Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-02

winter was cold snap Of longer or
shorter duration, and generally there
we're two or three Of them. In GER
tain exposed portions Of the city ice |
would form, more than once during
the winter season, TO depth Of from
an eighth to a quarter Of an inch in
thickness. During the past two years
we have scarcely had any cold to
speak of--not even suggestion OF
the very mild low temperatures
natural to country endowed with
semi-tropical climate. Twelve years
ago and earlier destructive frosts, As
late as June, were wont to play
havoc with the vineyards. Our peo-
| pie have not had for decade single
disaster referable to frost. Ten years
ago Angelefios were disciplined
TO the idea that this was a dry coun-
try in which drouth was liable to
supervene at any moment, to the
wrecking OF the hopes Of the husband
man. We have not had dry year
since the famous season OF 1878-77,
when the total rainfall was only 5.s4
inches. Neither New York, Pennsyl-
vania nor Ohio can say a. much as
that In those States, and likewife
in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, II,
at the critical season, when the corn
| ia in the tassel, there is q failure OF
rain for period OF two weeks, the
crop il gone for aye. Here corn has
grown luxuriantly and yielded abund-
ant crops, and unirrigated at that,
which never saw a drop OF rain. But
the rain itself, explain il as we may,
has increased most plenteously in
volume. II may be referable to the
extensive planting Of trees which has
characterized Southern California
since 1872. The denudation Of the
Adirondack and other mountains
tributary to the streams of New York
has caused them to diminish in vol
ume and has lessened the rainfall.
| II oonvsrso, il is not straining the
| point to assume that the creation
OF incipient forests in Los Angeles
county has resulted in an increase Of
tho genial dispensation and precipi-
tation of old J. z. In addition, tho
breaking up Of the land may have
had much to do with it. For ages
| the soil of this county has been i'm
pacted by tho hoofs OF innumerable
sheep, cattle and horses, measursbly
destroying the capillary attraction.
OF late 1t has been opened up through
the plough, by the hundreds Of thou
sands Of acres, and this potent cause
has been added TO those which have
assured an immunity from drouth--
which have, in fact, assured US great
or immunity from loss OF the cereal
crops than exists in New York or
Ohio to-day. This most acceptable
change for the better, which has
proved permanent, for II has not been
interrupted for nine years, may, in
fine, be owing to the building and OPP
Grafton of the same lines OF railways
which have created the cyclone in
the East. But to whatever cause it
may be referable, it is fact, with
big, big F. 1t has made Los An
geles, which heretofore was one OF the
finest vineyard, which was incompar-
ably the finest citrus fruit growing re-
gion OF California, at the same time
the finest farming section OF this
State. Fatness lies upon all our
hills, and Wales, and mesas, and we
rejoice in the abundance Of our rains.
Ponder these facts, men and breth-
renl They are as true as they are
suspicious OF untold good things in
the future OF Southern California.
1