Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-14
For the SPECTATOR.
Letter from Southern California.


| GOSPEL SWAMP, April %, 1878.
EDITOR SPECTATOR knowing th'
interest that is taken in this part of tht
country by many of your readers, will
Try and give you my little experience
It has been about eighteen months since
L left your county for the remarkable
county of Los Angeles, California, O
which Gospel Swamp is the garden spot
known far and wide for the healthful-
ness OF its people, as well as for its pro
ductiveness. 70
Almost every kind of produce can be
raised here with success, and in great
abundance; corn, from go to 100 bushels
per acre; potatoes, beats and pumpkins
by the ton; beans, II tons per acre
wheat, 3S sacks per acre.
Alfalfa can be moved five or six times
a year, cutting from two to two and a
half feet each time, making about four
teen feet each season. -
Alfalfa is something like red clover,
and was imported from Australia. Per-
haps it would do well in Virginia, if the
winters are not too cold for it.
We have had an abundance of rain this
winter, and the crops are looking fine
and promise an abundant harvest. The
streams have supply of water for ir-
rigating such dry lands as may need
irrigation, though much of the land
does not need it,, The scenery is beau
tiful beyond description. To the North
and East lie the Rocky mountains COW
cred with snow, whilst the valley below
is clothed with grass two to three feet
high, mostly bur clover and Alfalfa,
intermingled with beautiful flowers of
every variety, whilst to the South and
West stretch the bright sparkling
waves of the Pacific ocean.
1t is four miles from here to Newport
landing, where the vast amount of pro-
duce of Santa Anna valley is shipped
to San Francisco. Ltsl9
This is also great fruit growing To-
cality, and there are some large or
chards in the county.
Fruit of almost every kind can be
grown with success, and the vineyards,
which are numerous, do exceedingly
well. Trees are of very rapid growth.
[ have measured a blue gum at four
years growth, and found it 38a inches
in circumference and about IS feet in
height. --. ft,-
The society here is as good as could
pc wished, the people in this neighbor-
hood coming mostly from the Southern
0HN w Co1OiA CtdItS, lHCluuluS B great
many from Virginia. We have good
schools, churches, &C., in fact almost
everything to make this desirable
place to live in.
Land is selling high, at from twenty
hve to ore hundred dollars per acre,
yet produce brings good prices. A man
who will work can soon make the paw
ments out of the land. California is
not, however, what a great many seem
to suppose, place where you can live
without work. 1t requires industry and
energy here as we'll as anywhere else to
become successful in business.
Labor is not so heavy here as in many
other places. Flowing is mostly done
with gang or sulky plows, and great
many have their harrows and drags Con-
structed SO that the driver can ride
Wheat and barley is harvested altogeth-
er with reapers.
II any of your readers have an idea
OF coming to California, let them give
Los Angeles call, and see for them
selves that it is a beautiful and produe-
tive, as well as healthy country.