it 
SEM I- TROPIC CA L f FOR.YE I. 
SEM 1 -TROPIC 
CALIFORNIA, 
ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY. 
Decoted to Agil'iilture, Hortimtiurt, and the DoseU 
opment of Southern California. 
Term*: SI.SO iter .1 muon. In Advance. 
■ Office, Rooms 1 * 88, Bakbh Block. 
Aililrp**, - • HEO. RICE, Los Angeles, Cnl. 
GEORGE RICE, 
SECRETARY 8. SAM FORK [A ITOICTJCl! LT CII At. Wir’Y, 
E<11 tor and Manager, 
With this ni; si unit we commence our 
fourth volume, assured by the past that our 
future is a bright one. 
Daring the past year wo have done 
double duty—first, as an organ of the Im¬ 
migration Bureau, and second, in the inter¬ 
est of horticulture in Southern California. 
We name horticulture second for the rea¬ 
son that The Semi-Troth: was originally 
intended to do a strictly immigration work, 
and it was a secondary consideration that 
we absorbed the Soul/tern OirJifurriin Hor¬ 
ticulturist. 
The demands on us for a horticultural or 
an agricultural paper are so Imperative that 
wc shall devote considerable space and time 
to these topics hereafter. 
We have made arrangements with many 
of the foremost and rmml practical men and 
women of Southern California to write arti 
cles for our pages— artifeloa from a pructi 
cal standpoint, containing information ac¬ 
quired by years of experience oil the IV 
oific coast. 
Is there a farmer, large or small, in .South¬ 
ern California but can be benefited by (In¬ 
experience of others? 
Wc are sure every one should be a sub 
•Briber to a paper that is intended for him, 
and wc ask every reader whoso oyca fall 
upon this article lo subscribe, and' to per 
auodc Ida neighbor to do likewise. 
Help increase the circulation of the 
Semi-Tiioimi', and so increase its power of 
benofitting you. 
Subscribe tune. 
See the special offer in next column to 
subscribers. Attend to it at once, and get 
your neighboi to do likewise, 
OUB GREETING. 
I We wish our readers a merry Christmas 
and a happy New Year I Thrcn years ago 
the Horticulturist c amc into existence; one 
year ago it was merged into the Skmi- 
T 1101 * 11 ) Camforhia; to-day we feel the 
plctismil privilege of being a welcome 
guest In many a household, and that our 
cordial good will ia responded to by many 
who bear towards us sentiments of real 
gratuity. 
Many arc they who have left the cold, 
and bleak North and East to enjoy our 
beautiful climate, and who have made 
homos among us. in these homes we are 
assured of a hearty response to our Christ¬ 
mas greetings. 
It is very encouraging to have so many 
corgratulutions from our horticulturists for 
the work wo have done in pointing out the 
moi.fr successful methods, aa well as the 
mistakes made, in agriculture and horti¬ 
culture. 
The Doming year is destined to be one of 
unusual prosperity. The tide of immigra¬ 
tion is setting in; our seasons have been 
good, and we look forward to a year of 
“peace and plenty." 
“Hard times” will be the refruin of the 
“hard case" who refuses to labor, and can 
not always cal the bread of idleness; while 
the true energetic American citizen, who 
uses hia talents, will of necessity prosper. 
So once more, with oft repeated wishes 
for your prosperity and happiness, and with 
our warm assurances of good will und hap¬ 
py cheer, wc wish our patrons, friends, and 
everybody, a luorry Christmas and a happy 
New Year, 
SPECIAL GRAND OFFER. 
Wc have bought ami paid for cum bun¬ 
dled dollar*’ worth of garden and flower 
needs, from tho Mohawk Valley seed gar 
den.*, of which wc will give one <loihirf 
'CorlA to each of the first one hundred nub 
scribom who leulit us % I We will al-.. 
giro nur premium man (retail pri 
to each subscriber, l’o sum ui 
ce #"l.itO) 
wc will 
give 
The Skui-Thohc I’ai,,, 1 vest , 
• 1.50 
Map id Gab, N«v , Arornna, etc.. 
. I.fttl 
Heeds (your choice from Catalogur 
, . 1.00 
Total,. 
All for (#1.60) one dollar and fifty 
cents. 
l nil on or address, 
GKO. It It ’E. 
I.o# Amiri * 
«. Cxi. 
(Room 1, Baker Block.) 
A NisWRHf to cunvspnndeneo wi 
1 be one 
of the features of our paper hereafter. 
Bend in your questions. 
SIXTH DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCI¬ 
ATION. 
tinder the able management of Messrs. 
.1. E. Hollenbeck, Gov. Downey, O. W. 
Childs, J. F. BarreUo and I,. J. Rose, of 
the Board of Directors, the S : xlh District 
Agricultural Association i» a success. The 
Society owns the beautiful Agricultural 
Park, worth at least # 20 , 000 , and freed 
from all incumbrance, besides cash on hand 
for contingencies and premiums at future 
fain*. That the Society's affairs will be 
judiciously managed by tins above named 
gentlemen no one will doubt. The re- 
mnining members of the Board, residing at 
a distance, cannot, of course, give much 
time to the local management of the affairs 
of the Society. We believe the intercut* 
of Southern California can best be served 
by the harmonious working of the two 
Societies (the Agricultural and Horticul¬ 
tural). 
The Agricultural Society should do as it 
did last year— make an exhibit of fine slock, 
and, by tho proper use of the finest rare 
track in the State, encourage the raising of 
thoroughbred and fast horses in our own 
locality. 
There is abundant field of usefulness lor 
both Societies, which, in our option, would 
bo cramped am) hit dered were the two 
united. 
LOCAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Wn consider a local society ■ necessity 
to every neighborhood that would make 
progress in ila work, li ia at the meeting* 
of bikiIi organization* that an exchange of 
experiences benefit* each member. The 
active, energetic Fruit Growers' Associa¬ 
tion of Riverside ia the foundation of the 
peculiar success uf that locality. It is 
through the influence of there societies that 
pimple are educated to important methods 
of action. There ia iiu need of any man 
b>aiiig his Identity aa a fruit grower by 
having common method* of action with 
others. One thing is certain, we cannot 
exterminate any common peat that may 
attack our fruit growing interest* without 
united action, and tilts may be beat secured 
by means of local societies. 
We venture tho assertion that no man is 
#o thoroughly well posted in his fanning 
operations but that lie can learn new and 
advantageous things from such a society. 
Many new men in the t>usm*M are planting 
orchards and vinryirda, and they should 
have the benefit uf the experience of those 
who have been fruit grow era for veara. 
It is th« experience of every man who 
