Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-23


100000 acres adapted to farming and
grazing. Il has an ocean front OF ninety
miles, along which are several fi.e points for
bathing. 1t is watered by three rivers, run
pipg nearly parallel from the mountains TO
the ocesn--the Los Angeles, San Gabriel
and Santa Anna. There is ttought TO be
enough water IN thess rivers, if pro erly
utilized, to irrigate every foot OF level land
adjacent to them. In the lower portions of
the county the system Of irrigation from
artesian wells has been thoroughly tested,
and it has proven perfect success. Almost
every farm In the neighborhood of West
minister, Anaheim and Compton has fine
flowing wells from the depsh of 80 to 800
feet, and costing from $3.50 to $500. These
wells throw up vast volumes of pure, SOFT
water, right in sight of the ocean, and
wherever yousee one of these wells there
is a scene OF perpetual verdure. Where
there are no irrigating facilities, there are
no signs of life in the vegetable world, as
there has been no rain 1hefe since early in
February till to-day, when we are having
real old-fashioned Tennessee rain. Those
who are prepared for irrigation rather pre-
fer to have no rain during the summer
season, as It gives them ample time to har-
vest their crops. We do not believe that
farming on large scale will ever be carried
on where irrigation Is necessary, at least
not till labor becomes chesper and more
Plentiful. But in . land which produces
such wonderful crops as here, there is no
necessity for large farms. Ten acres well
cultivated here will yield larger amount
of produce than many ono hundred acre
farms in Tennessee. -
: There is field of corn now growing In
sight of me which has only had one plow-
ing, that will yield q crop of one hundred
bushels to the acre. Il makes bat little
difference here as to the quality Of your
land, II you have plenty of water. LXnd
men here sell you the water and throw in
the land for good count. The cereals, such
as wheat and barley, mature well from the
winter rains. "
Southern California, and this county par
ticulariy, is TO be tn great wine and fruit
district Of America A stroll through some
of The orsIge groves here, inters ersed, as
they are, with the lemon and lime, and
bordered, as they often are, by fourishing
vineyards, brings UP the most vivid picture
of Eden ere the fall. Every one who has
an orange, lemon or lime orchard of few
acres has fortune in bis hands. An acre
of orange trees, twelve to fifteen years old,
will yield an annual income of from 81, 500
to $2,400 The lime, lemon and English
walnu. also yield heavy profit. The Ba-
mana grows here in the olen air, and coffee
has been grown with success. In fact al
most anything which will grow in Tonnes
see can be successfully produced here, side
by side with the orange, lemon, lime, wal
nut, fig, apricot, almond and grape.
You ask. if these things be 30,
why don't every one get RE ?
These things are SO, ard yet there
are thousands of poor people here. 1t must
be remembered that an orchard of any
kind is the growth OF years, and in order TO
have fine orange or lemon orch I'd, q
man must learn to "laoor and to wait"
WINES AND GRAPES.
Vine culture is fast becoming one of the
chief Industries of the country. There are
vineyards here Of almost every issze--from
one acre up to one hundred and thirty five
acres, and such large and luscious grapes
were never seen this side of the vineyards
of France. Just think o buying tbe6nest
va-ie les of the grape at one dollar per hum
dred pounds, and they have been sold for
less 1t is estimated that the wine crop of
the State this year will yield nearly 81, co.,
90 In coin. A The choicest native. wines
here retail at 81 per gallon, though crops
are sold sometimes at wholesale at 30 cents
per gallon.
Vegetables of every variety grow well
here, and many of them to an enormous
size, and you can have them fresh from
your gardens in December as well as May.
They continue to plant here ali the year
rourd, and thus have q succession of crops.
Flowers Of rare and de.icsie varieties
bloom here in mid winter in the open air
and many speeim ms which ale very small
in Tennessee grow 10 the size of shrubs
here. We saw yesterday a fence which
would turn c. tile ma e Of Fish. lGeraniums.
1t was fun five feet in height and the same
in diameter, and wss in full bloom, thus
making Itself useful as well as attractive.
TIE cactus, or prickly pear, which has a
sickly existence OF the hills around Nash
vile rows here fifteen high and with trunk
10 1t. to the first leaf, and in some Instances
one foot in 6iamter. We have seen the
century plant thirty. five feet high and still
growing. II r II
IRRIGATION AND HOW IT is DONE.
Some of our Tennessee friends asked US
to explain the system of irrigation here. 1t
is very simple. The city owns the water
of the Los Angeles river and tits turned in
reservoir through canal tapping the river
several miles above the city. The city has
constructed zanjas or bitches sloBg the
sides of the streets, and every owner Of a
Let has food-gste connecting with these
bitches and then small dtches running
through his grounds. The City Council
regulates the leng b Of time you are TO have
the water, by the size of your grounds, and
when you wish water you apply to the water
overseer and he assigns you a day. When
that day arrives you have only to open your
food gate and the water is on you. My lot
contains eight acres and water to irrigate
twice each month for eight months costs
about $40. vas-saD xIIzL M ,sl Isisa-l 4
The city Of Los Angeles is situated on the
banks of the river and is surrounded by
high hills. 1t contains population of
about 10000. The city is built on grant
of four sqCsre leagues or II, III acres. 1t
has rom enough for sn immense popula-
ton. l. is now about the seventh city in
the State in point of population. 1t has
been settled only a few years by Americans \
and it has grown with remarkable rapidly.
Il has waterworks, gas company, fine
pnblic and private schools, two daily papers,
public library, many benevolent socie lies,
two banks and many churches. 1t is con-
nected with the ocean by a railroad twenty
one miles to Wilmington on San Pedro Bay.
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