mining country in the 
desert basin north and east. 

LIME. 

Marble of tine quality is found in 
large quantities in the Santa Ana val- 
ley and at other points near the lines 
of railroad. 

BRICKS 

Of good quality are made and sold at 
$s. per thousand, and good, sharp build- 
ing sand is abundant. Immigrants 
will have no difficulty in providing 
themselves with comfortable homes at 
short notice. 



—29— 



SEMI-TROPICAL CALIFORNIA. 



THE CLIMATES 

Of Semi-Tropical California are now 
universally acknowledged to be supe- 
rior to those of any part of the world; 
figures and facts prove this. I say 
climates, for within the area which I 
have described as Semi -Tropical Cali- 
fornia, there are many shades and va- 
rieties of climate, suited to all varieties 
of disease. In addition, we have heal- 
ing springs at San Juan Capistrano, 
Temescal and San Jacinto, that never 
fail to cure the most obstinate cases of 
rheumatism, and all kinds of cutane- 
ous diseases. In the latter case all 
that is necessary is to wash and be 
clean, for two or three months of per- 
sistent daily bathing invariably cures. 

As a proof of what our climate is, I 
present the observations taken by 
Messrs. Edwin S. Saxton and Francis 
8. Miles, ot this place. The former 
has a registering thermometer, which 
gives the highest and lowest points 
reached by his thermometer during 
the last year and a half, including 
the extraordinary frost of April 1875, 
which is unexampled by the history 
of this section. Unlike other observ- 
ers, who sometimes conceal the disa- 
greeable facts and only record the fa- 
vorable, Mr. Saxton conceals nothing, 
and gives the record as it actually oc- 
curred. Mr. Miles gives the climate 
from an invalids point of view, and 
gives the temperature of that part of 
the day when an invalid is supposed to 
be out of doors, and also gives his ob- 
servations taken by himself at Men- 
tone, France, and at Aiken, South 
Carolina, during the three winter 
months, as compared with the same 
months at Anaheim, which show that 
our climate is incomparably better. 
These tables may be taken as a fair 
average of Semi- Tropical California. 
Those who desire can find warmer and 
dryer or cooler climates in different 
localities. 

Thermometrtcal record for eighteen 
months, beginning July first, 1874, 
giving lowest at night preceding, 
and highest by day; also at 7 a. m. 



and 7 p. m. As space required for each 
day by itself would present an array 
of figures uninteresting to any except a 
very few, the average for each month 
only will be given: 

JANUARY. 
1874. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 
43 44 60 52 

The lowest figures touched were on 
the three consecutive days — 31, 37, 35. 
The highest— 69, 68, 69. Average for 
month, 50. Rainy four days. 

FEBRUARY. 
1874. Lowest. 7 a.m. Highest.7 p. m. 

39 41 59 58 
Lowest three days— 32, 32, 33. High- 
est three days — 65, 68, 66. Average for 
month, 47. Rainy or showery, seven 
days. 

MARCH. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a.m. Highest. 7 p. m. 
38 41 59^ 49 H 

Lowest three days — 30, 32, 31. High- 
est thr£e days — 66, 67, 70. Average for 
month, 47. Rainy or showery, six 
days. 

APRIL. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 

40 45 70 56 
Lowest three days— 35, 33, 34. High- 
est three days— 78, 78, 80. Average for 
month, 52 1 . Light showers, three 
days. 

MAY. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest, 7 p, m. 

47 H 54 % 74 63 

Lowest three days— 38, 35, 40. High- 
est three days — 89, 81, 83. Average for 
month, 59 Showers, two days. 

JUNE. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 

48 V« 58 H 8i> 66 

Lowest three days — 41, 43, 41. High- 
est three days — 85 , 90, 90. Average for 
month, 631. 

JULY. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 
57 H 66 83 H 68 

Lowest three days— 53, 52, 51. High- 
est three days — 90. 89, 90. Average for 
for month, 68$ 

AUGUST. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a. ari Highest. 7 p. m. 

oih 63*2 82 H 65 H, 

Lowest three days— 44, 44, 45. High- 
est three days— 94, 93, 95. Average 



-30- 



for month, 67. Shower on 29th. 

