The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-17
From the Sunset Land.
RIO 3Rowo RANCHO, CAL. Jan. 1874


the frosty breath Of winter never comes.
Southern California boasts of the finest
climate in the world, and think truly.
Here in January, the air is vocal with
the songs of birds, and sweet perfume of
flowers. The bees are already gathering
their stores of sweet In the yards aud
gardens we see large variety of roses
in bloom, with blooming geraniums and
Gala lilies, and q great variety of other
plants are also growing and blossoming
Almost everywhere about tho city a
species of wild tomato with small blue
fruit, was full of flowers and fruit in all
stages. The hills are already covered with
fresh green grass. The orchards here are
more wonderful than have seen else.
where in California, for growing by the
side Of our northern fruits, are the al.
mond and the English walnut, the olive
and the fig. the orange aud lemon, the
lime and citron, and vineyards Of enor.
nous extent. The pear grows here iu
its greatest perfection, but the ample is Of
poorer quality than when grown farther
north. believe nearly all north.
ern fruits however, whep grown 10 this
-tate, are less acid than when grown in II
cooler climate. aud lack flavor
Los Angeles boast OF the finest orange
grove 10 the United States, and while |
believe it to be the longest grove in bear.
ing. occupying as it does some forty acres
Of ground, the trees do not seem to the
so healthy or fruitful as the groves near
the Sou Gabriel Mission. visited sew
eral groves near this place, all Of which
are very 6oe. I will describe one ouly
This one covers nearly ten acres, aud has
been set about ten years, aud numbers
some six hundred trees. Almost every
tree had from six to sixteen poles or
props to support the over ladened branch.
es, and still some branches we're broken
from their burden Of golden fruit. 1t is
estimated that this grove will average be.
tween one thousand and fifteen hundred
oranges to the tree. They have already
been contracted for at e25 pei thousand
The expense of cultivation is not great,
aud evidently the profit enormous.
No fruit tree it seems to me, can be
prettier than an orange tree. loaded as
they are at this season. with their tempt
ing fruit hanging single or in clusters
among the dark evergreen foliage. Al
most every yard and garden here in Los
Angeles contain more or less orange and
lemon trees. Although the oranges are
nicely colored, and are being picked and
sent to market, they are quite sour and
even unripe, and if left on the trees would
improve until April.
The lemon is very profitable orchard
tree, but it is objected to as being more
liable to break down under its weight of
fruit than the orange. The citron is cul.
tivated more for ornament than profit.
The fig is very productive tree in this
climate, producing two or three crops Il
year. The tree looks at this season, not
unlike small butternut or black walnut
tree in winter. The olive has light ev.
ergreen foliage, and is quite pretty, where
healthy, but only few old trees seem to
be in this condition, about Santa Barbara or
Los Angeles. At Los Angeles, all the
orchards and gardens are irrigated and
all farmers and gardeners seem to under.
stand the art, and if we were to Judge by
the quality Of the milk upon many Of the
tables of the public houses, the milk men
have learned the art also. The wine has
been longer in cultivation in Los Ange.
los, than any other portion of the state,
and during the last hundred years has new.
er failed to produce crop
{ So abundant is the grape production,
that they can be bought for SIS per :on,
during their season. Wine aud brandy
are produced in great quantities, and al
most every other place of trade or busi.
ness is a drinking saloon.
Strawberries OF good size and favor,
fod in the markets rom day to day.
"~At Los Angeles | found Vermont mul.
hle by the side Of that imported fruu,
Italy and the Vermont marble preferred
to the Italian for all indoor work. A
6pe school building has been erected upon
a hill overlooking the city. The priuci'
pal of the school is Vermonter, of course,
| was aoout to say, for | find the most
successful business people here from Yer.
mont, and New England
Strange as it may seem, | found here
very fourishing lodge Of Good Tem
plars | expressed my surprise that such
an order should flourish in such a place
where wine aud brandy are the staple
products, and drinking SO universal. To
this my informant replied that the exam.
Piles Of intemperance were SO numerous
that it was even easier to sustain Lodge
here than in the east.
Through the courtesy OF Hon. W. ,.
Gould. who is prominent lawyer here,
and Vermonter by birth and education,
! was shown the Good Templars Hall and
a very fine hall it is | can assure you. for
the furniture had cost nearly thousand
dollars, and is chastc and elegant. Their
motto is "PRoHIBITIoN," which they hope
to realize within two years. might
mention here, that the Order of Good
Templars is quite strong in this state, and
at Vallejo is Good Templars' Orphan
House, a very 6ne aud expensive struc.
ture, Tor whatever Californians undertake,
they do with will.
Los Angeles has a fue Library and
Reading.room. 1t contains some fifteen
hundred volumes very well selected, /
should judge, with the standard papers
and magazines throughout the country.
But what shall | say of the churches
They are very weak here as they seem to
be in almost all places in California. AL.
most every thing else seems to flourish
better than churches, but there are some
earnest workers here, aud great need Of
more. All who come may be sure of a
hearty welcome.
Should any one who reads this desire
further information about southern Cali.
fornia, l am permitted to refer them to
W. d. Gould, Of Los Angeles.