Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1904-01-25

| last April. Night before last perhaps
l25-1O0 Of an inch of rain fell, just
lenough to lay the dust, and the papers
lspoke of the Blessed Rain. This
is naturally a dry climate and were IT
not for the irrigation, with the
abundance of water from the Noun
tains, but little vegetation could be
grown. The gentle slopes from the
foot hills, enables truckers and fruit
growers to irrigate with but little
trouble or expense; with that, but
few places anywhere can compete
with California, especially in the
growth and cultivation of fruits.
For Southern California the orange
stands pre-eminent above every other
fruit, yet lemons, figs and prunes are
raised in abundance. / think /
would be safe in saying that there are
10000 bearing orange trees within
the city limits of Pasadena; the fruit
seems TO be safe as nobody seems to
care enough for il to take it without
leave. A ride through the country
with brother Of DR.. Lee Hoover of
south ninth street. short time ago.
gave me an idea Of the extent of the
orange crop of this locality The
dealers are fearful that the market
will be overstocked this year so they
are working it off as fast as it gets
ripe enough for market 1t is too
early for the lemon crop, the f ruit is
not yet full grown, but like the or
ange, the trees are being injured by
the San Jose Scale which, as In Indi-
ana, no fruit tree is exempt from its
destructive attack. / believe fruit
growers have given up the idea of its
determination. So far, nothing here
suits me so well as the climate, hav-
ing zero weather when | left home,
[ was unprepared at the end Of four
days to enjoy a temperature where
boys were barefooted, ladies carried
their parasols and people sat in the
open air in the city parks. Flowers,
such as roses, geraliulns, Gala lilies,
cannas, carnations and many others
are in constant bloom. The semi
tropical trees and plants attain great
size, especially the date and fan palm,
which give the yards and lawns a
beauty and grandeur not to be seen
in Wayne county.
Yesterday l visited the ostrich
farm and was well paid for doing so.
There were two hundred and fifty
eight birds varying In age from eigh-
teen years down to two months. The
superintendent, while showing us
around, remarked that the males were
neither :" Mormons nor Shakers that
when mated they were put in an en-
closure to themselves where the fe
male would lay sixteen or seventeen
eggs which required forty-one days of
incubation, the female would keep
them warm during the day and the
male during the night. A lot of
feathers and plumes are kept for
sale, some of which would make a
Knight Templar look green with
envy.
A trip to Los Angeles last week
gave me an opportunity to call on
Major Isaac Kinley, whose home is at
that place. I found him unable to
walk from stroke of paralysis. /
also called on Emma Mercer, nee Will
liams, so long a clerk in Crawford S
store ] also had the pleasure of
shaking hands with Frank Virgins,
who is doing everything apparently
that man can do in getting ready
to make California exhibit at the
st. Louis fair.
Pasadena seems to be a mecca for
tourists They come here from many
of the states to enjoy the mild climate
and to take IN the beautiful natural
scenery by which the city is sur
rounded, and, although nearly the
size of Richmond, there is not a sa-
loon IN it. / am so well pleased with
the climate, the grand mountain
scenery and the sociability of the peo-
pie that l am almost persuaded to
make it my home, especially IN the
winter season. Joseph Z. Ratliff.