Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-02-23
Southern California.

Mr.. J. A. Johnson, of Santa Bar
bara, CAL, last evening lectured the
second time on the Italy of Ameri-
ca" before an appreciative audience
in fremont Temple.n The lecture
was introduced by few remarks rela-
tive to the general peculiarities of the
Southern part of the State, prominent
among which was the fact that there
were practically but two seasons there
the wet or Winter, and the dry or
Summer. A series of views was then
shown Of various parts of the city of
San Francisco, Mirror Lake, the Big
| Trees, the wonders of the Yosemite
valley, and some of the harbor facili-
ties of the coast, The audience was
then asked to accompany the lecturer
on a journey through the six Southern
counties of the State. The progress
of the party was marked by success
sion of pictures thrown upon the
screen, and Mr.. Johnson explained,
very clearly, the attractive features of
the different scenes. At Wilmington,
near Los Angeles, was shown a thriv-
ing settlement where Col. B. ID. Will
son, a wealthy resident, offered great
inducements to skilled laborers who
would settle.
The speaker considered that this
gave promise of becoming one of the
most prominent manufacturing towns
on the coast. A very full description
was given of the neighborhood about
Los Angeles, from which it appeared
that the principal orange groves of the
State were located there. Trees can
be raised without irrigation, or at
least with but little, if the ground is
but kept well stirred. OF the profits
of an orange grove, Mr.. Johnson said
he would speak but mildly when he
said that 5000 per acre might be real
lied from trees ten years old or up
ward. Lemon trees were even more
profitable, and from grove of lines,
which would begin bearing at four
years, still more satisfactory returns
might be expected. The city of Los
Angeles contains about $4,000 inhabi-
tants, of whom perhaps one-third are
of Eastern birth; and one of its most
prominent citizens, Mr.. +. p. +. Tenn
phCf SdiuC llOlh DOobOu dOOuO JWtHJN
years ago. OF the vineyards in this
section, a favorable report was made.
The average yield is about $3.50 per
acre when the crop is turned into
wine, but within year new process
Of drying had been introduced, and it
was found that to make the grapes
into raisins would very much increase
the net return from given number of
vines. A still more favorable locality
was said to be at San Bernardino, 80
miles from the coast. Consumptives,
in particular, found the climate here
to be very favorable, and oranges,
lemons, grapes, English walnuts, Ital-
ian chestnuts and great variety of
similar semi-tropical fruit is raised in
perfection. The singular occurrence
was found there of the apple and the
orange growing side by side in equal
excellence. The lecturer described
other locations on the coast and inland
and was listened to with the closest
attention. The many questions asked
he seemed to answer to the satisfac-
tion of ALL
By unanimous request of the audi
ence, Mr.. Johnson will repeat this
lecture at the same place this evening
and Tomorrow afternoon at 2:30
o'clock, he will give matinee for the
purpose of meeting such as wish to
hear more particularly of the attrac-
tions of Southern California. a.-Boston
Journal