Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-04-21
LOS NlET0S AND VICINITY.

Los Nietos settlement, lying twelve
miles southeast of this city. The trip
will do more to dispel the prevailing
notion abroad that there is no large
body of rich soil lying together in Los
Angeles county than columns of news
paper assertions in the affirmative.
The run down to the depot, which is
located in the town Of Los Nietos-
the geographical center of the settle
ment-is made in thirty minutes. The
first part of the road is lined OH either
side with orange groves, orchards,
vineyards, gardens and small farms,
with plentiful dotting of neat cottage
homes and country residences embow-
cred in shady trees and partially coy-
cred with climbing vines; the whole
presenting q picture pleasing to the
eye and giving assurance OF present
comfort and future prosperity as graft
flying to the resident as encouraging
to the new conner. Passing beyond
the cultivated area, the locomotive
speeds across space of several miles
of rich soil owned by Mrs. Stearns, a
wealthy lady of this city, which she
has not yet decided to dispose of, but
as she can now do so with profit to
herself and advantage to the county,
it is likely that in little while we
shall see the broad tract subdivided
into small farms and the whole in a
high state of cultivation. Passing the
Stearns tract, houses, trees and fields
again enliven the scene, and in few
minutes the train shoots into the
depot at Los Nietos. The town is new,
but already quite number of houses
are completed and many others are in
course of construction. One mile to
the eastward, or in the direction of the
Sierras, is the village of Gallatin,
while just the same distance toward
the ocean is located Los Nietos Collie
giate Institute-a flourishing educa-
tional establishment, under the con-
troll of the Methodist Church South.
Los Nietos valley, or settlement,
more properly, for the same rich, level
soil lies for many miles around it, may
be said to extend from Temples ranch,
twelve miles east of Los Angeles,
about thirteen miles west, or toward
the ocean. The distance from east to
west is little over six miles. The
San Gabriel river, running out of the
Sierras, passes nearly through the
central portion of the settlement,
reaching the ocean short distance
southeast of Wilmington, furnishing
water for the thorough irrigation of
more than double the area described.
South of the settlement boundary,
as we have located it, and extending
almost to the ocean beach, lies body
of land twelve miles in width, equally
good with that of Los Nietos. This is
the Los Cerritas grant, owned by
Flint, Bixby & Co., who are disposing
of it in small farms at reasonable rates
and on very accommodating terms.
Los Coyotas grant is southeast
toward Anaheim. 1t is also subdi-
vided into small farms, many of which
are cultivated, producing large crops
of everything that grows in semi
tropical climate. This is the locality
of many artesian wells, all throwing
above the surface of the ground
strong, never diminishing streams of
pure, cold water. None of these wells
are over one hundred and sixty feet
deep, while several of them are less
than half that depth.
To the westward the same body and
quality of land stretches beyond the
city of Los Angeles, a distance of
twenty-five miles-almost all of it in
q high state Of cultivation. Every
acre of this broad area is, to use an old
expression, as good land as ever a crow
flew over.
The yield per acre in the Los Nietos
settlement is so enormous that man
must see the soil and its crops to be-
Iieve the figures We shall give. One
hundred and twenty-five bushels of
corn per acre is not an unusual yield,
and the average crop of this cereal is
eighty bushels per acre. This bounti-
full return is for the mere labor of
planting and irrigation. No blowing
and hoeing is required. Irrigation is
neither laborious nor expensive, the
country being level, with an abund-
ance Of water filling the surface bitches
that run everywhere. To illustrate
the lasting quality Of the soil, we may
mention that piece of ground on the
farm of Ex-Governor Pico has been
planted in corn every year during the
last century, and the yield this year
bids fair to be as large as that of 1774.
Wheat is not extensively sown in the
Los Nietos country, for the reason that
it grows too rank, with tendency to
rust. Barley, rye and oats yield
largely. Oats stand seven feet
high and head finely. The av-
erage yield of barley is estimated
at seventy five bushels per acre.
Irish potatoes grow in, abund-
ance, of excellent quality, and keep
well. What may be expected of sweet
potatoes is CLEANED from the expert