The herald., 1894-01-01

the exceeding drynees of the atmos-
phere during the day. the percentage of
moisture sometimes falling as low as 27
degrees. Dry heat hurts nobody, as the
French philosopher proved long ego.
Farmers and lsborers here work in the
summers sun with the mercury at 80
and upwards, and experience no incon-
venience whatever, the perspiration
evaporating immediately and the body
| keeping cool. The variation in some
places between day and night tempera-
ture is as much as 80 or 40 degrees. But
this is not inconvenient, when it is re-
membered that at the same place the
mercury goes no higher than so degrees
in the day, and falls to so degrees in the
night, making blanket comfortable
covering. But these variations are sell
dom, and in few places.
The daily average OF the windg is from
nothing to 20 miles. The severest winds
have seldom been over 26 miles an hour.
Sometimes poorly constructed frame
buildings on slight foundations have
been blown down. Only twice, since
records have been kept, has the wind
been sufficiently strong to blow down a
fairly good house. The last time the
wind in come portions probably attained
velocity of so miles an hour, and that
in places exposed to the ''suck" of big
csfions. Sometimes 8 sandstorm comes
off the Colorado desert, inconvenient at
the time, and blows for a day or two,
but leaves the air fresh and pure. Oc-
caeionally in the summer there ia q dry
north wind that does slight damage for
day or so, and they are soon gone and
forgotten.
There are only two seasons-the wet
and the dry. Spring, summer, fall and
winter, as known on the Atlantic coart,
are unknown here. Sleigh riding and
other snow sports are known only in the
traditions OF the fathers. Blizzards. cy-
clones, tornadoes and hurricanes are
alike unknown or forgotten phenomena.
During the summer q thunder storm
occasionally con up across the Colo
rsdo desert, along the summit of the
Sierra Madre, AMI once in long while
gets down into the valleys. They are
mild storms when compared with the
electrical disturbances in the eastern
states. Such a climate, of course, rem
ders agriculture capable of the highest
degree of development. Crop follows
crop without failure, always insnred 0v
irrigation, free from destructive storms,
and in climate where the farmer can
work outdoors nearly every day in the
year. Such a favorable condition OF
climate renders unnecessary the winter
housing of stock. the annual prepara-
ton for the rigors OF winter and over
work for shelter from summer showers.
The rainless or dry season generally
lasts from April to November, although
come years it begins and ends month
earlier or later. While it prevails the
wild grasses dry up, and the earth pre-
cents parched and brown appearance.
Still the cattle down not suffer, for the
burr-cover seeds and other dried grasses,
scattered profussly everywhere, afford a
pasturage.
Practically, it is climate that is warm
in winter and cool in summer. The rain
season laets only six months. Storms
seldom last over three days at q time,
and then most of the rain falls gently in
the night. In the higher attitudes on
the mountsins the rainfall is always
heavier than on the lowlands. Hence,
after hard storm OF any extent or dura-
tion the river beds, which are usually
| dry in the summer, are often filled with
torrent. Sometimes they overflow
their banks, and the lowlands are COW
cred with small seas for short time.
Railroads occasionally suffer at such
times from washouts, and travel will be
interrupted for few hours until repairs
can be made. But foods are never very
serions, and ID is seldom that they occa-
sion loss of life.
Once in long while there is slight
earthquake shock. The hardest earth
quake took place way back in 1912,
when church tower, built Of round
cobble stones, poorly cemented, was
thrown down. This was the only shake
known here within the memory OF man
that has caused the death of any person.
But these are only few draw backs to a
climate and country which approach
perfection as near as any spot that can
be found on this old earth.
PRODUCTS.
The natural wealth of Southern Cali
fornis ia varied and great. Its climate
and rich soils are it's chief factors. Fruit,
cereal and stock farming are frat in the
order OF Importance. Petroleum,
asphalt, gold and silver mining come
next. The fisheries are considerable.
Lumber. lime, building stone, asbestos,
are valuable industries, and there is
even some tin. Manufactures are quite
numerous, but as yet do not keep pace
with the demand.
This is pre-eminently an agricultural
land. The soil is varied. On the high
lands it is chiefly decomposed granite
mixed with desiccated vegetable mat
ter, and dry and warm, the richest soil
in the world. On the lowlands it is often
debris, or q mixture OF various earthe ;
sometimes clay, again sandy loan, at
other places adobe, thick, black, heavy
soil. The lowland soils are often cold
and wet, and are subject to light frosts.
The reason Of this is a well-known me-
teorological law, that during the night
the warm air rises up along the hille and
uplands. and the cold, heavy air seeks
the level OF the lowlands. For this reason
many OF the elevated valleys never have
any irosts, and delicate vines and plants,
sdch as heliotropes, tomatoes and all
kinds of flowers grow outdoors all win
ter long.
This difference in soil and climate, OF
even few miles, guides the farmer in
planting. One section is suited to citrus
and raisin culture, another to deciduous
and cereals, and 30 on.
The agricultural products of Southern
California are as varied as are its soils
and climates. Commencing, then,
with the rain season, when the grasses
begin to grow and the grain farmer has
finished his seeding, the citrus harvest
commences and. lasts from December
until way in April. By this time many