The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-02-28

day in August. The sea breeze ap-
pears as regular as the sun rises, at
10 to II a. m. every day. As there is
no rain, there are no mosquitoes those
disturbers of picnics and all out door
pleasures in less favored countries.
This winter we have had an abund-
ance of rain, hence a good crop of
small grain is insured. There are no
hail, nor frosts, nor floods to disturb
and worry the Southern California
farmer afterwards. AS to the profit
of raising oranges and lemons,I would
say that it can be done.
One man in this county within sight
of the city, realized $40 per tree off of
each tree of lemons, or about $500 per
acre. These he sold within the last
four weeks. The Cook ranch of 20
acres, near town, just sold 1000 boxes
of lemons at $1.l5 per box, the pro-
ceeds of 20 acres, and has 1000 boxes
of oranges still on the trees unsold.
Five or six hundred dollars per acre
have been made last year, and this on
one acre of alfalfa hay. OF course hay
prices this year and last were excep-
tionally high on account of drouth
last year.
AS to the beauties of the climate
there can possibly be no question. For
an all the year around even climate
this land cannot be beaten. I have a
friend, an Italian, he has been here
for six months. He says we are way
ahead of Italy. Italy has rains and
storms in summer. We have none.
Summer is also hotter there than here.
We have friends here from Minneso-
ia (Mankato), who have been here for
seven years.
But then "there must be some draw
backs" is a question often asked. The
occasional droughts is one of them.
By drought is meant only the occa-
sional failure of sufficient winter rain.
The long dry summer of from eight to
nine months is not included in the
term drought as used here and is any
thing but a drawback. That feature
of the land no resident would wish to
,change. 1t is the occasional failure
of the winter rains that is the greatest
drawback. Unless sufficient for vege-
tation, summer rains would do more
harm than good by injuring the dried
feed and ripe crops. If sufficient the
land would probably be like tropical
jingle with moist air, sultry, ener-
waiting, malarious and full of mosqui-
toes and other insect torments. The
festive flea is called a drawback
by some. My own experience with
the flea is this: If you live in house
i'll kept or close, no barnsor barn yard,
the flea will be with you and will
prove himself to be great nuisance.
If you live in clean house they are
of very little trouble. I will quote T.
S. VanDyke once more: Southern
California is a land of glittering
frauds. As usual, the trash floats on
the top, the good lies beneath. Ones
first contact is apt to be with the
frauds. 1t takes longer to find out
the realities. When you stay long
enough to see them and find out that
the country is not to blame for your
overwrought imagination, the unwise
enthusiasm of friends, or the deliber-
ate lies of others, you will begin to
like it. There are so few breaks or
jars in the train of comfort,as the long
line of cloudless days roll on, appetite
and sleep hang around you so wooing-
ly in the constant out of door life,t that
you are enthralled before you know
it." I would add, in conclusion, that
day after day and month after month,
an affection for the beautiful land is
born in your soul, that you cannot
and would not resist. Yours truly,
n w Gropnr
P.S.-Mrs. Ward, Mrs. H. D. Bald
win, Miss Inez Baldwin and Harry
Ward have just arrived, and expect to
stay here for some time. G..
A. L. Mohler, general manager, and
F. E. Clarke, general superintendent
of the Minneapolis & St. Louis rail
road, made trip over the Watertown