The Ordway new era., 1914-02-06
Cantaloupes Beat
Orange Growing
Considering Prices of Lands
This is True, Writes
D. c. Roberts


an interesting letter. herewith pub
lished, in which he gives an excellent
description OF the rose pageant Ia
Pasadena. The letter follows:
"On, New Years day we stood In
the front line of u column five to seven
persons deep and stretching along the
streets OF Pasadena for miles. How
many there were in line l cannot
guess-for over two hours, taking In
the sights as they ''floated" by, floats
of every conceivable shape, repre-
senting my thology. history, art. bust
ness, clubs, etc, private displays and
finally ending with the usual clown.
All We'd In originating new displays,
but all were unit In the rose as the
decoration. There were red roses.
white roses, and roses of every con
ceivable shade, stacks and festoons OF
them. until their perfume lay like
mist over the city.
"As this was their tweuty-nfth an
nual flower parade 6f January l, ef-
fort was made to eclipse all other pa
geants. IL Is said OF Pasadena that
10 is the wealthiest city in the world
of It's size, and one must believe this
after witnessing such great display.
To illustrate this / will mention
white peacock among the branches OF
an immense tree on one float, purely
an artistic display. The tail was
made OF lilies OF the valley. and the
body OF pure white roses, This was
private display gotten up by one OF
Lucky" Baldwin's daughters at
an expense Of $4,000 The length OF
this bird was no less than fifteen
feet.
"Another beautiful display was OF
an immebse~b basket. apparently D0S-i
Ing along OF It's own accord, as the
cbauffer and wheels we're entirely con-
cealed. This was tlled with red poin-
settias and gray dusty miller. The
dimensions OF this basket was about
ten feet high and twenty feet long.
1.-The unique feature OF these rose
pageants Is that they occur at time
when hot house flowers are scarce
and expensive But their abundance
and quality convinces one that these
people spare no expense for success"
or course California is the land OF
flowers even in mid winter, but they
are not 10 their prime then, and one
must consider that 1t takes a whole
lot OF roses to decorate n parade five
or six miles long. In comparison
this display with the pageant or festi.
vale OF roses that is held annually 10
Portland. Ore, 10 June. one must con-
slider the time as an important ele-
ment. Roses, roses every where, and
for days afterwards roses were used
TO decorate the homes. aud the yards
could be seen full Of them.
There has been lots OF rain and no
mail WAS received today on account OF
.wast.outs. We have been here thirty
days and have only been able TO take
the car out OF the garage five or six
times, not on account OF mud for the
roads are paved, but who wants TO
ride even amung ora nge groves, with
a curtain drawn closely to avoid the
soakings.
Our temporary staying place Is here
at Claremont, a college town Of about
1900 people, seat Of Pomona College. a
similar Institution to that OF Colora.
do College, and about the same size.
We are located In the center OF the
great citrus belt, near Redlands, Riv.
erside, Ontario, Pomona. Glendale,
and other towns. One may ride
miles and miles and miles through
this belt, fifteen miles wide and sew
enty miles long, and see nothing but
orange trees bending to the
ground, or prupped up. Every tree
has smudge pot under 1t, and some
two OF them, for last year their fruit
crop, worth fifty millions of dollars,
was frozen. This year they estimate
a. .0OO car loads OF unusually fine fruit
will be raised, as the frost time has
passed and the rains are keeping them
fresh and plump. They are hoping In
this way to hold them for the late
market when the Florida oranges are
gone.
Orange land Is very high In price.
A good bearing, full grown grove,
eight to ten years old sells for from
o.. 900 to %. 900 per acre. but l see no
way 10 which the owner can make II
pay interest on the Investment. These