Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-01-01

the accumulated sunbeams which have
already kissed those on the outside in
to agolden blush.
Branches bending under the weight,
some requiring strong props to sustain
them from the extra load, others car
rying their burden with only gentle
curvature.
On the Eastern side of the house are
English walnut trees, with wide
spreading branches, smooth trunked.
ana sturdy looking specimens, as vet
retaining their leaves of the Summer
only slightly faded.
so beautiful are the surroundings of
the villa, so admirably arranged to
please the eye, as though the land
scape artist had exerted himself to the
utmost to enhance the effect from the
grouping of the different kinds of trees
and shrubs.
A low cluster here in order that the
mountain peak could be distinctly
seen, and then through the wide
| spaced walnuts rises the base of that
mountain, with cottages nesting in
the mouth OF the cafions. 1t requires
a strong effort to overcome the idea
that anything save the creation of
beauty was the guiding course of the
planting and arrangement, and the
"wimpling burn u mere source of
pleasure in listening to the tinkling of
their liquid song, sparkling in the
patches of light between the thick TO-
liage to gladden. the eye and heart.
The two gum trees, the dropping
willow, the cluster of pepper trees, a
South American variety of the horse
chestnut, an evergreen or two, the
roses, flowers and shrubbery are the
only things which are not source of
great profit. That long avenue bor-
dered with double row of orange
trees, will return thousands of dollars
in "ninety days from date.u All of
those acres in the same proportion,
and the almonds and walnuts have al
ready returned u bOunteOus harvest.
Ere we leave the immediate vicinity
we will examine the method of culture
which has made Sunny Slope so cele-
brated for it's rich return. Fifteen
years ago Mr.. Rose took possession
being then almost a waste. Live oaks
and chapparel had to be grubbed be-
fore any planting could lie done, but
there was e "big bonanza" in the
gravelly soil SO we'll adapted to fruit
culture, and still greater good for
tune in mountain stream which ran
the whole of the dry season through
the place. Over hundred years ago
the Mission Fathers built dam across
a narrow portion of the ravine and
carried the waters in a ditch to the
hamlet on the plain. They further
utilized it by making it grind the
grain which was needed for t0rtllas,
the mill standing only "a short distance
above Mr.. Roses house. The mill has
long passed away, but the dam is rs
solid as the day it was finished, re-
minding us of the old walls in the an.
cient castles in the South of Scotland,
and like them appearing as though
further centuries would have little ef-
feet to injure.
This water Mr.. Rose carries in q
main stream-it has not the least ap-
pearance OF ditch, but that of IVA.
turai brook-to the summit by the
dwelling. We neglected to stete thai
the house is on an eminence from
which the ground slopes in every di
rection. Between every row Of tree:
is small depression, and around eact
for a space of twelve feet there is ,
slight embankment sufficient to retain
the water above the roots. The msin
stream is tapped as the wants of 3he
trees require the irrigation. SoOr af-
ter or during the Winter rains, At is
surely misnomer to call this bright,
warm season Winter,) the grosnd is
thoroughly cultiyated-so thoroughly
that there is not u blade Of grass OF
terminating seed apparent. Beyond
the occasional cutting off OF broken
branch or removal of extraneous
growth, this is the whole system, the
water being occasionally applied du'
ring the Summer.
. We did not make any Inquiries rs to
the minute statistics of the orange
, culture. The whole can be summed
in Mr.. Roses words, when y gentle
man asked him regarding the profits:
, at ismOre like finding money than
| anything ever engaged in, and those
trees you are now standing under will
= net from ten to fifteen dollars each.
. The demand is greater than we can
, supply, and onlya few acres ofOrange.
bearing trees will be sufficient to keer
! o family in affluence."
! We walk from the house alongside
, of the brawling brook, andturning t.
, the right we overlook one Of the vine
) yards, over a hundred aces in extent
1t is only small portion of the grOunC
, allotted to vines, and the same careful
, culture, the same watchful care is ap
. parent.
I According to the California custom
the crown of the vine is several fee
: from the ground, the lower part being
y like stub, of thret feet in hight, tn,
? upper perfect mass of vines and leaf
+. Planted some eight feet apart, yet tn
ground is completely hidden by tn,
. tendrils and foliage mainly of one sea
sons growth. Pruning will soon com
i mence, but before the removal of tina
+ which 50 completely hides the soil, i
q is evident mo- weed has been allowed
!. to grow.
q a little further along and we Sc
a where all those thousands of tons @
grapes arr made available. Win
/, presses, huge vats, mountain of nc
a cumulatfd waste, the debris of crap
, skins ard seeds, attest the magnitud
c of the operations. Cellars with pill