The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-05-15
AGRICULTURAL NoTEs.

can fail to be impressed with the evi.
dences Of Astounding prosperity ON al
hands. 90 where one will, fields oil
waving grain meet ones eyes. Wheat
and barley promise to be specially abund-
ant, and much of 1t lie being cut for hay.
This 10 always aproiitable crop, although
ihe retrenched outlook for the eastern
states, as indicated by the reports for
April, should not escape the attention Of
the prudent farmer who can afford TO
hold his crop for favorable market con-
ditions. He should not, either, overlook
the fact that in England, France and
come other European countries the crops
of the cereals promise to be below the
average. The chances are great that
grain Of all kinds will command fair
figures, and perhaps exceptional ones,
during the coming year.
Great areas are this year being planted
to corn. 1t sometimes excites the won
der OF an easterner TO see the late date
at which corn is planted in Los Angeles
county. The fact is that warm nights
a. . oCoDhbihA w bnO BlOROt Duhbuiihk Vi
corn, and these seldom start in In this
section until May. But when they do
begin the corn grows with a wonderful
fecundi,y. 1t beats the gourd of the
scripturel narrative. The easterner can
traverse section OF country absolutely
bare, which shows some signs of having
been recently ploughed. He can go oyer
that came region five or six days later
and find interminsbIe rows of corn from
three to five inches high.
But this is by no means the strangest
peculiarly OF the growth of corn in Los
Angeles county. We have known of
luxuriant crops Of corn which were
raised in this county without so much
as one drop of water either in the way
of irrigation or OF rainfall during the en-
tire growing season. This would be abb
solutely impossible in any country like
Illinois or Missouri. In that portion OF
the United States there is period OF
two weeks, when, with the corn in the
tassel, if it fails to rain, the crop is en-
tirely lost. There is simply no redemp-
ton for it. OF course it is very much
better to grow corn in the rich bottom
lands Of the San Gabriel and Santa Ana
rivers, but the staple does surprisingly
we'll even on the mesas, and without ir-
rigation.
Some Of the true stories told about
corn growth in this county would be in
fallibly set down ,as California lies in
the.east. These stories naturally date
from the Monte, Downey, the Ranchita
and Gospel swamp. The latter is now
in Orange county. There is no question
about the fact that, many years ago,
stool of corn containing three stalks, the
tallest of which was 291s feet high, and
the lowest 281a feet high, we're sent up
from the Monte to the state fair at
Sacramento. Each of the stalks con-
tanned three remarkably large ears of,
corn. They were supplemented by
come of our marvellous pumpkins and
beets. The wonder they excited lasted
more than nine days. Those who are
fortunate enough to remain in Los
Angeles through the height OF the corn
season would do woll 20 Inspect thvno.
wonderful corn fields. The Monte,
Savannah, the Ranchita and the vicin-
ity of Downey City, will give him fine
field for noting growth which is in re-
atty semi-tropical for epontaniety and
luxuriance OF growth.
The advent of the Cudahy Pork pack
ing plant in Los Angeles has started an
extraordinary interest in hog rsnching.
Substantial people are everywhere going
into this business, and We have the as
sursnce of Mr.. Cudahy himself that it
cannot be overdone. Mr.. E. j. Baldwin
is selling large quantities of his lands to
persons who intend to make hog raising
a speciality. They are buying lands on
the Santa Anita, the Puente, the San
Francisquito, the San Felipe Lugo, and
pretty much everywhere, to be devoted
to this remunerative purpose. Alfalfa
lands are, OF course, to be preferred.
This nutritious clover makes an admirs-
bic iced for hogs in the preparatory
HthSops hiu all hhftb 10 huchcN 10 a llbblo
rounding off with corn.
All features of agriculture are SCORING
progress in all portions OF Los Angeles
county. The idea of diversified crops is
making Roadway, and should make
greater. Orchard planting has never
been more actively prosecuted than now,
and planters are at last beginning to
understand that the orange ought not to
receive exclusive attention but that, on
the contrary, the deciduous fruits, the
lime, and particularly the lemon. are en-,
titled to due consideration. People are
also beginning to appreciate the fac
which the writer learned from old Dor
Mateo Keller years ago, viz, that, profit
able as properly conducted oreng,
orchard undoubtedly is, q lemon orchard
is far more profitable.
Progress and its echoes, clear and un
mistskable, reach us from all sides, ant
they seem to be most clearly re- echoed
from our neighboring counties OF Sal
Bernardlno and Riverside.
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