SEPTEMBER. 
.1874. Lowest. 7 A. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 

50 58 77 61 

Lowest three days — 43, 43, 43. High- 
est three days — 89, 88, 94. Average for 
month, 6H. 

OCTOBER. 

1874. Lowest. 7 A. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 

49 \ 55 73 58 

Lowest three days— 38, 41, 37. High- 
est three days— 90, 85, 84. Average for 
month, 59. Showery four days. 

NOVEMBER. 
1874. Lowest 7 a.m. Highest. 7 p.m. 
42H 44 x 4 65 3 4 50^ 

Lowest three days— 35, 36,33. High- 
est three days — 78, 79, 82, Average for 
month, 50f . Rain three days. 

DECEMBER. 

1874. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 

36H 39 3 4 • 63 3 4 48 

Lowest three days — 28, 28, 29. High- 
est three days — 80, 81, 78. Average for 
month, 47. Shower on 26th. 

JANUARY. 

• 1875. Lowest. 7 a. m. Highest. 7 p. m. 

39 40 ?i ■ m\ . 4^ 

Lowest three days— 32, 32. 31. High- 
est three days — 69, 68, 64. Average for 
month, 47. Rain six days. 

FEBRUARY. 

1875. Lowest. 7 a. in. Highest. 7 p. m. 

40 42H 62% 51 3 4 

Lowest three days — 35,34. 32. High- 
est three days — 72, 76,72. Average for 
month, 49. Light shower 22d. 

MARCH. 

1875. Lowest.. 7 a.m. Highest. 7 p.m. 
36^ 42 ' 64 % o2 4 

Lowest three days— 32, 28, 31. High- 
est three days — 70. 76, 72. Average for 
month, 49. Showers two days. 

APRIL. 

1875. Lowest. 7 a. in. Highest. 7 p. in. 

41V~ 49 70 • 55 

Lowest three days known in twenty 
years — 22, 24. 28. Highest three days 
— 81. 84. 76. Average for month, 54, 

MAY. 

1S75. Lowest, 7 a.m. Highest* 7 p.m. 

50 56 H 74% 64^4 
Lowest three days — 41, 40, 38. High- 
est three days— 97. 93. 80. Average for 



month, 61$. 

JUNE. 

1875. Lowest. 7 a.m. Highest. 7 a.m. 

51 % 58 H 76 3 4 64 \ 

Lowest three days — 44, 43, 44. High- 
est three days — S3, 85, 85. Average for 
month, 62|. 

By averaging the highest and low- 
est, each month, it will be seen how 
very near it comes to the average of 
the whole month, as taken at the four 
seperate hours each day, varying but 
little from two degrees. 

Condensed Meterological Report by Fran- 
cis S. Miles, of the Climate of the town 
of Anaheim, Prepared from Observa- 
tions taken daily at 8 A. M., I P. M.,and 
6 P. M., Including Thirteen months, 
from July 1st, 1872 to July 31st. 1873. 

July, 1872. Hygrometer — Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb, 
7 1-6°; Thei)irio meter — A v. temperature 
72|°; Maximum, 83°; Minimum, 66°. 
On five days the temperature was 
above 80° at 1 p. m. Bright sunshine, 
30 days; cloudy and rainy, one day. 

August, 1872. Hygrometer— 1 Aver- 
age difference between wet and dry 
bulb, 8°; Thermometer — A v. tempera- 
ture, 72|°; Maximum, 94°: Minimum, 
68°. For nine days the temperature 
was above 80° at i p. M., and on two 
days above 83 c . Bright sunshine, 20 
days; sunshine and clouds, ten; cloudy 
aii day, one. 

September, 1872. Hygrometer- 
Average difference between wet and 
dry bulb, 8 1-10°; Thermometer — A v. 
temperature, 74°; Maximum, 90°; Min- 
imum, 62°. On rive days the temper- 
ature was above 80°, on one of which 
it was above 83° at 1 p. M. Bright 
sunshine, twenty-eight days; sunshine 
and clouds, one; cloudy all day, one. 

