The record-union., 1893-04-29
AN EASTERN VISITORS OPINION
Of California as Desirable Place for
Home-Seekers.
What He Learned After a Thorough
Investigation of Farming and
horticultural Methods.

A gentleman named James Knapp
Reeve, an Eastern visitor, wrote the fol-
lowing letter to the New York Indepe,ad
ent, which appeared in the issue of March
%. 1893, and, as it intelligently states the
agricultural condition of California, the
board thought it worthy of republication
for distribution. 1t contains the views of
an unbiased and observing visitor.
Attention is called 10 the opportunities
he suggests for new fields of industry,
such AS the cultivation of flowers and
bulbs, an occupation especially suited for
women. In Mendocino County a gentle
man is engaged in the profitable cultiva-
tion of native and wild bulbous plants.
The cultivation of flowers for essences is
suggested.
THE AGRICULTURE OF CALIFORNIA.
Everybody knows that California is a
famous fruit country. But the magni-
tude of the agricultural industries OF the
State and the diversity of them, and the
varying conditions under which they are
pursued are not so well understood.
There are few products grown within
the whole area of the United States which
oAO hOO B4ONi lulu upOu d
scale, and a few things are produced here
and otanywhere else within our borders.
From the Oregon boundary on the north
which is upon about the same parallel
of latitude as Boston-to the Mexican
boundary on the south is long way, and
glance at this fact alone shows sufficient
cause why the State should be climat-
ically adapted to so wide a variety of pro-
ductions.
The territorial magnitude of the State,
however, is one Of the least of the reasons
for this. Within single degree of lati-
tude one may find here almost any eli
mate, great range of soils and elevations
varying from the sea level to great
mountain peaks. In a journey of few
hours one may pass from LANDS of sun
to lands of snow" from rose gardens and
orange groves in full bloom and fruit to
region where the vegetation is almost
Arctic in character. In midwiuter one
may bask in sunshine and verdure, and
il midsummer be famed by snow
cooled breezes.
The cultivation of citrus fruits and the
growing of beef cattle are about as widely
opposite as any two branches of agricult-
ure. A land adapted to one is not often
well suited to the other. But here l have
found both practiced upon an extended
scale and under tiourishing conditions
within an hours journey. About San
Diego are extensive orange and lemon
groves, and from the fact that planting
there continues upon large scale, pre-
sumo the industry is remunerative. Point
Iona is an abrupt promontory, jutting
into the sea upon the northern side of
San Diego Bay. Upon this peninsula a
company is now arranging to plant very
large lemon groves. Going a little far
ther north, where the Southern California
Railroad winds within sound of the sea,
and yet within sight of Point Iona,
great herds of cattle are grazing in the
rich alfalfa fields.
such sight as this is seldom seer;
hundreds OF cattle grazing where the
ocean almost bathes their feet, and yet
their pasturage more rich and ample and
lasting, the conditions of their sustenance
vastly more economical, than in our
vaunted Eastern river valleys. Another
contrast in the agriculture here is the op-
portunity afforded for men of varying
means and diverse tastes. In the first in
stance
THE LITTLE FRUIT FARM,
Costing at the outset few hundred dol
lars, and brought to maturity by a few
years of patient and intelligent care,
illustrates one extreme. And in passing
let me say that l know of nothing more
enticing i'll the whole range of the agricult-
ural life than this. Such farm is in truth
garden. The home is embowered in fruits
and flowers, and the very labor which
is mainly directed toward securing profit
from the soil, ministers at the same time
to every cultivated and esthetic sense.
The manual labor required is as slight as
could be possible in any employment
where manual labor is at all demanded.
The occupation is healthful, is not exact
ing in the way of requiring severe or con-
stant labor, and when intelligently fol-
lowed, even these few acres give at least
the certainty of a comfortable livelihood
Often they give much more, yielding a
handsome surplus each year, while the
farm itself grows steadily in value.
THE OPPOSITE OF THIS PICTURE
Is found in the great wheat and cattle
ranches. These are the enterprises of the
capitalist. Upon the former thousands of
acres are cultivated to single crop.
There are vast bodies of land not cut into
fields, unbroken by fences, where the fur
row may be run almost from sun to sun.
Upon some of these the cultivation of
wheat has been reduced almost to an ex-
act science, the cost of producing the
grain brought to minimum. The opera
tions of cutting, threshing and sacking
grain are all performed as one by inn
mense machines. There is no useless
labor, not even that of hauling and ware
housing the grain. The harvest and the
months which Immediately follow it are
the dry season, when there is perfect inn
munity from transforms, SO that the
sacks of wheat are merely piled in the
field to await convenient time for haul
ing to the railroad and shipping away.
Against such methods the small East
ern producer can hardly compete; and,
were it not that emigration and develop
ment tend more toward horticultural
lines (as atfording the opportunity for
greater profit; these great wheat farms
would be serious menace to the small
farmer. AS it is, the wheat production is
in the neignborhood of forty million
bushels annually, and yet California is
not especially known as a wheat-growing
State.
CATTLE RANCHING
Is even more business wholly for the
capitalist than is wheat farming 70 IL
lustrate this L need only say that negotia-
tions are now pending for the sale of a
large ranch in the central part of the
State, the consideration being 81, 800, 900.
1 have said that there is as much oppor-
tunity for men of diverse tastes as for
men of different means.
The cultivation of perfume flowers is
the very refinement of agricultural in
dustry, the jewelry of horticulture, the
ideal occupation among all occupations of
the soil. At Los Gatos a perfume-fiower
farm is in successful operation, and-all
honor to the seX-is conducted by a
woman. At Santa Ana ten acres of land
have recently been purchased for like
use. That the industry will become one
OF great importance can hardly be oues-
toned by any who have seen the profuse
bloom here throughout the year. 1t is
also stated, but upon how good authority
l have not yet been able to determine,
that the roses grown upon this coast con-
tain 20 per cent. more volatile essence
than those OF the far-famed perfume
flower district OF France. Allied to this
are such industries as speciaIties in
flower and bulb culture. At Santa Ana