264 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



LETTEE FROM JOSE EUBTO, OF LOS ANGELES, 



UPON THE SUBJECT OF COTTON CULTURE. 



Los Angeles, September 14th, 1865. 

 I. N. HoACx, Esq., 



Secretary State Board of Agriculture : 



Sir: — I have forwarded to your address, by Wells, Fargo & Co., a sample 

 of cotton of this 3'ear's growth, for exliibition at the State Fair. It is a 

 sample from my plantation, situate half a mile from the southern boun- 

 dary of this city, and three miles from the central business portion of it. 



There are fift}' acres under cultivation, consisting of two lots of twenty- 

 five acres each, a road passing between them. The laud is of a rich allu- 

 vial deposit, and of the first quality for cultivation. 



In the beginning of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, I com- 

 menced ploughing the land with a light plough, and then cross-ploughed 

 it, then gave it a good harrowing. 1 then laid out my lines six feet 

 apart, with cross-lines three feet apart, and planted from three to four 

 seeds in a hill, (the seed I obtained from Utah Territor}',) and covered 

 the seed about half an inch deep. All of which work I finished by the 

 latter part of the month of April. 



In the beginning of Jul}" following, the cotton had attained a height of 

 eighteen inches. At that time I ploughed it, turning the furrows towards 

 the plants. In the beginning of August last I ploughed it again in the 

 same manner. 



The plants are now from four to six feet high, and spread out so as to 

 form an almost impenetrable barrier between the rows. The bolls are 

 ripening, and opening out very rapidly, showing a good staple, as sent 

 you. I will commence picking the cotton about the twetity-fifth of this 

 month, and I estimate the j'ield Avill be about five hundred and fifty 

 pounds to the acre. 



Before ploughing I irrigated the land well, since which time I have not 

 irrigated it at all. In my opinion there is no plant that requires so little 

 water as this class of cotton. But the land must be of the best quality", 

 "with a light dry soil. I think that too much water retards the growth 

 of the plant to such a degree that the frost is liable to injure it before 

 ripening. 



My plantation is on government land, upon which I have settled, and 

 hold by actual occupation, and there are several thousands of acres 

 adjoining me on the south, equally as good, and unoccupied, v\'ell adapted 

 to the cultivation of cotton. 



I herewith submit a statement of the cost of putting in the crop, and 

 incidental expenses attending the same, up to the first of this month : 