October, 1s72. Hygrometer — Av- 
erage difference between wet and dry 
bulb, %\°\ Thermometer—- A v. temper- 
ature, 691°; Maximum, 96°; Minimum, 
58°-. On four days the temperature 
was above 80° at 1 P. M., and on one of 
these it was above 8.3°. Bright sun- 
shine, twenty-seven days, sunshiny 



-31— 



and clouds, four. 

November, 1872. Hygrometer- 
Average difference between wet and 
dry bulb, 11#; Thermometer — Av. 
temperature, 68°; Maximum, 85°; Min- 
imum, 55 c . On six days the tempera- 
ture was below 60 c at 8 a. m. Bright 
sunshine, twenty-six days; sunshine 
and clouds, three; cloudy all day, one. 

December, 1872. Hygrometer — 
Average difference between wet and 
dry bulb, 6 1-6- ; Thermometer — Av. 
temperature, 62 c ; Maximum, 77 : ; Min- 
imum, 50°. Bright sunshine, seven- 
teen days: sunshine and clouds, six; 
cloudy all day, eight; rain on two 
days and four nights; on five days the 
temperature was below 55° at 8 a. m., 
strong wind, one day. 

January, 1873. Hygrometer— Av- 
erage difference between wet and 
dry bulb, 7|°; Thermometer — Average 
temperature, 63f; Maximum, 80-; Min- 
imum, 50°. On six days the tempera- 
ture was below 55 c at 8 a. m. Bright 
sunshine, 19 days; suushineand clouds 
eight: cloudy ail day, four; rain, two 
days, and strong wind two days. 

February, 1873. Hygrometer — Av- 
erage difference between wet and dry 
bulb. 4J°; Thermometer — Av. tem- 
perature, 57+-; Maximum, 75°: Min- 
imum, 44 c . On fifteen days the tem- 
perature was below 5o c at S a. m. 
Bright sunshine, seven days; sunshine 
and cloud*, thirteen; cloudy all day, 
eight; rain on nine days. 

March. 1873. Hygrometer— Aver- 
age difference between wet and dry 
bulb, Of; Thermometer — Av. tempera- 
ture, 64^ c ; Maximum, 81 ; Minimum, 
54-. Or* two days t lie temperature was 
below 55 c at 8 a. m. Bright sunshine, 
twelve days; sunshine and clouds, 13; 
cloudy all day, six; strong winds, two 
days. 

April,, 1873. Hygrometer — Aver- 
age difference between wet and dry 
bulb, 9f : ; Thermometer — Av. temper- 
ature. 04|- ; Maximum. s;7 ; Minimum. 
MP. On four days the temperature 
was below 55 : at 8 a. M.,and on 4 days 
above 80 d eg. ; at 1 p. m. Brignt sun- 
shine, twenty-one days: sunshine and 
clouds, eight; cloudy all day, one. 



May, 1873. Hygrometer— Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb, 
7 J; Thermometer — A v. temperature, 
65^-°; Maximum. 86; Minimum, 57°. 
On two days the temperature was above 
so at 1 p. m. Bright sunshine,sixteen 
days; sunshine and clouds,nine; cloudy 
all day, six. 

Juxe, 1873. Hygrometer — Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb, 7 
1-6°; Thermometer — Av. temperature, 
70- ; Maximum, 91°; Minimum, 60°. 
On five days the temperature was above 
80 c at 1 p. m. Bright sunshine, thirty 
days. 

July, 1873. Hygrometer — Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb, 
8^°; Thermometer — Av. temperature. 
73 : ; Maximum, 100°; Minimum, 62°. 
On eight days the thermometer rose 
above 80°, and on three days above 85°. 
Bright sunshine, twenty-eight days; 
sunshine and clouds, two; clouds all 
day, one. 

Condensed Meteorological Record, taken 
at Mentone. France, during December, 
January and February, by Francis S. 
Miles, of New York, Observations taken 
at 8 A. M.,l P. M. and 6 P. M. 

December. Hygrometer — Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb, 
5|°; Thermometer — A v. temperature, 
49°; Maximum, 62°; Minimum, 37°. 
Bright sunshine, ten days; sunshine 
and clouds, eight, cloudy all day, 
thirteen; rain, twelve; strong winds, 
t wo. 

