Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-11-07
A Blessing in Disguise.


But few of our people have consid-
cred the causes which led to the re-
markable development of Southern
California. Winter is the natural ag-
ricultural season in the primitive con-
dition Of the lands of this State. The
rains make vegetation flourish, and
farm labor is more pleasant during
the colder months. Winter farming,
therefore, was a profitable industry,
and the Spring sowing doubtful, ow-
Ing to the protracted dry spell ensuing.
Wheat growing became the principal
pursuit, and lands adapted to this
grain rapidly appreciated. In the
Southern tier of counties the principal
settlements were along the yea coast,
and here the fogs were so detrimental
that wheat culture was impossible.
Barley was then scarcely known as a
California staple, and our people were
left without any profitable Winter
crop, and thus forced to resort to Sum-
mer cultivation. The vine and fruit
tree were introduced, but these did not
answer entirely for men of small
means, and for these, as we'll as to
follow farming successfully, it was
necessary to have water for irrigation.
Thus commenced the development of
our irrigation system, and this Is to-
day the main source of our wealth;
and this striking feature of farming
and fruit-growing in Los Angeles and
the neighboring counties should be
borne in mind in estimating the value
of lands. We are far in advance of
other portions of the State in the sci-
ence of agriculture under our peculiar
climatic difficulties. We know the
value of lands we'll supplied with wa
ter, and hence the irrigable acres in
this section are held at what the
stranger may consider high
price. The criterion of value here
in real estate Is its supply of water.
Upon well watered ranches profitable
Winter and Summer cultivation are
assured, and the immigrant who once
investigates seeks only this character
of land. When it Is said, therefore,
that lands are worth $50 to 500 per
acre, only that which is we'll watered
Is signified. The vast quantities of
: dry lands and mesas. we'll adapted for
Winter crops, are utterly ignored by
the farmer, and can be had from $40
to $50 per acre. On the other hand in
the valleys along the central portions
Of the State the land Is not supplied
with irrigation facilities, and Ill
adapted for Summer farming, and yet
they are worth from 500 to S75 per
acre. 1t will be seen. therefore, that
when the relative advantages are con-
sidered, independent of the superior
climate Of Southern California, the
lands Of this section are really the
cheapest, and destined to largely aug
ment in value as the tide of immigra-
tion increases. Our standard is higher,
because our people look to more per-
feet and profitable system of cultiva-
tion. 1t can, therefore, be claimed
that the difficulties which beset the
early settlers and forced them to turn
their attention to the development Of
water facilities were blessings in dis
guise, and that in consequence We are
ahead of the rest of the State in the
science of agriculture under the cir
cumstances which surround us. In
the central valleys of the State this
truth is being recognized and the peo-
pie are turning their attention to their
irrigation facilities. Artesian wells