Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-05-09
OUR NORTHERN SUBURBS.
Splendid Crops of Fruit and GRAIN
The Grand Rancho San Rafael
The Dry Season Bugpear of the
PAST

Splendid Crops of Fruit and Grain
The Grand Rancho San Rafael
The Dry Season Bugpear of the
Past.
The Rancho San Rafael, of thirty
odd thousand acres, is one of the oldest
in the county, having been patented
many years ago to Don Julio Verdugo,
who died some years since at the
hale old age Of ITO years. 1t was always
known to contain some Of the finest
agricultural lands in Southern California.
That they had not been thoroughly de-
veloped until recently, was simply due
to the lack Of the necessary capital and
enterprise. These adjuncts having
been lately attained, this splendid prop
erty has achieved Renaissance, and for
some years past has been cultivated to
large extent with profitable crops, aided
by abundant water for irrigation. The
rancho, as is well known, is bounded on
the left by the Los Angeles river, on the
north by the Verdugo mountains, and
on the east by the Arroyo Seco, forming
nearly c triangle, the apex of which is in
the city Of Los Angeles, in which much
Of the most valuable land is situated.
One of the first gentlemen to appreciate
the vast resources OF this rancho, was
Mr.. H. ]. Crow, who purchased 220
acres Of land in 1873, in about the center
of the tract, including an ample water
right from the cienega in the verdugo
canon. This water he carried to
his property in V fume, which
is yet used, and is sufficient
for his 1OO-acre fruit orchard. Through
the courtesy of this enterprising fruit
grower, an attachs of the HERALD has
been ensbled to closely examine this
splendid plain, the soil of which is uni
formly deep, rich loan, mixed with
disintegrated granite from the mountains,
which renders the use Of manure forever
unnecessary. Leaving the city by the
river road, the Hunter homestead is
passed on the left, and the new High
land View Tract on the right, under the
big east side ditch. This settlement is
being rapidly improved by cultivation,
and the erection OF handsome residences.
A short distance further on, under the
same ditch, number of white men are
raising splendid crops Of potatoes, beets,
cabbages, ETC., which they sell at remun-
erative prices, particularly supplanting
the Cinnamon. Near this point is the
excellent new rancho which Major H.
NJ. Mitchell is improving. An elegant
house, spacious barn and outbuildings
have been erected, fine vineyard
planted, potatoes, trees and barley be-
ing the diversified crops, while field of
alfalfa in front OF the house affords sus-
tenance for the cattle ION thousand
hills" or less, back of the residence,
" hen they become dry. 1t is pictur-
esque home. Close by, new school
house for Sepulveda district, to cost
SO. 500, is nearly erected, through the
exertions of some Of theprominent citizens
OF the district. 1t will be ready for oc-
cupancy in about two weeks. A short
distance further on the rich 800-acre
tract Of MIR. O. w. Childs is reached
Much of it is at present planted in bar.
ley. which is thick and filling out finely,
a heavy crop being assured, either Of
grain or hay. Mr., Childs is, however.
engaged in selling off this tract in small
sections for the purpose of frnit-growing,
the water supply being ample. Peter
Backman also has splendid field oi
barley adjoining, embracing $50 acres,
the land being rented from the new
syndicate which is subdividing portion
OF the Rancho San Rafael. Mr.. Back
man has a fine forty-acre ranch Of h..
own about mile further north. Clost
by Mr.. Richardson has $50 acres in bar
ley, which will make magnificent y iel6
for any purpose. Looking northeast. to-
ward the Verdugo canon, the valuable
property of Messrs. Thorn & Ross is te
be seen, the cultivated portion--orchard,
and grain-being high on the slope o.
the spur of the mountain, and ye. under
the water. In all these gentlemen pos
sess about 100 acres Of rich land in this
tract, all irrigable. Approaching the
homestead Of Mr.. Grow. the eye is at
tracted by the sight of splendid vine
yard Of l20 acres on the left, now in its
third year, in lush growth, enclosed
by a rabbit-tight fence. On in
quiry it is found to belong
to Mr.. A. Glassell, the fortunate pos
SCISSOR of this, as well as many othel
valuable pieces of property in Los An
geles county. Arrived at the lovely
homo of our chaperon, we find it to be ;
pleasure to take in the details of thi,
splendid property. Seventy-five acrel
are in barley. so thick that it reminds
one of flood year, and cannot possibly
make less than four tons Of hay to ths
acre. OF trees, 1000 are oranges,
lemons and lines, from the first of which
at least 1000 boxes OF first class frui
will be obtained, none having yet beer
sold. The trees are but eleven year
old. Six hundred winter apple trees
as we'll as 500 prune, plum, nectarine
| fig and cherry, add to the general out