Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-20
A PROSPEROUS OUTLOOK.

Ihe last fall OF rain has been followed
by weather that will prove immensely
beneficial to our farmers. II we escape
from another visitation of cold north
winds, every drop of moisture will con-
tribute to the assurance of abundant
crops. The outlook, indeed, for splen-
did agricultural year, never was better.
Three more inches of rain, which we can
hardly fail to have before, the season
closes, will be sufficient to insure us the
most generous harvest we have ever had.
There is very wide area planted, in
grain, and plowing has been resumed in
various parts: of the county, to increase
materially the acreage of land already
sowed, 80 that we may confidently count
upon cereal crop of unprecedented pro-
portions.
But whilst the grain crop will be abb
normally large, the fruit promise is
equally encouraging. All the deciduous
trees are showing evidences of the very
fine rain season we have had, and will
without doubt bear abundantly. The
returns from the fruit crop of last
year were very gratifying; but it
now looks as if they will be
greatly surpassed by the amount that
will be realized this year. The prices
may not reach the high notch they
struck last year, but the increased vol
ume OF the crop will more than make up
the difference.
A good year to the horticulturist and
grain farmer this year means more than
may appear on the surface to the ordi-
nary reader. Notwithstanding the very
large returns the fruit-growers realized
last season, very large proportion OF
the money had to 60 to clear off obliga-
tions nearly everybody had assumed
during the flush and speculative times
OF three years ago. But the debts are
now paid, and all the profits realized
will be money ahead and in hand. But
a small proportion OF the cash returns
of last year made its way into general
circulation; hence, general business was
much less benefited by the great access
OF new money that came here to pay for
the crops than would have been the
case if our farmers had been free of
debt. This year, however, they will not
have to pinch and cramp their expenses,
but will feel that they can indulge in
few extras they could not afford to buy
last year. This will put very greatly
increased aggregate Of new money in
circulation, and all classes OF business
will feel its good effects.
The orange crop never was go large as
it is this season. Last year the number
Of carloads shipped east was 2500, this
year it will reach 1000. This means
princely return from the imperial indus
try which has made our section famous
all over the world. The shipments will
be made later than they were last year,
and that will be another point in our
favor, for the fruit will improve in
sweetness and flavor the longer the pick
ing is delayed. An immense amount of
money will be put in circulation from
the returns for this crop.
In glancing over the outlook OF the
county, we should not omit to notice the
very important fact that our vineyards
are once more becoming a formidable
factor in our prosperity. The vines are
fast recovering from the mysterious mall
ady which affected them, and we shall
have very largely increased output of
wines this year.
There is no section of the United
States that has such substantial cause
to congratulate itself on the prospects of
the year as this portion of California.