Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-17
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1891.
WHY THE ANGELENo SMILES.

WHY THE ANGRLEN0 SMILES.
fff
The copious rains have assured most
bounteous crops throughout the whole
of Los Angeles county, and the outlook
fora prosperous year is most encouraging.
The genial, growing weather doubles the
value of the precipitation. The grazing
interests in this county are by no means
80 considerable as in the past, but they
are still of some Importance. Anumber
of our principal grazers, owing to the
shortness Of the grass, were beginning
to think OF looking for new pastures,
and if the downpour had been much
longer delayed there would have been a
large deportation OF stock and cattle to
Arizona. The grass, however, has been
the only interest which was seriously
affected. As the HERALD has frequently
had occasion to observe, the outlook for
the crops has never been better than
this year, owing to the timely nature
of the precipitation. The stereotyped
remark was heard on all hands yester-
day, "This rain is worth millions to Los
Angeles county," There was not par
ticle of exaggeration in this statement.
The fact was made plain early in the
winter that the rainfall would be of
modest quantity. The truth is that such
a season is really much more
profitable than one OF redund-
ant downpour. Last year the grain
was really rotted out on the moist lands,
while our richest bottoms were actually
begged, teams miring in their efforts to
drag the gang ploughs. This year the
mesa grain fields will do well, while the
moist and bottom lands will yield pro-
lifically.
There is an unusual area sown to the
cereals this year. While there are no
tracts as extensive as the great wheat
and barley fields OF the San Fernando
and the Centinela of years ago, there
are now three grain growers for one who
was in the business then. A single
farmer has two thousand acres in grain
between Los Angeles and Santa Monica
where only few acres were sown last
year. The same thing holds good as to
all portions of the county. A gentle
man whose business takes him over
this section very extensively. assured US
some days ago that twice as much
grain has been sown this year
as last. That by no means tells
the whole story OF the agricultural
khC+ nh fnr 60
All the indications point to yield per
acre largely in excess of any year for a
good many seasons past. In fact, as to
many sections, owing to the too liberal
downpour, the grain was total failure
last year. 1t is plain statement OF
prosaic fact to say that all the signs
point to yields of wheat and barley three
times as great as those of last year.
On every ground the Los Angeles
farmer ought to feel very joyous. The
truth is that the surplus of the cereals
in California has been exhausted. We
do not like to take gloomy view OF the
prospects of our neighbors, but, as
matter OF fact, there are extensive por-
tions of the state where the yield of
wheat and barley will be small, or
nothing. AS to the great sections of the
San Joaquin Valley, the crops on unirri-
gated lands will not mature. AS con-
sequence, prices are sure to rule high.
There is no manner of doubt OF this fact.
With big crops and big prices ahead,
even a farmer, ordinarily the most mel
ancholy- mad of men, may be excused
for unbending into smile.
To those who are not acquainted with
the climatic peculiarities OF Southern
California it is well to say that
irrigation, even in dry year, is often
guarantee OF abundance of the cereals.
This year we shall profit both by the in
genuity OF man and the judicious liber-
ality of the weather-clerk. Our great
horticultural interests, besides, are en-
tirely independent of the rainfall, as
they are product of irrigation. Per-
haps we should say measurably rather
than entirely independent of the rain
fall, as of course, if the rains were with
held for years at time, our streams and
reservoirs would dry up eventually.
However, it appears conclusively that
they come from such distant water
sheds that even in that case we might
prove to be independent of our immedi-
ate rainfall. As the case stands, even
before our cereals were assured, our hor-
ticulturists were gladdened by the
knowledge that they were certain of an
unusually fine and large crop of
the citrus fruits. Our vineyardists
were also in quite easy frame of mind,
as in nearly all cases the grape is an
irrigated product, although it is ques-
ton as to whether it will long remain SO.
The present has every indication of
being what is known as a golden year.
New industries are springing up which
Will encourage agriculture, it looks very
much as If thecopious yield OF our petro-
Aeum wells will be supplemented by an
abundance OF natural gas, railway build I
ing on large scale, both of the usual