Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-07
DOWN THE VALLEY.
How the Spring is Opening
With the Farmers.
GREAT PROMISE OF A HARVEST
improvements of Many Sorts in All
Lines Of Progress Noted at
All Points.

All IOlulSs
The first week Of clustering March
does not usually open up as a particular
ly fascinating period of the year in any
part of the globe. The one exception to
this general rule is Southern California.
Brighter skies or warmer airs are not to
be discovered anywhere than those being
enjoyed here, and it is only one or two
of the most favored sections that can be
named in the same breath with this IN
respect to weather. One OF New Eng
lands favorite poets sings OF the peIiec,
tion of day in June. 1t would lndeea
be q pleasure of the imagination had ne
undertaken to sing of the perfection OF a
day in March in ocean-grit, rock-riboed,
storm-torn New England. The poet OF
the Southern California semi-tropics
need not be particular in the selection OF
the time when he shall extoll the
perfect character of the days. March
here is quite as fitting as June. i.
During the past few days member of
the HERALD staff has taken flying trip
to the southern end of the county, where
he found the whole aspect Of the country
simply charming.
THE ORANGE CROP
Is now in its prime, and the trees are
aelow with the golden spheres, whose
perfect shape and high color are SO
tempting that the beholder instinctively
looks about for the dragons that guard
the golden apples of this modern Hes
perides. Cars stand at all the depots
between Los Angeles and Santa Ana,
taking in thousands of boxes of the fruit
for shipment to the East. 1t is very
evident that no pest of any sort
has by great deal destroyed this
poetical as well as profitable in
dustry. Below the city are scores
of orchards where the fruit is as
bright, as perfect and in as prolific abun-
dance as at any period in the history OF
the section. This is true as far down as
Florence. At Downey City the same con-
ditions obtain, and then there are few
groves until Anaheim and Santa Ana are
reached. AT these places and at Orange
and Tustin as fine orange groves are
standing to-day as ever graced the semi
tropics. A few days ago the HERALD
published from the Anaheim Gazette
some notes about the orchard of Captain
Keith, of Anaheim. The scribe stood in
this very orchard and is able to say that
the local paper far from exsggerating any
thing, did not tell the full story. There
are trees in that orchard, the fruit of
which is fully worth $40 piece. The
crop on the Seeding trees of full growth
will average fully six boxes to the tree.
There are only two acres in bearing on
the place, and the crop is worth fully
81 200. The fruit is of fine size, of high
color and delicious flavor. Mr.. Keith
keeps his trees in perfect condition, with
water in abundance, careful cultivation
and plentiful fertilization.
DEcIDUoUs TREES IN BLOOM.
ALI through the valley deciduous fruit
trees are in bloom. The apricot is the
earliest out, and then follow the peach,
prune and plum. Apples, pears and
ounces have not yet ventured to appear.
it is, of course, early to predict anything
as to the crop, but the appearances are
excellent.
THE VINEYARDS.
Vignerons are paying much attention
to their vines. 1t is already settled
fact that the demand for grapes next fall
will be much more active than for the
past half-dozen years. Good prices are
sure to be paid. Below the city many
vineyards neglected for the past two
years will be taken good care of this sea-
son. At the great Nadeau vineyard, OF
about 2, 800 acres, there were at least
fifty teams working. So, all along the
valley, wherever there is an acre of
sound vineyard, it is being carefully
nursed into productive condition.
THE GRAIN CROPS.
Never were there seen SO many fields
seeded to grain. All the available land
is covered with wheat or barley, or being
prepared for corn. Apparently there
will be much of this last named put in
the ground this spring. The grain now
above the ground is in the most perfect
condition. The cool weather of February
held the growth above ground in check
but this was Offset by vigorous growth
rootwards, as is very manifest by the
healthy condition of the plant. 1t is as
green as emerald, and robust in the
spread of the stool on the ground. Those
who looked over the meteorological
report in the HERALD few mornings
ago will have observed that the monthly
mean temperature was only 55 degrees,
whereas it usually runs for February up
to 60 or 65 degrees, some years going as
high as SO degrees. At the same time
there was no extremely low tenn mperature,
and there were no harsh or desiccating
winds. This was ideal weather for crops
of all sorts and particularly for cereal
crops.
THE GRASS CROPS.
The uninitiated think California has
no grass crops. This is gross mistake.
The alfalfa meadows all over the valley
are now either moved or about to be
moved for the first time this year. The
crop is most luxuriant. Then on
old stubble fields not plowed since
last harvest there is fine crop of volun-
teer grain, which may be allowed to ma
ture for hay or even for grain, but which
is now generally used for spring pasture.
for which purpose there is nothing to
equal it. Even an Eastern clover meadow
in June is not more lush or nutritious.
Besides these there has been for months
the finest of pasture on the plains, where
the natural grasses of the country grow.
This sort of pasture is good for more
months in the year than is any sort of
pasture in any of the States east of the
Rockies.
TREE PLANTING.
There is a great boom this year in tree
planting. Go where one may fine pieces
of level, fertile soil are seen all ready for
tree planting. In many places hundreds
of young walnut trees have been set out,
l,.sw. =.