January. Hygrometer — Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb, 
6°; Thermometer — Av. temperature, 
48°; Maximum, 61°; Minimum, 36°. 
Bright sunshine, eighteen days, sun- 
shine and clouds, four; cloudy all day, 
nine; rain, nine; strong wind, seven. 

F ebr u ar y. Hj-gro meter— Average 
difference between wet and dry bulb. 
6J; Thermometer— Av. temperature, 
48°; Maximum, 61°; Minimum, 330. 
Bright sunshine, sixteen days; sun- 
shine and clouds, seven; cloudy all 
day, five; rain, seven; strong wind, 
seven. 



Condensed Meteorological Record, taken 
at Aiken, South Carolina, during the 
Winter cf 1870-71, by Francis S. Miles, 
of New York. Observations taken at 8 
A. M., | P. M. and 6|P. M 
December, 1870. Hygrometer — Av- 
erage difference between wet and dry 
bulb, 4°; Thermometer — A v. tempera- 
ture, 45°; Maximum, 61 deg. ; Mini- 
mum, 18 deg. For ten days the ther- 
mometer averaged below 40 deg. 
Bright sunshine, fifteen days; sun- 
shine and clouds, six; cloudy all day, 
ten; rain on four, and snow on one of 
the above cloudy days; strong winds 
on eight days. 

January, 1871. Hygrometer — Av- 
verage difference between wet and dry 
bulb, 6 deg.; Thermometer — Av. tem- 
perature, 55 deg.; Maximum, 69 deg.; 
Minimum, 33 deg. On eleven days 
the thermometer averaged below 45 
deg. Bright sunshine, fourteen days: 
sunshine and clouds, ten; cloudy all 
day, seven; rain on three, and strong 
winds on eight days. 

February, 1871. Hygrometer — 
Average difference between wet and 
dry bulb, 5 deg.; Thermometer — A v. 
temperature, 57f deg.; Maximum, 80 
deg.; Minimum, 38 deg. On six days 
the thermometer averaged below 45 
deg. Bright sunshine, twelve days; 
sunshine and clouds, six days; cloud y 
all day, ten; rain, seven; strong winds 
sixteen. The winter of 1870 and 1871 
was considered a remarkably fine one 
for Aiken. 

RECAPITULATION. 

During December, January and Feb- 
ruary at Anaheim an invaiid could 
have been out of doors all day — 81 
days. Confined in doors by bad 
weather, 9 days. 

At Men tone, during the correspond- 
ing months, there were of fair days, 
67; there were of bad days, 23. 

At Aiken, during the corresponding 
months, there were of fair days, 53; 
there were of bad days, 37. 

At Anaheim, rain thirteen days, 
strong winds three days. \ <!nHa ^ 

At Mentone, rain twenty-eight days, 



strong wind twenty- three days. 

At Aiken, rain fourteen days, snow 
one d&y and strong winds thirty- two 
days. 

DEGREE OF DRYNESS. 

At Anaheim, average difference 
between wet and dry bulb, 6£ deg.; at 
Mentone, 6 deg.; at Aiken, 5 deg. 

TEMPERATURE. 

At Anaheim, average temperature, 
three months, 61 deg.; Maximum, 77£ 
deg,; Minimum, 49|. 

At Mentone, average temperature, 
for three months, 48^ deg.; Maximum, 
63^ deg.; Minimum, 35£. 

At Aiken, average temperature, for 
three months, 53 deg.; Maximum, 70 
(leg.; Minimum, 30 deg. 



Communication from Wm R. Olden, on 
the Climate of Anaheim, as Compared 
with other Noted Invalid Resorts 

[From the Anaheim Gazette, August 16, 1873.] 

All leading physicians agree that a 
dry, tonic, stimulating atmosphere is 
most desirable in all cases of depressed 
vitality, as contrasted with the ener- 
vating and debilitating effects of a 
moist, sultry climate. 

In Southern California really sultry 
weather is unknown. Dryness is the 
prevailing characteristic of our atmos- 
phere. Invalids invariably gain flesh 
and strength rapidly, more particular- 
ly when they have discovered the loca- 
tion suited to their case. 

