Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1879-10-19
THE BEET.

The Second Chapter of Gen. sholds's Abla
Dissertation Tie sugarieH Of the Local
Future.
EDITOR HERALD: 1t was stated
In my letter of yesterday that there
was probability that water
enough could be brought to the
surface on the Burllngame ranch
west of Compton to irrigate four
thousand acres in the present
wasteful manner OF distributing
water, or thirty thousand acres by
the asbestlue sub-lrrigstlon meth
oil. This probability, though
strong, will not be admitted as a
factor In the calculations that may
follow. The Importance of the
Burlipgame case arises chiefly in
its relation as known case to
class of probable cases. One region
of the probable cases is composed of
the systems of inclined plains, hills
and ridges, that align the ocean,
known case in which Is the north
wardly flow of artesian water down
the lower slope of the Cerritos. The
second region of probable analo-
gous cases is the line of elevations
that arise westerly of the city OF
Los Angeles and that extend east
erly into San Diego county, a
known case in which is d flow OF
artesian water down the face or All
inclined plane, terminated at lis
intersection with the plain of Ana
helm, near the old stage road. The
third region of probable cases IS the
foot hills of the Sierra Madre
mountains, known case in which
is the flow Of water tunneied out
by Judge Eaton.
There may be few places in either
of the regions mentioned where ar
tesian water will flow out upon the
surface. There may be many
places where water on boring VIII
rise sufficiently near the surface to
be pumped out, tunneled out, or
syphoned out.
The subject is imbued with ex-
traordinary Importance, because,
as truly held by the late Hon Il.
ID. Wilson, Of San Gabriel, mesa
land that is irrigated is of all lands
the most valuable for horticultural
purDoses, Such is much of the land
dominated by the side-hill artesian
we'll of Mr.. Bullingame, the largest
artesian well in the State, If not In
the volume of the outflow in the
diameter of the pipe.
The elevated land lower than
the point of outflow of this well is
! near enough the sea to be within
an essentially sea climate. Both
elevation and the influences of the
sea unite in exempting the locality
from severe frosts. Potatoes plant
ed here in January mature almost
as early as in the most highly fa'
yored regions of the foot hills.
1t follows, of course, that beets
may be planted on the Burlingame
ranch in winter, because beets are
harder than potatoes. Beets may
he planted in winter On bottom
lands in Southern California.
Pie nted in January the beets ma
ture in July and nowhere require
much irrigation. Paintings in Feb
ruary, March and April maturing
in August, September ana OCTOBER
would require more anu more lrri-
cation the later the planting. The
sugar beet requires to be, aud for
the largest yield of sugar should
-.
be irrigated regularly, though spar
ingiy.
| Mr.. Burlingame thinks under
all the circumstances that the WA
ter regularly flowing from his well
and dIstri buted in the usual way Is
amply sufficient for three hundred
acres OF bests. Planted as stated.
the land deeply plowed and the
moist ocean air cooperating with
the artesian water, his estimate
may be relied upon.
Mr.. b. also estimates that his
land will yield an average OF fifty
tons OF sugar beets per acre. Cut
this down one half and say twenty
five tons per acre. Mr.. Gennert
will pay SlS per ton for dried beets
delivered at the depot. 1t takes
Al tones of undried beets to make
one ton of dried beets, aud hence 1t
IL plain that the farmer gets four
dollars per ton for the beets esti-
mated in the undried state. AT
this rate Mr.. B. would get one hun
dred dollars per acre for the beets
and thirty thousand dollars for the
beets OF three hundred acres.
From the same land Mr.. B.
would get at recent prices $40 per
acre for the corn and about $50
per acre milling rates for the wheat
II would produce. Still would
say to Mr.. b. raise corn enough for
your own home use, and actually
!, did say TO him not to give all his
acres to sugar beets, but to leave a
!, liberal area to Odessa wheat. l be-
!, lieye in Odessa wheat. Advocated
its adoption in the Pacific Rardt
,, Press long ago by giving most re-
, narkable proof of its exemption
+ from rust and at a time when the
, millers said even If it could be
raised the dark flour yielded would
: have u very limited market.
,, Wheat needs no irrigation. We
have at least six golden and as
, many more silver points In the ag-
= ricultural outlook, no one OF which
:. ought to be entirely ignored. AT
ter Mr.. B. sells few crops of su-
gar beets at 500 per acre he and
his neighbors may unite their
farms, apply the Asbestine sub-lr-
rigation method of distributing
water and make the water that