The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-11
A GREAT CLIMATE.
AN ENGLISHMAN GIVES HIS OPINION
OF CALIFORNIA

I am writing on Jan. IA. Over in the
mild climate of England my fellow gar.
deners are protecting their plants from
frost and sheltering carefully all those
!. potted plants which they are going to
force for the market California is
large-twice the size of England,
should say. But if you want to find a
D place here where you would have to do
the like IN your profession you would
, have to hunt the cool and somewhat
treacherous bay surroundings Of our me-
tropolis, or you would have to climb the
peaks Of our Sierras, and then you would
have to reach an elevation of 1900 feet
before finding places with a real winter.
We have no winter here, and what is
generally called winter is understood TO
be the rainy season. This season is very
mild, and we work at our places here in
the foothills of the Sierras in shirt
sleeves today and call it most beauti-
full day.
Our foothills rival the valley; we have
the high mountains at the back of Us
protecting Us from the dry winds of the
plains east Of them and giving Us the
benefit Of the warm reflection of the sun,
which shines here almost every day.
Our grapes ripen at 1900 feet elevation,
but seven days later than those from
the Fresno region; while our climate is
not so hot, being easier reached by the
winds which blow every day from the
ocean. We can dry raisins in the sun
In spite OF the occasional early rains
which set in once in awhile ia the hay
ing season, at the end of July.
The highest temperature l have re-
corded for four years was 112 dogs.
Fair. In the shade. / must saw for
person coming from cool climate, like
that Of England, this is anything but
agreeable. But then 112 dogs. up in the
mountains feels nothing like that heat
In the valley, where no air may blow at
the time. Hot spells last usually from
three to five days, and then again We
record 80 dogs. to 95 degs., or even 50
dogs. Fair, for weeks at time. B
the time person has been living here
for say five years he gets pretty well
used to it and lives through it Just like
everybody else.
A HEALTHY CLIMATE.
1t is healthy here. The air is Won |
derfully pure, and the fogs which visit |
US from the ocean are quite pleasant. |
pure and refreshing. The Coast range
Is different altogether. 1t is affected by
the evaporation of the ocean, and conse- |
quently cooler and temperate The
Coast range cuts the valley sharply |
from the ocean border, and its peculiar
ity is best demonstrated by abiding to
the fact that, while the grape never
ripens at San Francisco, ten miles from
II, just behind the Coast range, there
lies the land which supplies the city
nearly all the year round with the most
delicious strawberries.
Most people who come to California
usually stop and stay at San Francisco.
The climate Is more agreeable, and there
are more fellow countrymen, and all the
advantages which city life offers. But
the most acceptable openings are in the
interior. Gardeners, as a rule. are peo-
pie who are least afraid of anything, and
If they cannot get a job at their own
trade, very well, they try another.
Fruit growing is at its very best in
California, and its climate is adapted to
every kind In every part. The grape
will grow and ripen, rich in alcohol OF
sour ike Riesling, just as you choose
TO pick your location. The orange is at
home south and north up TO 800 feet,
and, wonderful to note, the apple Will
ripen side by side with this subtropical
fruit. Olives seem destined to shade
every hillside which now gives ground
TO pines and underbrush, and peaches I
and apricots bring such wonderful re-
turns that 1t is not surprising that Eng
lish capital seeks investment BY the
million.
GOOD ADVICE. .
IF only the ground is kept cultivated
It needs no irrigation, and shoots of ten.
twelve or even fifteen feet in length on
-wo-vear-old trees are something a per t
son may see from the railroad car while
through our glorious state. {
The population of California is still S
mail. One million and quarter is all
his states census gave as the number
If inhabitants There will be homes for :
ust as many as may choose 10 come and $
work their way. The great danger is
hat the warm climate and the ease with
which the soil gives return will make
he people too lazy. The young genera
ion spTinging up at the present is not '
s energetic as their forefathers. from I
whatever country they came. Times :
ave been too easy for the old folks-if =
hey did not make any money through q
abor they did 50 IN trading and as c
asst and most important resource they Il
an fall back upon their real estate and q
urn into money what the emigrants are i
-llng 70 buy. The estates are too =
arge altogether at present, and the :
lore they are cut up the better it
I'll be- ?;
The man who comes here ought 10 r,
now trade, and be handy man al c,
round. BE should be content to work ii
u other people for a time until he gets "
10 the WAYS of this climate. "
nd he should work at the wages which =
lie trade unions have established. As p
: works for other people he has the best
1portunity TO watch his chance without
inning any risk.-Jackson (Cal.) Cor.
ardner's Chronicle. Is