STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 259 



AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 



By SOLOMON W. JEWETT, of Tulare County. 



The resources of Southern California, derived from agriculture, stock 

 raising, and mining, are soon to become quite extensive. Those portions 

 which are feasible for general cultivation are being worked to some 

 extent, but the field is yet large, the soil rich, and water in supply for 

 large settlements of farmers and planters. We have reference more par- 

 ticularly to the southern portion of Tulare and the eastern part of Los 

 Angeles Counties. But a small portion of the United States Government 

 and State swamp lands are as yet under improvement, which lie all 

 along from King's Kiver to Kern River and El Tejon Creeks, a distance 

 of one hundred and sixty miles. Many sections are well adapted for 

 tillage. 



It is generally conceded that the farm lands bordering upon Kern 

 River and its branches are the most fertile and pi'oductive. They are 

 not exceeded, or perhaps equalled, in any other portion of the State of 

 California north of this point. The soil is generally a dark brown allu- 

 vial deposit, which has been forming for ages past, by the ovei-flow of 

 Kern river. The soil is therefore deep; roots of annual plants penetrate 

 the same many feet in depth. It is easily cultivated, and produces in 

 abundance whatever the husbandman desires to cultivate. Here the 

 tobacco plant is easily produced; ears of corn may be seen standing nine 

 feet from the ground ; Chinese sugar cane still higher; Tennessee and 

 other kinds of cotton grows from four to five feet, and will produce from 

 three to five hundred pounds to the acre of clean cotton, properly culti- 

 vated ; small grains (cereals) produce well; beans are a sure crop; pea- 

 nuts will often yield five hundred bushels to the acre; southern sugar 

 cane and the castor bean flourish; the best kind of soil and climate "for 

 the fig tree; peaches and grapes are grown here; squashes and melons 

 produce well, and with little or no attention. In fact, a small field will 

 support a family, with little care or labor. 



One of the main checks to an early settlement is sickness among the 

 settlers. This season has been noted for fevers ; chills and a^nie have been 

 uncommonly prevalent in the low lands. Among the stock ranches near 

 and in the foothills, it is always healthy, as well as at El Tejon. Kern 

 Island, so called, is formed by a divide in the river as it emerges from the 