Anaheim is elevated 150 feet, and 
the still more elevated parts of the 
valley, next to the foot hills, have an 
elevation of about 250 feet above the 
sea level. In consequence of the dry- 
ness of our atmosphere, 100 deg. Fah- 
renheit is not so oppressive as 80 deg. 
in the Atlantic States, and the invari- 
able coolness of our nights is an agree- 
able contrast to the smothering and 
oppressive closeness of the summer 
nights in all the countrj* east of the 
Rocky Mountains. 

The cause of our peculiar climate is, 
that during the winter season, the 
ocean and land temperature is about 
equal, therefore during the cooler 



rjo 



months we have not nearly so much 
wind— a desirable feature. But during 
the warm season, the cool air of the 
ocean (averaging 60 deg. Fah.) rushes 
to the heated interior valley, and thus 
gives to our summers their delightful- 
ly cool, refreshing and invigorating 
climate. It cannot fail to be seen at a 
glance that there is really no compari- 
son between Anaheim, Aiken and 
Mentone, and that it is the most abso- 
lute folly to cross the Atlantic in 
search of an invalid climate, when we 
have in Southern California the best 
and most equable of climates. I say 
climates, for there are many of them, 
and whilst they are all good, of their 
kind, the different locations present 
such an infinite variety, that it seems 
to be impossible that an invalid can 
fail to find a location possessing the 
temperature and degree of moisture 
suited to his or her particular case. 

In the valley of the Santa Ana and 
the country adjacent, all these differ- 
ent shades are found; and the obser- 
vations taken at Anaheim may be con- 
sidered as a fair average for the sec- 
tion. As we go from Anaheim to the 
sea (thirteen miles) the moisture in- 
creases, and the temperature diminish- 
es, and on the other hand, as we go 
from Anaheim to the hills, (six miles) 
the moisture diminishes, and the tem- 
perature increases. 

Mr. Francis S. Miles, has been a 
consumptive for fifteen years, and has 
spent several winters in the best cli- 
mates of the south of Europe, vainly 
endeavoring to recover his health; has 
made a study of invalid climates, and 
has applied the test, the Hygrometer 
and Thermometer, to every place at 
which he resided. He found it to be 
the rule that invalids whose health 
had been improved by a residence in 
the south of Europe, generally lost all 
they had gained by the change from 
land to sea and from sea to land on the 
voyage home. Southern California 
can be easily and comfortably reached 
by land, and by making the change at 
the proper season, invalids can reach 
their homes with renewed health, and 
without any loss of what they have 



gained. In three years, at farthest, 
the completion of the Southern Pacific 
and Texas Pacific Railroads, will make 
it only a week's travel from any part 
of Southern California to the most dis- 
tant portion of the Atlantic States. 

The poor, as well as the rich, can 
avail themselves of the curative ad- 
vantages of our climate. People can 
and do live comfortably in a common 
rough board shanty. Food and other 
necessities are as cheap here as in 
most parts of the country; there is a 
constant supply of freash vegetables, 
with fruits and melons in season. 
Our hotels are comfortable, and char- 
ges moderate. Families can board, 
or keep themselves, as they choose. 

Numerous invalids have spent a few 
weeks or months in various parts of 
this valley, and all of them have been 
benefitted. Some, like Messrs. Miles, 
Saxton, Fields, and others, have t aken 
up their permanent residence here; 
others have gone home with the full 
determination of at least spending 
their Winters here, but, as will be seen 
by the table, our spring, summer and 
fall climate is as superior to the change- 
able springs, sultry and enervating 
summers, and frosty falls, as to the de- 
testable winters of the North and East. 
Those who have the requisite means, 
can surround themselves with oranges, 
vines and flowers, and make life one 
continued enjoyment. This does not 
require much money, as land is cheap 
and water abundant. With these re- 
quisites, all fruits of the Temperate 
and Semi-tropic zones flourish exceed- 
ingly. 

