-OM AND H'A— 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST. 
Vol. IV. 
LOS ANGELES, CAL., NOVEMBER, 1881. 
No. 11. 
jUjttctiHttc*. 
WOKK FOR THI8 MONTH. 
Although (he blending of (lie months 
into each other is so softly marked in 
Southern California, that without an occa¬ 
sional reference to the Almanac, one would 
hardly realize the month in which he was 
living, still to a close observer every change 
of rnoon brings a change of work. Every 
wide-awake, intelligent farmer understands 
that such is the case, still a sort of ijuiet in¬ 
difference is so apt to possess some of them, 
no doubt, a modest reminder that Certain 
things should now receive attention, will 
serve as a stimulant in the right direction. 
The summer is gone, and cool nights with 
scattering clouds remind ns that we art- 
nearing another winter with occasional 
light frosts, rain storms, and a general tem¬ 
perature of fifteen or twenty degrees below 
that of the summer. Has the poultry such 
quarters as the abovo conditions of climate 
would demand? An air tight, underground 
hen house may be required for the culd 
northern latitudes, but not so here. How¬ 
ever, tlte house hero should be so construct¬ 
ed that the fowls nan roost well up from 
the ground, the roof should be perfect, and 
at least part of the house, that on the wind¬ 
ward side, should be closely inclosed. Two 
Or three days’ labor, a few two by-four 
scantling, a half dozen bunches of shakes, 
two or three pounds of nails, and a low 
stray boards which wu find lying around 
here and there, will give the poultry a house 
that will keep thorn warm, dry and healthy, 
and without doubt they will marc than re¬ 
pay the extra labor and expense in the 
larger quantity of eggs which they will 
produce during the winter. Other domes¬ 
tic animals should likewise be given good, 
warm, comfortable quarters. 
It is a oruol and u vioinus habit to tie a 
hard- worked horse to the end of a sixty- 
foot ropo at the close of day to gather what 
Im call within said circumference, and to 
take the chances of u rainstorm before 
morning. Interest is so low now, rather 
than turn stock out to take the chances of 
the weather, wo would almost advise the 
farmer to go into debt one or two hundred 
dollars in order to secure these improve¬ 
ments. Very often, however, temporary 
shelter is only a question of a few days' 
labor, other requisites being at hand, but 
the dreud to begin loads into procrastina¬ 
tion and the next winter’s cold falls upon 
the unprotected stock because of this pas¬ 
sive indifference. 
In building a barn the farming tools 
should be given a wing or some large room, I 
and whenever tools arc not in actual use 
they should be found in this room, out of the ! 
sun, dew, rains and other changes of the ] 
weather. Hundreds of dollars ure lost an -1 
Dually by allowing plows, harrows, culti¬ 
vators, etc., to fall to pieces in the sun. 
The cost of building a burn would booh In- 
saved in these wastes alone: besides, think 
of the comfort and convenience which it 
would afford. 
Now, then, suppose we examine the 
dwelling house; not that wu expect to find 
a large amount, of architectural beauty, a 
thing that would be deeicedly out of plan- 
in a quiet farm house, but to see if the 
building will keep out tbo coIJ wind and 
rain this winter. To begin with, the chim 
ney is defective, and when the wind blows 
from a certain quarter the stove smokes so 
that everybody is driven from the mom. 
On the first warm day, lifter the morning 
house-work is done, investigate that chim¬ 
ney, clean it out, put a lew more bricks on 
the top, carry the top above the peak of the 
house—don’t neglect this; there will be 
some cold, windy evenings this winter 
when the family will want to sit around u 
good, warm tiro. 
Here and them we see daylight through 
the roof; a few shingles will remedy that, 
the hot summer's siin has warped uimo of 
the siding and battens out of place, rain 
will easily find its wily through unless a few 
nails are brought into requisition. So much 
for buildings, which is altogether too brief, 
arid now for the farm. If you have an or¬ 
phan!, certainly you will stop working the 
soil in it ut once. This should have beau 
said a month or six crock* ago, if deciduous 
fruits, probably nothing should have been 
done after tile’first of Septa-in her. After 
the summer’s growth and fruitagesufficient 
time should be given the Ircc6 m which to 
IturilftD the young growth to withstand lno 
winter’s cold, but if the sod is constantly 
stirred, an effort to grow will be kept Up 
and the first light frost kills the tender, 
soft growth, In the vineyard after the crop 
is gathered there IS nothing to be done for 
lIm present. Apples that are to be kept 
for a future market should be picked from 
tho tree by hand, and should lit' handled as 
carefully as though they were eggs. I hey 
may be packed immediately in boxes or 
barrels or may be put into small pile* in n 
dry cellar, or in the granary or barn. 1 he 
corn should be husked and cribbed as soon 
as possible; tho pumpkins will require cov¬ 
ering of some kind to protect them from 
frost, and the rich Hubbard squash will 
find their way into the cellar or granary. 
The wheat and the barley fanner will 
provide himself with the latest improved 
machinery, will have all tools sharp and in 
readiness for the first rain. His harness 
will receive u thorough washing and oiling, 
he wilt provide himself with overy liltln in- 
oidi-rnid which Ids past experience tells 
him Im will probably need. If a bolt breaks 
he lias one at hand without being obliged 
to stop the team until n man can go to 
town and back. 
If a buckle breaks or a few slitchira give 
way in the harness his remedy is at hand, 
and this is the jmccersful farmer. All his 
summer fallow and other loose land may 
receive the seed before the first rain comes, 
thu* leaving him to mov , e into lh« m-w toil 
with his full force as sunn as the ground is 
ready for the plow. Speculating on the 
probabilities of ilia weather is u( litllu avail 
in this country; when it rains it rains, but 
when it clears nobody can say when it will 
rain again. The latest arrival can prognos¬ 
ticate the weather with ae much certainty 
as Hie oldest inhabitant. We have this 
faith, however, in the future, that die acre¬ 
age sown to grain in Southern California 
this winter will uearly double last year’s 
acreage, and that next year's harvest will 
be by far the largest year known in the 
history of this country. 
A FEW OF OuTaDV ANT AGES. 
California is pre-eminently the State for 
farmers who have the means to avail them- 
selves of its advantages. 
Our soil i« above the average. 
It -an be cultivated far more cheaply 
than elsewhere, because most of it can be 
worked with improved farm machinery. 
[i has nut vet become noaeartry to go 
into the wood* and hew out a farm by 
severe labor with the axe, as open land is 
plentiful, _ 
Our climate is so mild that expensive 
dwelling or outhouses are unnecessary. 
Grain will stand fur weeks after maturing 
without shelling out. 
Threshing is done in the open field. 
The grain having been threshed and 
sacked may remain on the ground for 
months without danger of damage from 
A man can work comfortably ic the open 
air*utmost every day in the year. Ho does 
not have to lose mouth after month of the 
winter season on account of frost and rain. 
Almost anything that grows can be 
raised in California. 
