Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-20

MAKING A GARDEN
OUT OF A DESERT
Continued from Page 19)


tation is scarcely interrupted. The alb
sence of mud is a fetaure.
AS to the heat one needs to remem-
ber that the valley has lost its desert
character, and that the traditional neat
of the Colorado region was due to the
absence of vegetation. Now green
fields and the foliage of trees are work.
ing a marvellous change. Winds are
cooled as they blow across vast helds
of irrigated grain and alfalfa, and the
heat of the sun is modified by the in
creasing foliage of plants, orchards and
road trees. When the settlers get
around to planting trees plentifully the
climatic conditions will be modified to
a still greater degree. 1t has been apt
ly said that it is the heat that makes
the money, so the population cheer
fully endures moderate discomfort for
a short time in order to ENJOY the
overbalancing rewards.
Hogs
The brown or black-sided hogs that
roam the alfalfa fields of the valley are
the source of good incomes The hog
is a natural product of the alfalfa field.
He lives from birth until from three
to six weeks before shipping time, in
the open field, gaining his livelihood
with great success from the succulent
plant.
No cholera or other destructive dis
ease has ever made an appearance
among the hogs of the valley. The av-
erage price realized from the hog mar
ket for 1908 has so far been ga cents
per pound, f. o. b. at any point in the
valley. The demand for Imperial val
ley hogs in the Los Angeles market
has been steady and insistent. NO
fLrmer has had any trouble in dispos-
ing of his herds. When the hog is
about to be shipped he is put on grain
hi fDt &c V
1t is conceded that hogs are more
cheaply raised in this district than in
the east. Sheltering sheds of an eX-
pensive nature are not necessary, ana
the herds are small care as long as the
alfalfa is growing, and that is all the
time.
Poultry
On every farm can be seen healthy
broods of chickens and turkeys that
are being prepared for home use and
for the outside market. Turkey ranches
spot the valley The huge birds thrive
upon the alfalfa fields, and with little
care arrive at Thanksgiving time in
such a condition that they bring the
fanciest of prices in Los Angeles. The
demand for poultry in the Southern
California market has never been sat
istied by local production, and the op-
portunty for poultry fanciers to find
ideal conditions for their business
awaits their arrival in this valley.
Dairy Interests
This is also, indeed, a land of milk
and dairy products The man who
has a herd of good mixers has mint.
His alfalfa, the great food of the field
animals, keeps the cattle in fine condi-
ton, the butter fat equaling in per-
centage the highest of any section of
California. AS this is written dairy
firm is posting a notice to ranchers that
it is paying SO cents per pound for but
ter fat. This means comfortable IN
come for the man who understands the
business. A quarter section of alfalfa,
with a herd of mixers, means absolute
independence for the rancher, and
there is no more ideal section of Cali
fornia for the business than the I'M
perial valley.
Alfalfa
To touch upon the great field food,
alfalfa. 1t grows the year round is
moved for hay the year round or fed
to stock the year round. From six to
ten cuttings a year can be made for
hay. Last year hay in the bale went
to $50 a ton, and many a dollar was
salted down by the thrifty farmers
who had stack after stack of hay to
spare. At the average price, however,
as low as SO or so a ton, this is
money making crop.
Alfalfa furnishes food for horses.
cattle, poultry, bees, hogs, and, ground
into meal, is available and valu bl7
stock food at all seasons. In this val
ley it is the staple product of the farm.
Cranes and Oranoes