Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-05
A RURAL LETTER.
Corn Crops, a Holstein Bull and a
Flying Machine.

EDITORS dERALD-Ihe barley crop
hereabouts is of full average weight,
and the threshers have more than half
done their work. 1t is noted that the
acretions of land on the shore west of
Ballona harbor are widening, showing
that the natural drift of sand that is dis
charged from the lake is deposited on
shore to the west ward. Your cores
pondent, ever since the accident to Mr..
Rose, had an inclination to view the
beast that could ''get away" with Ander-
son. (This is not an intimation that he
is "tough" citizen.) The bull is full
blood Holstein, and as vicious beast as
any torodero might desire. But my
friend Rose is all right again,
although 1t was a narrow escape.
He is now hauling his barley to
warehouse, ten thousand pounds at a
load on three wagons driven by one per-
son. They are milking seventy-two COWS
on the place, mostly Holsteins, averaging
one hundred and twelve rolls OF butter
per week on dry feed. Three mixers
with stools strapped on behind begin the
work at o'clock and the COWS 60 to pas
ture before s. New houses are going up
all over the country, built by the farmers
from the proceeds of their crops; not the
outcome of speculation or of land sales.
One can have no idea of the quiet beauty
of the views along the little valleys that
come in from the foothills without seeing
them-the magic changes that have been
worked out by the hand of man in
few years. Vineyards, orchards and
flower gardens appear where once the
all-destroying shepherd roamed at will.
The Los Angeles County Railroad road.
bed is in prime order-a workman.like
job by Mr.. Shaw. The route and gradi-
ents and curves are most of them easy,
so that good time can be made on that
line to Santa Monica. 1t runs through
one OF the most productive sections of
the State, and must eventually be pay
ing investment. Its attractiveness as a
scenic route to the sea is Incompatible.
The honey crop is about half the usual
amount, Notwithstanding the sanguine
expectations Of the beemen early
in the season. The quality is fair.
But on account of the encroachments of
the farmers on the apiarists' ground
the white sage that once covered all the
slopes and foothills has gone to give
room for orchards and vines. And in
places there are eucalyptus and pepper
trees planted SO near the mountains as
to injure the honey raised on the foot
hills.
The thermometer has behaved we'll
this year, only indicating SO9 at 10 A. NJ.
through the months of June and July.
This is moderate mean for the temper
atu'e, considering the qualifying condi-
tions of the sea breeze at this attitude,
1,500 feet. The last corn planted is do
ing well. Some that was put in ground
ploughed three times, put we'll down
with stick, so as to be where there was
moisture to germinate it, has come for
ward recently, and will make two and
| three ears to the stalk where there is but
one stalk in a place. This is some
thing an Eastern agriculturist
cannot understand. But In
few years experience here they have
it kicked into them.
Now for the wings. The weather is
unfavorable to extra exertion, but there
was never greater temptation to fly away
and be at rest by the grand old ocean
that breathes its hoarse lullaby in our
ears. The wings are nearly perfected OF
aluminium, steel and silk. 1T is found
that the hollow cylinder OF metal under
the arms is not at all in the way in
swinging the arms, either in flying or
swimming. If had had the wings with
me yesterday at the beach 1 would have
used them to fly from the top of the
Arcadia into the water. There is not the
smallest risk to life or limb under favor.
able conditions, and young people would
soon be able to float away miles in mid
air over the water. This will be the best
place to use the wings until the begin
ners have full confidence in their ability
to steer. FREDERICK MoULToN SHAW. !
Mount Olympus, August L, 1888.