Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-02
PROMISE OF A PHENOMENAL AGRICUL-
TURAL SEASON.

IUhAL SbASON'
Never in forty-three years of OBJ
servation OF California seasons have we
seen q brighter prospect for magniti-
cent agricultural year than is now pre-
sented. Everybody knows that sue.
cessful farming season does not SO much
depend upon the voluminousness Of the
winter rainialls as upon their timeliness
of visitation. Early heavy rains are
usually to be feared, especially when
they are followed, as they are likely to
be, with long intervals of dry weather.
Nor are heavy rains accompanied by a
cold atmosphere and strong winds gen.
orally beneficial. These are usually
characterized by squalls, and although a
tremendous volume of water may fall
in short time, it nearly always finds
its way to the ocean before it has con-
tributed to enrich the ground. Such
storms result in sudden freshets, doing
great deal of harm to q very small
amount Of good.
The most beneficial rains we have in
this state are such as come at the oppor-
tune time, and are accompanied with
mild atmosphere. If they are spread
out over number of days, the volume
of water falling is not OF so much con-
sequence as the mildness of the weather,
for then it falls gently over the whole
face Of nature and sosks into the ground,
starting vegetation everywhere and leav-
ing the soil in soft and mellow con-
dition that renders it tractable to the
plow.
The present rains have come at the
very nick of time, neither too early nor
too late. They have fallen everywhere
with great evenness and have gone
where they were most needed. No por-
ton OF them has been wasted. The
atmosphere has been warm and helped
to make the soil Of a temperature con-
genial to the fructifying properties of
the moisture. We already see on our
hills and mesas tie evidence of the
great good the rains are accomplishing.
Everywhere the succulent alfilerilla is
sprouting rapidly, and in few days the
whole face of the open country will
change from brown dust-color to beau
tiiul and reposeful emerald. We may
well say that nature is now spreading
her green carpet to welcome the open
ing of q most promising season of hus-
bandry.
AS soon as the pearly drops have
ceased TO fall and the bright sheen OF
sunshine has returned to kiss the iocund
earth, the farmers will bring out their
p!ows ard break up their broad acres
ready to receive the prolific seed. They
will work with a will, for they will feel
that the promise which gives zeal and
piquancy to their labor is of the most
encouraging character. They will work,
not as men work who are taking des-
perate chance, but as they do when they
feel that their labor is to reap rich re-
ward. This general good feeling will re-
suit in the breaking up for seeding OF
the largest acreage ever plowed in
southern California. With the ordinary
rainfall we may confidently look to have
he rest of the winter, we may count up
N this beng the most successful agri-
cultural season ever knownin this lower
The orange crop that is now maturing
will also be greatly benefited by the
aims that have so opportunely come.
They will enrich the soil with their
and the fruit will be improved
n size and flavor. The deciduous or
;hards and the vineyards will show in
heir next fruition the benefits OF this
visitation.
But the blessing we are receiving
loes not stop in its bounty at the assur-
,nce OF good year for husbandry. The
;opious rains, from the gentle way in
ghich they descend upon the earth, will
sink into and fill up the subterranean
reservoirs, which had become nearly
exhausted from the scant rainfall OF last
year and the increased tax upon them of
the new irrigation schemes that have
been started, as well as from the greatly
demand for water consequent
lpon the rapid settling mp OF the coun-
ry. The whole state has received a
priceless blessing, but no part of it has
oeen go exceptionally favored by this
splendid rain visitation as Southern
California.