The herald., 1893-10-29

1
of the climate (for that, as an exper
from South Africa told me
is remarkably like that q
the ostrich's home), but be
\ cause fashion is obdurate. But the Cal
1 with the reflection that il one thin
fails to flourish on his 20-acre ranch, b,
can try another; and il he is wise b,
will not put all his faith in one crop
but will cultivate variety, go as to b,
independent of weather and season. II,
can market oranges from December tt
June, apricots from June to August
peaches from August to September ) il
October walnuts, prunes, plums, figs
and till January grapes--to give only {
few samples. | may suhjoin some speci
mems of profits made last year in Or
ange county-fgures for the accuracy O
which | can vouch: One go acre ranch
(orsngee and walnuts) yielded SIS, 100
One man obtained $3.50 from single
acre OF orange trees. A walnut orchard
OF 80 acree, only 10 acres in full bearing
brought $500. Twenty five acres of ap
ricots averaged about 500 per acre: five
acres OF peaches brought net $400; 1C
acres of pampas plumes netted $3.50
one acre OF lemons 1925; one acre oil
alfalfa (six cuts a year, brought $ll2.
With all this evidence OF prosperity
the traces OF the foolish ''boom" OF five
or six years ago have not yet entirely
vanished. For instance, the direct rail-
road from Cotton to San Diego is not
now running. In various towns, too, as
in National City, one notes buildings
half finished at that time, and still half
finished. Poor Tia Juana, the Border
town between the United States and
Mexico, has been almost entirely de-
molished by food, which left only
three or four shanties standing besides
the custom house. Its only visible
source OF income is from the dsily car
load of tourists from San DIEGO who
may eat lunch or buy few cufioe. On
the other hand. San Diego and its tins'
Coronado hotel on the sandy peninsula
wear an air OF prosperity.
Let him who believes that Southern
California is too warm for comfort in
summer epend a week at Coronado and
he will change his mind abruptly. In
three June days we found the noon
temperature of the air 6S 66, GA good
average-while the ocean was 81 and
the bay water rs. Summer mornings at
Coronado are apt to be foggy and mel
ancholy, the evenings balmy and de-
lightful. Coronado, too, is free from
dust, the great summer nuisance OF
California. Los Angeles. not being quite
go near the ocean, is less tempting in
summer than in winter, but its streets
always present busy appearance, and
many fine bullnings, including two
lAlf obi Efne hnYr ia
in the last few years. And if you
will take the Temple street cable car
you may see on II fve-mile ride many
ideal sites for summer and winter
villa. A town to be avoided in sum
mer lie Pasadena, except as q sta
ton on the way up to Mt. Lowe or Mt.
Wilson on the mountain railroad. which
is now being built, and which promises
TO be great scenic attraction. We
found not even q construction car run
ming, and had to pass hot and dreary
day in Pasadena, which is q paradise in
winter, but the opposite in summer.
The fine Raymond hotel is then closed,
and the only urban hotel open is SO
strictly Temperance" that you canno,
get even mineral water or lemonade !;
this in a parched prohibition town, the
water of winch is criticised in the daily
papers for impurity.
When the people of Pasadena or Los
Angeles feel uncomfortable in summer.
they 20 for few days or weeks TO Santa
Catalina island, 2S miles off the coast,
where it is never too warm in sum
mer or too cold in winter,
the climate, in fact, being pretty
much the same all the year round, al
though the absence OF rain in summer
makes the amphitneaSric mountains. OF
which the island is built, change in hue
from green to yellow and gradually to
brown. Catalina shows more signs of
progress than any other resort of South
ern California. When | first visited it
i'll 1855 steamers ran only ones a week,
and there was only one hotel; now
there is a daily steamer (Which touches
at all the rival harbors of Los Angeles), 4,
half a dozen hotels, and last summer
there was a tent population OF 5000 at
Avalon, Cetalina's harbor. A tunnel
has been made to the next caiion or
bay, and new paths laid out, including
the plans OF stage road to the 18TH
mus, while fence ia to be
built separating the island into
two sections. on one of which
the sheep are to be herded, while in
the other wild goats may again be
hunted. 1t would be we'll, however, if
the present law forbidding all shooting
on the island were kept enforced perma.
nently. Irreparable damage has already
been done by the greedy wretches who,
for the cake OF a few inches OF pretty
down, have killed off the hundreds of
al ht toh Hn
exotic appearance of the island. The
fishing is so good and varied here that it
ought to give sufficient vent to all
sportsmen's cravings. They can sit st
breakfast watching 81 dozen seals driving
before them school Of flying fish making
q frantic endeavor to escape from their
voracious pursuers, or men on the
wharf hauling in the gamey 20 or 80
pound yellowtails.
If you prefer nature to sport, nowhere
than in Catalina can YOU more eaeily
and in lees time walk into such an abao-
Lutte and picturesque wilderness, up a
Gallon adorned with pools and cascades,
varied shrubs and surprising floral
beauties. Not the least attractive of
these is the cactus, which in June still
has some of its large yellow blossome,
while the beautiful red and juicy fruit,
with it's agreeable acid flavor, begins to
ripen. Last year these cactus plants
proved very useful to the islanders. The
rain had been insufficient, and for
months wat and food were scarce but
the cattle were saved by burning the
thorns off the cactus leaves and using
them as food. There is spoonful of juice
in q square inch of cactus; were it not