The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-03
Correspondence ofthe h.itlit1notr.

hotel was not older than tho Mission
church? He asked why? l remarked that
the church had bells, which the hotel
hadn't. Few Of theSouthcrn California hotels
have bells and none have annunicators,
at least none that saw. The evening be.
fore my arrival there had been banquet
given the Sir Knights in the city, and they
had splendid time il the accounts Of it be
true.
l called at the headquarters and regis.
tered. Here wine md fruits were offered.
The room was tastefuly decorated with
ilowera, and in one place was large side
board covered with basketsol fruit. DR.. Ross,
one OF tho committee OF reception, sug.
gested that drive around the city would
be n pleasant thing to take in. l remarked
that it would be in the morning. lie asked
where ! was stopping and said he would
send q carriage for lour at o'clock. lie
sent a very nice rig and an intelligent
driver, who took us towards Pasadena, 3
colony Of Indianans, soma eight miles to
the northeast of Los Angelts where
oranges are raised.
THE ORANGE GROVES.
ss;An orange grove is beautiful sight,
especially to a person raised in the North.
all those we saw were apparently in high
state Of cultivation, not a weed to be seen.
In some places where the groves were not
so old the ground between the trees had
been planted with other crops, beans gen
orally. From the quantity OF beans saw
the inference would be that the price of
them would be low, but it wasn't. The
road, or avenue led right through the
groves, as there are very few fences any
where, las there is no stock allowed to run
at large.) Itgives the many groves the ap-
pearance Of one large one. In some places
the avenue would be shaded by pepper
trees and in others by eucalyptus trees or
Australian gums. This tree has a long Leaf
similar in shape to peach leaf, only quite
thick and much larger and has blush
color, similar to the shade on glassware
when taken from the lears. They grow
very tall and are OF very rapid growth, and
strange 10 say, the wood is very hard and
fit for nothing, as it is full Of gum and
won't burn. I noticed that all those
that grew where the ocean breez, got a
good sweep at them from the coast,
had no branches OIL the western side. They
are planted partly for ornament, but main.
ly (near the coas') for protection from the
wind, as wind brakes. The pepper tree
has a leaf like fern on q very graceful
tree, making q dense shade. Many Of
them were covered with little red berries
and come with green ones. In other places
were long rows Of cedars, ten to oGfteen feet
high, carefully trimmed, and in others
hedges Of pines and cedars, about four feet
high, trimmed of equare on the top and
sides, forming green wall. The sides OF
the road were planted in watermelons,
the vines OF which would extend out into
the road and have their little heads cut OIL
by the carriage wheels. The country
around WAS dotted over with neat little
cottages, with extensive flower gardens
around them, the walks and drives being
kept in perfect order. They we're set gen.
orally some distance from the main ave.
nue., with q neat little drive 10 them. Here
and there were hedges of pomegranatea
with beautiful scarlet blossom about the
sizs Of an oleander bloom. The fruit was
not ripe. Then tor variety we would
have row Of English walnut trees, which
furnished pleasant shade. The sun be.
ing quite hot we needed all the shade to be
had. We had driven some Two or six
miles through this kind OF country when
we struck the centre OF the colony, wheyo is
situated the dry goods store, harness shop,
blacksmith shop, restaurant, hotel and
other buildings necessary to q colony oi
this size. The colony has perfect system
OF irrigation. The water pipes are laid
systematically through its grounds. I asked
the price OF land and wes told that it
ranged from 5000 to $4,000 per acre, and
was divided into five acre lots and when
the land was sold it carried with it the
water privilege. The water comes from a
large reservoir, built in the San Gabriel
mountains, some two or three miles away.
Making inquiry as to the police force resu.
lations was told that there WIS no need
OF any, everybody was honest and the doors
Of the stores and houses were rarely locked,
It appears that it is unhealthy to steal in
California from what learned ai!erward.
MIG VINEYARD.
Sierra Madra Villa, had been our object.
i've point when We started, but our driver
said he could show us something more in
terestipg in another direction. Adrive Of
two miles in straight line brought us to
the rancho Of Mr.. Mayberry. Here, as
far as the eye could reach, was one large
vineyard, mostly Of white muscat grapes.
The stalks OF the vines were four to- five
inches in diameter, varying from eighteen
inches 10 thirty inches in height, the grapes
growing on the new shoots, Is they are
trimmed back to the stalk each year. The
average yield is said to be from four to five
tons to the acre. AS the weather and
ground are so dry there is no danger Of
mold or rot. The grapes lie on the ground
without harm. -, 5...J,' =, ,3.,7, a.,
was told that we were ut liberty 10
help ourselves to grapes, which we did. 1t
| is not an uncommon thing to see punches
Of grapes foot long, and the berries as
large as the first joint Of q mans thumb.
Some Of your readers will say, What a
whopper! 1t is nevertheless true.
We next took in the rancho OF Governor
Stoneman, on which were oranges, lemons
figs, peaches, pears, plums, lines, pome'
granates, apricots and apples. 1t seemed
odd to soc q little apple tree, not four feel
high, loaded with apples. ] have often
heard it eaid, in regard to California fruit
that It was large, coarse, and that the flavor
was nothing to compare to our home fruit
This Is all mistake. It is superior to ours
this by way Of parenthesis. also ioun(
some dates on this rancho, but they dom
amount to much Of anything for fruit; they
are ornamental. Roses abound here. i saw
one bush measuring 100 feet around IL
] base and II feet in height, It being a soil,