Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1891-01-09

and useless as a remedy for the scale,
but all concede the gravity of the
situation. The Fruit Growers Asso.
clation OF this district, also the COM
missioners OF horticulture, are giving
this and other mat ters careful atten-
tion and asking for more law to aid
In its control.
When here before, the grape crop
was said to be sure when properly
cared for, especially the common
Mission or wine grape, and now most
OF the large vineyards IN Mission
grapes are dead and gone, and grapes
OF all kinds from q sure crou, have be-
come @ very precarious one. What
Killed them no one knows. or can ex-
plain the cause. and the mystery adds
to The serious outlook of future grape
industry. The old vines are dug up
for cord wood and notices in the
papers for "men to dig cord wood" is
common.
Horticulture, trade and labor are
limited here in sense that it does not
obtain where irrigation is not neces-
sary, the settlement and tiliage OF
lands is governed by the ability to
get water, doubtless water will be
more carefully utilized in the future,
which will largely add to the tillage
and benefit all. The price of lands
make Dakotlan "a little dizzy" 1t
seems to me if this country is soon to
be occupied by real workers and pro.
ducers in fruit growing, lands must be
cheaper and gotten out OF the hands
nf Snao,1lotnpS onA e
ordinary and small means, who come
here to work and live by fruit grow.
ing VINO can afford to buy them and will
not be compelled to sell, starve, or re-
turn east. So it seems that even in
this glad land OF sunshine, business
and fruit raising, like raising "No.
l hard in South Dakota, is not oil
plain sailing.
About Los Angeles END south OF
this no berries cun be raised, and
peaches are not considered a profit
able crop. About San Diego olives
are the pr'rclple crop, and here they
are not considered profitable. The
crops said to give the bes- returns
about here are oranges, apricots and
English walnuts, although on almost
every ranch you will find some figs,
pears, grapes, lemons, nectarines,
etc. However, there is great variety
OF soil and altitude and fruits that do
well IN one valley may not do so well
in another valley five or ten miles
distant. Oranges seem to be the
favorlte crop, the Washington Navel
the best kind; the Joppa, a native OF
Palestine and taking its name from
that ancient seaport, is next IN
flavor, is large firm fruit and
when ripe is red like persimmon.
But two. thirds of the paintings are
seedlings. The Indian River, q native
Of Florida and thornless, is the
favorite. 1t fruits late and supplies
the market alter the budded fruits are
gone.
There are very many wealthy peo.
pie here who are consumers only aud
have no need to earn anything. They
loan their money and buy up all the
improved and Inimproved lands and
property that are cheap and hold tor
advance prices. The banks and
monied institutions will rank with
any in the United States.
One cannot help but notice here the
unusual proportion OF old people and
Invalids OF every nation, cline and
tongue. This country can never be-
come a great manufacturing point
outside Of canning and drying fruits,
on account Of the lack of wood, coal
and other facilities. Yet | believe
men of small means, who are indus
trious and frugal, can come to this
country and prosper, by raising
fruits, and in five or ten years can
own 81 small ranch and live more
comfortable than they can in a colder
climate. Whether they will be as
healthy or not is debatable ques-
tion. There are many schemes pro-
posed and inducements offered to
men to come here and go into fruit
growing. Lands are offered on q
term Of years in various ways and
every effort made to secure immlqra-
ton. The climate is bright, sunny
and beautiful. The evergreen trees,
shrubs and rare plants, and the thou
sands Of fragrant flowers are pleasant
and lovely beyond description is con-
ceded by all who visit South Cali
forDia. VIM. M. BROOKE.
Los ANGELES. CAL, Dec. 80. 1890.
Pioneers.