Magnetic susceptibility, x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and Raman scattering measurements are employed to study the effects of La substitution on the magnetic properties of multiferroic HoMn(2)O(5). 9% and 18% La-substituted compounds crystallize into the same orthorhombic Pbam symmetry as the parent compound. The magnetic responses to an ac driving magnetic field between 40 and 140 K are greatly enhanced by 18% La substitution. The neutron magnetic diffraction patterns reveal the development of short range magnetic correlations below 140 K. In addition, two Raman peaks and a series of new x-ray diffraction peaks suddenly develop below this temperature. Incommensurate long range antiferromagnetic order appears below 38 K. Magnetic frustration could be the main mechanism governing the present observations.
