Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-12-11
OUR COUNTRY.

From pamphlet published by the
California Immigrant Union, we
make the following extracts, which
will be found of great interest TO those
seeking information relative to lands
and farming in Southern California;:
Buy Small Farms.
Too many of the new corners to CAL
ifornia are anxious to procure large
tracts of land for occupation or specu
lation. The Russian River Flag, pub
lished in Sonoma county, recently
gave the following advice and infor-
nation to the people who crowd the
cities and larger towns of California.
Eastern people who think of coming
to this State, besides obtaining con-
siderable information from it which
may be new to them, can also profit
by the sound advice it contains:
Ten years hence there will be hun
dreds of men in this State regretting
that they failed to buy small tracts of
farming land when 1t was to be had
for mere trifie. There is hardly a
county within the State of California
that has not within it's limits few
acres of excellent land, capable of
yielding to a farmer q good return and
luxurious living.
OF small fruits, there is climate in
California adaptable to each variety.
A small farm propeely cultivated, with
few fruit trees, growing from year to
year, will soon net wonderful profit
from it's fruit alone. In Southern Cal
ifornia the walnut crop is becoming
very lucrative. Chestnut trees are
growing there also, and will soon be
bearing. 1t does not require 10000
acres to get few fruit or nut-bearing
trees growing, nor an expenditure of
500, 900 to commence farm life with.
If attention is paid to the growth of
light fruits, those who devote their
time to making the experiment will
realize handsome income.
Garden fruits are profitable. Large
farms are not needed for the purpose
of improving these resources. 1t is,
on the contrary, most desirable to Sc
cure to California the industrious labor
of good citizenship on small farms
and the result of such labor in light
produce, for local consumption.
In Southern California, where there
is such an abundance of good farming
land to be had, all the choice products
native to the semi~tropic climate can
be easily produced and find ready
market at high prices. Persimmons
are already being made profitable i'll
that part of the State. The soft
shelled almond, the olive, pomegran-
ite and nectarine, are each worth pro-
ducing if properly cultivated. Small
farms secure thrifty settled section,
where churches and schools can be
built, organized and enjoyed. Large
sideration. 1t is to be regretted that
agricultural resources are really use
less. What revenue to the industry
and wealth of the State and the sew
eral counties would be secured if some
inducement could be made to those
who are diving from hand to mouth"
to take up these valuable little spots
and make homes for themselves-per-
manent, happy honest The great
success of the Western States,its rapid
improvement and large laboring citi-
zenship, lies in the fact that they
could offer to the immigrant small
farms of 40, 60 or 100 acres. A man of
small means could purchase u farm,
stock it, plant it, and get a good start
toward independence and wealth in
few years.
Here we can produce two crops an
nually, in some localities of certain
fruits. We have no long, cold Win
ters to stop work in; but, from Janu-
ary to January, a man can find his
time profitably employed on his farm.
GAS general thing trees commence
to bear fruit at about half the age at
which they bear in the Eastern
States,o says Hittell, and the remark
is correct one. There is no portion
of the world where fruit trees grow SO
rapidly, bear 80 early and abundantly
as in California; and it is to be hoped
that our population will be increased
by class of citizens who will settle
down upon small farms and reap the
reward Of the frugal and contented
hnsbandmen.