Unlike other winter resorts with 
Semi-tropical climates, we are absolu- 
tely free from malarious, epidemic and 
endemic diseases. This is probably 
owing to the refreshing and delicious 
sea-breeze which blows with unfailing 
regularity from 11 a. m. until night, 
for eight months of the year. 

Wm. R. Olden. 
Anaheim, August 11th, 1873. 



CONCLUSION OF MR. OLDEN'S 
ARTICLES. 



In the foregoing articles, I have 
shown that Semi-Tropical California 
offers to those who are seeking homes 
far greater advantages than any part 
of the whole world. Facts and figures 
prove conclusively that no other cli- 
mate can be compared to it in point of 
comfort andfhealthfulness, independent 
of its unrivalled advantages, from a 
sanitary point of view. 

To the invalid, we offer health; to the 
man of wealth, we offer a country and 
climate where he can surround himself 
with all of the comforts and luxuries 
which render existence delightful; 
where he can charm his senses with 
the rich and varied colors and per- 
fumes of the most beautiful ever- 
blooming flowers; with a constant sup- 
ply of the most delicious fruits of both 
the temperate and semi-tropical zones; 
in a climate where mere existence is a 
perpetual delight; where he can avoid 
the cold of winter and the enervating 
and oppressive heat of summer; where, 
by means of the telegraph, he will be 
as constantly and promptly informed 
as to the events transpiring in all parts 
of the world as he would be in San 
Francisco or New York. Within one 
year from date be will be in railroad 
connection with all the lines of rail- 
road in North America, and can reach 
San Francisco in one day, or New York 
or Boston in eight. Such advantages 
must infallibly attract a large popula- 
tion of wealthy and cultured people 
from the North and East, who will 
create homes here, to which, like the 
swallows, they will fly from the rigor 
of Northern winters. To the stock- 
raiser, we offer advantages, superior to 
any that can be procured elsewhere; 
and where fine stock of ail kinds can 
be produced in the greatest perfection, 
at the lease cost for food and attend- 
ance, and with all desirable facilities 
for transportation to markets. 

To the farmer fertile and easily cul- 
tivated lands, producing with abso- 
lute certainty two and even three crops 



per year, with abundance of water for 
irrigation and ample markets near at 
hand for everything that can be pro- 
duced from our prolific soil. 

To the poor man, no part of the 
State offers the same advantages. If 
he wants employment, he can get 
steady, continuous work in a country 
where agricultural operations are con- 
tinuous, and ??ot confined to seed 
time and harvest, as in the Northern 
part of the State. Good, steady, honest 
men never lack for work, but, on the 
contrary, are always in demand. Our 
supply of labor has always been defi- 
cient, and good hands are particularly 
scarce. 

To men too poor to buy, we offer 
lands at easy rent, payable either in 
coin or in kind, with abundrnce of 
water for irrigation, and with a cer- 
tainty of crops. 

All who want homes should by all 
means come and visit this section be- 
fore purchasing. Those who settle for 
life should be very careful in making 
their selection. It is much easier to 
make a mistake than to correct it af- 
terwards, and listen to no man who 
would persuade you to buy land that 
has no water for irrigation. 

The Author. 



ALFRED ROBINSON, Trustee, 
542 Market St., San Francisco. 



90,000 ACRES OF LAND ! 

For Sale in Lots to Suit. 

Suitable for the culture of Oranges, Lemons, Limes, Figs, Almonds, 
"Walnuts, Apples, Peaches, Pears, Alfalfa, Corn, Rye, 
Barley, Flax, Ramie, Cotton, etc., etc. 

Also many thousand acres of 



Suitable for Dairying. Good water is abundant at an average depth j 
of six feet from the surface. j 

Aptoitam Wells , ! 

Can be obtained ; and the more elevated portions can be irrigated by j 
the water of the Santa Ana river. Most of these lands 
are naturally moist, requiring only good cul- 
tivation to produce crops. 

TERMS5~One-fourth cash, balance in one, two, or three years, \ 
with ten per cent interest. 

I will take pleasure in showing these lands to parties seeking land, 
who are invited to come and see this extensive tract before purchasing j 
elsewhere. Wm. R. OLDEN, Agent, 

Anaheim, Los Angeles Co.