Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
IDEAL COUNTRY LIFE
IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA

Many Americans who have become
weary of the constant struggle for ex-
istence in mercantile pursuits. a strug-
gle which is growing more onerous
from year to year, cherish a longing
for a small farm in some pleasant Sec
ton of the country, where, under sunny
skies, they may support their families
in comfort, and end their days in peace
without being disturbed by the shadow
of the sheriff or the poorhouSe.
There is no section of the United
States in which this ideal may De so
we'll realized as in Los Angeles county.
In no other section can an acre or land
be made to yield products OF so great
value. Here may be found beautlful
rural homes, whose owners are within
touch of social life, and enjoy the best
features of the city and country COM
bned.
There is a great variety Of soil. as
we'll as of climate, in Los Angeles coun-
ty, varying from light sandy loan 10
heavy adobe. The price of land also
varies greatly, ranging from 500 to 800
an acre for lands adapted to grain, hay
and decduous fruits, without 1rrlga-
ton, up to $3.50 or $500 an acre for hrst-
class citrus land, with an ample water
right To most people from the states
east of the mountains these prices Will
appear high, but 1t should be remem-
bered that land is worth what II VIII
nav interest on In this case, irrigated
land at $3.50 ar acre is often relatively
cheaper than unirrigated land at $30
an acre, which will only raise grain
and hay, and not even that when there
happens to be q drought There are
bearing orange groves In Southern CAL
ifornia that pay good interest on $ZoVo
an acre. 1t must be understood, now
ever, that it requires considerable time
and money not to speak of experience,
to bring them to this point of product
iveness. -
LAND ON EASY TERMS
Land may be purchased in Los Ange-
les county on easy terms. Many I'M
proved places, with bearing orchards
and comfortable houses, are always Ola
the market, there being here. as else
where, considerable number OF clti-
Zens who are never content to stay very
long in one place. even though that
place be as near perfection as can be
found on earth. -Hor those who have
the means, 1t is often more advisable
to purchase one of these improved
places than to buy raw land and i'm
prove 1t.
The subject of irrigation is one that
troubles many eastern people who think
of coming to settle in California, to
judge from the inquiries received. A
mistaken idea prevails to some extent
in the east that farming Is only carried
on in Los Angeles county by irri-
CATION, and that without 1t crops would
be a failure. For all grains and WIN
ter crops irrigation is not employed.
Corn is irrigated in some localities, be-
ing a summer crop, but is successfully
grown in many places without irriga-
ton, JJpon some lands after crop
raised without irrigation has been mar
vested another is raised by means or
irrigation. On irrigated land two or
three crops year are frequently raised
The advantages OF irrigation are SO
manifest as not to need discussion.
With an artificial supply of water the
farmer is rendered independent OF the
seasons rain, while the product OF his
land Is enormously increased.
NO BIG FARMS
One of the surprises to new arrivals
in this section is the small amount or
land that Is needed to support a lam
ily. It Is a fact that many families IN
Los Angeles county not only make
good living on FIVE acres. or even less.
of irrigated land, carefully titled, but
also manage to lay something by every
year for a rainy day In such cases the
farmer raises most of the food prod
nets that are consumed by himself, his
family and his stock, and always has
something to sell when he comes TO
town. Ten acres are, in fact, about
all that one man and his family can
attend to, If worked to their full ca
pacity. but when a settler begins to
depend on hired help, the profits natu-
rally decrease. Fruit trees can be
planted on the land, between them
small fruits, and then again Vegetables,
until the trees become too large. I'm
der such circumstances there is con-
stant succession Of crops.
A favorite method of settling land IN
Southern California. which offers many
advantages, is the colony system.
These colonies are made up, either here
or in the east, among persons who are
acquainted with each other generally
being residents Of the same section.
Each settler owns his ten, twenty or
more acres Independently, but by pur-
chasing the land at wholesale, in a
block. great saving can be effected.
The settlers can also cooperate in pur-
chasing supplies, piping water, can
ming, drying and otherwise preserving
fruit, making olive oil and marketing
their products. Besides all this, they
have the advantage of social life from
the start, with schools, churches,
library store, postofIice, etc, which
otherwise might be long in coming.
They do not feel like strangers in
strange land" and their land will in
crease in value twice as fast as 1t
would were it settled in desultory
manner. Many 1ourishing towns start
ed thus.
The development of the horticultural
Industry in Los Angeles county during
the past few years has been remark
able. The most important horticultural
product of the county Is the orange.
Other fruits raised in Los Angeles
county are the lemon, almond, fig,