Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-07-05


cuttings, and begins to bear in three
years, its fruitfulness increasing, and
an almost infallible bearer. A single
tree VIII produce $50 gallons of fruit.
Unlike the orange, it can be picked
and marketed ut pleasure. The oil
is readily extracted by the crudest pro-
cess, and the pickles are easily put up.
This product of ancient Palestine is
destined TO be an important article Of
commerce from San Diego County.
The almond and walnut are nearly
equally desirable. The first is superb
or to the imported nuts we get at
home. and must ultimately drive them
out OF the market. Walnuts produce
from two to five hundred pounds a
tree, and the nut sells at a bit 12l cts)
a pound. The tree requires more
space than the almond. The fig tree
grows abundantly, but it has not vet
become an important article of COM
merce. Trees have been known to
produce 1900 pounds, but these must
have attained great age. The CASTOR
bean is also promising article for
cultivation.
1t is hardly to be expected that a
State so prolific as California should
always afford a sure harvest. The
truth is, one must expect an OCCASION
al loss from drought, grasshoppers, or
other visitation. The drought which
occurred in 1868 proved terribly de-
structive to the sheep and cattle, for
which it was impossible to provide.
A grazier assured me that OF S, 900 head
OF cattle he had that year but G93 left.
The sand storms are furious gales
which take up the sand and carry it
with resistless force, filling the eyes
Of the traveller to blindness, and every
crack and criyice in houses not sufii-
GENTLY open to permit both ingress
and free egress. Some Years ago a ter
rible storm Of this nature buried whole
hOcks of sheep numbering many thou
sand. These storms occasionally reach
Los Angeles, but are not known at
San Diego.
One need here make no provision
against frOSts. The lowest pointtouch-
ed at San Diego the past winter was
thirty-eight degrees. Flowers and
plants known az home only in hot
houses or carefully taken up winters.
flourish in the open air, such rs tube
roses, calia-iiiliCs, gladiolas, &c. while
verbenas, geraniums, and fuchusias
not only grow to great size but the two
latter axe trained over aTbOrs as our
Towering vines. GeraniUms grow so
large as to be used for fuel The COM
mon elder here attains the dignity Of
a tree.
Excessive fertility and abundant
moisture are not the best conditions
for perfect health. Where irrigation
is extensively practised, as in the San
Bernardin0, and to some extent in the
Los Angeles valley, the atmosphere is
somewhat uniayorably affected, but
the peculiar dryness of the air renders
this objection less important than it
might at iirSt appear. A. Los Ange-
los the summer heat is more intense
than within the more direct reach Of
the sea breeZes. There are in that
country, lands very desirably located,
but prefer Santa Barbara or san Die
so. The former is now most inviting,
because of the greater amount OF Ver-
duTG. The liVG-Cak trees are album
DAFT, bat unfortunately the old settlers
used the tops for fuel, so the trees
properly appear to belong to two gen
branches from an ag-
ed trunk. The greater humidity oil
the atmosphere aids the growth OF
trees and plants, though irrigation is
necessary, but it is not so
well adapted TO some pulmonary COM
plains as San Diego. And proximity
to market and to q harbor with its in
evitable commerce are considerations
of the first Importance.
At San Diego l heard Of the sale of
400 acres in the Cahoon Valley, very
desirable, ten miles distant, at So per
acre, considered very cheap. Town
lots bring from $500 to 81 800. / saw
a small, neat cottage with twenty-four
lots, well filed with trees and shrubs, |
that sold lOE 5000 high price for |
the outskirts of New York.
On the Ranchero de Ia Nacion |
lands from three to six miles from the |
bay are sold in eighty-acrc lots atabout |
S35 per acre. Ten-acre lots uCarur town
from $50 to SO, and town lots from
500 and upwards. Considering the !!
location and desirability these prices |
are perhaps not high.
While at National City I drove out |
four miles to the farm Of an cnterpris- |
ing Chicago merchant who sold out |
suggested, settled here. His place, on |
,
abundant promise for the future. -
Blight hundred orange trees have been
and are well rooted. Fifty |
thousand seeds planted in beds three |
weeks before were just beginning to !
appear above the ground. Beside e.
mond, walnut, olive, fig and other trees
Mr.. ii. had grape cuttings of healthy |
growth where, a few months ago, the
chOlla (cactus) reigned supreme. He |
had the white Musc2t, Tokay, Rose Of
Peru, Black Prince, and other choice
known here only to hot house
culture. His location was on The mesa
and, five miles from the bay; the
grapes on the hillside. a thin mulch
IF white sand from the river bel was
lsed about the vines and trees and
hough seven weeks had passed since
he last watering, beneath this pro-
getting cover, used to prevent the sur
ace hardening in the sun, the soil was
soft and damp. Water, was procured
It l25 feet, and windmill gave an
abundant supply.
On the coast, six miles below Ma
ional city, where the soil was as poor
Is any l saw, an irrigated spot six
'ears Old fully illustrated what is pos
IDLE IN THIS climate when the soil
Gems bottomlcss, with asupply Of wa
er. Here ] measured pepper trees six
ears from the seed ti.irty-three and
inches in circumference.
'uraer up the coast [ found one If
cen years old, seven feet four inches
round iUUr Iecg from theHrouHd! The
eautiful Towering acacias, two years
rom the seed, eighteen inches, and
eucalyptus, the Australian gum thir-
y-siX inches in circumferenceilI six
ears. EyeTgreens towering high !
bOve the house, an India rubber tree,
in bearing, lemons blossoming
eautifully, apricots loaded and peach-
5 full of fruit with scarcea leaf. They
-uit here before leafing! Olive trees
go years old, large beets seven weeks
'om TIE sowing, 5Tadishes twelve and
)uTIeen days, other vegetable in album
ance, aud oh, the flowers such mann
10th roses. and all else in luxurious
rOiusion! - < u y.
By q wise provision the water as it
ones from the wells is quite warm,
-laDtei to irrigation, but unfit for 7