Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-02-21

II "a OohuCOtiou houO WIN WIG
Texas system Of railways by the
Pacific is directing q
great deal of attention to Los An.
geles. The Houston Daily Post,
Of January 14th, has the following
pleasant things to cay of us: "This
superb valley in Southern Califor-
mia is one OF the most favored spots
on the earth, both as to its climatic
and agricultural characteristics.
We have been much interested
In looking over a recent
paper published in the Los
Angeles ILLUSTRATED HERALD
which, by the way, is q
beautifully mounted journal
giving brief but comprehensive
sketch Of this paradise from the
pen of Colonel w. r. Olden. The
valley proper is about forty miles
long by twenty broad, and in
cludes several varieties of eleva-
ton and soil. AS general rule
there Is no frost, the thermometer
having sunk to 26s only once in
the past eleven years. For three
years $40 has been the lowest point,
and all semi-tropical fruits may be
raised, including the lime, which
may be termed the moet delicate,
with success. Such is the extreme
richness of that portion of the val
ley devoted to general agricultural
purposes, that not seldom $50 BUSH
els of corn or 60 tons OF pumpkins
are raised to the acre; a fact that
has an almost incredible sound,
but which the Texans who are con.
versant with the prolific yield of
the Brazos bottom can we'll afford
to believe. In what is called the
belt, a more elevated section, the
soil and climate are specially
adapted for vine and fruit culture.
Here 1t Is that the delicious Mis-
sion grape that has proved worth
less in other districts, comes TO its
full perfection, aud the peculiar
character OF the subsoil, retaining
moisture through out the year, en-.
ables those who practice the meth
cd OF subsoil blowing to make far
heavier crops than those who use
the old methods of irrigation. 1t
lie asserted that on this belt, last
year, the average yield was be-
tween eight and eleven tons of
grapes to the acre, which at $40
per ton, would give gross return
of $3.50 to 1920 per acre. Subtract
Ing from this the total expense Of
cultivation, etc., a very handsome
profit remains, but seldom attained
in general agricultural operations.
1t is also stated that in the Los
Angeles valley the olive thrives re-
markedly we'll. The trees grow
rapidly and soon mature. In about
four years after putting out cut
tings they begin to bear, and the
plant is said to be remarkably free
from the attacks of the conn mon
parasitical and animal enemies so
much dreaded by the vineyardist
and horticulturist. There lie, be-
sides these sections, yet another
and still more elevated belt, where
irrigation has to be resorted to con-
tinueusly. Altogether the Les
Angeles valley is claimed to rep
resent an ideal that is seldom real.
lied in climate and soil. When
we reflect upon the immense
spread and variety Of our State we
are tempted to believe that there
is more than one "blessed valleyu
like this land-locked somewhere,
whose beauties and utility have
not yet been discovered, or, at
least, ventilated. Making all nj.
lowanoes for the difference Of eli.
mate between the Pacific slope and
the Texas uplands, We are inclined
to think that the vine and, per-
haps, the olive may be grown In
Texas as well as In California"