Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-09
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
TEE "REcoRD UNION"
Giimpses Of the Progress of Agriculture,
as Seen in the History of the
State Agricultural Society.

The State Agricultural Society was estsb-
Iished under a legislative charter which be.
came law by receiving the signature of the
Governor on the 18Th day of Nay, 1854. The
society was organic sd at San Francisco n the
following June, and the frat fair was bald in
San Francisco commencing October 4. 1854.
The stock show was a. the Mission, and the
agricultural and horticultural exhibition At
Musical Hall. Theirs were no races at TIE
first fair, or we conclude there wera
none because We find 10 reference to any
in the conteInporsneous account CT The same
The agricultural and horticultural exhibition
was q surprise and s qualification to every
body who beheld it. Wheat, barley, oats,
corn, potatoes, beetF, carrots, and nearly al
the present products OF the State were OF ex.
hibition. The quality of the grain was good,
aud the potatoes, squash, beets and other
vegetables we're very large and fine, superior
TO any that those who came to see thsm had
ever beheld In their native States or coun-
some fine specimens of horses. cattle, sheep
and swine-specimens that would have done
credit TO any State in the Union. at this
early exhibition it was generally remarked
what great improvement our peculiar climate
had effected il animals imported from other
parts of the world and acclimated here. This
first agricultural fair marked an era in the
material development of the State. 1t put
forth new claim for the recognition of Cali
fornia as an agricultural country Of peculiar
merit. The newly-elected Board of Agricult-
ure. with c. I. Hutchinson as President, en-.
tered upon the performance Of their duties
with zeal, aud at the same time with pru.
dence anu discretion. An Agricultural Con-
venticn was called to meet ct Sacramento on
the 25sh of April. 1855 and there was large
gathering of the most influential men in the
State. The Convention was held ia the As.
sembly chauber, and was presided over by
@. l. Hutchinson, President Of the State Aeri.
cultural Society. The speakers were Sherman
Day, D. F. Douglass. E. B. Croker, c. t.
Ryianj, Wilgon Flint, o. q. Wheeler and
Governor McDougall, all portrsying the ad.
vantages Of our new soil and climate for agri-
cultural pursuits. Governor McDougau
thus early urged the employment
operations ard set forth tho advantages of
Chinese cheap labor aud of obtaining
knowledge of their system of cultivation.
Selim e Weodworth called attebtion to the
importance of planting forests on the plains
OF the States, and OF preserving the forests Ct
the mou1tsins, a. msans of seftening and
ameliorsting the summer climate and equaliz-
ing the temperature through the year.
The second State fair was held in Sacra-
mento from September 25th, six 1sys. This
fair was also a g,elt success. We find this
clause in the opening address If the Presi.
dent: The occasion which calls together this
large and respectable assemblag5 is one of no
ordinary interest. Before u.s. spread out in
rich profusion aud beautiful array, fresh
from the prodigal hand of nature, we behold
the results of California agriculture-some OF
the results which in this young State and
under the auspices Of an inSsligant people
have followed the application of enter
prise and industry. Looking back through
the five brief years Of cur existence as
as State, we wonder at the position
in which we fud ourselves to. day."
Hon. ii. 5. Foote, then q resident of the
State, delivered the opening address and
dwelt upon the wonderful productiveness of
California agriculture, and referred to the
incredulisy OF the world in reference to our
prodig!ous crops of grains, of potatoes bsets
and other vegetables. The great feature of
that fair was the great variety OF fine fruit
exhibited, esgecialy apples and pears. And
the wonder of all beholders was an exhibit of
peaches. grown and matured on trees only
two years old from the pit.
The third annual fair of the Society was
held at San Jose in October, 1856 T. L.
Beard, the President, in his opening address
stated that the great want of the farmers was
IS market for their produce. He pointed out
The Importance of railroad across the
mountains and plains to the Atlantic sea.
board, and showed that in the intervening
countries we would find market for our
surplus products. Colonel J. B. Crockett,
who delivered the annual address, also re.
ferred to the Importance Of an overland rail-
road. We quote one sentence In the
midst OF all these blessings, with so much to
inspire us, with hope for the future, with go
much to elate the heart of the patriot and
dignity the ambition of the statesman, we
yet have one great and overshadowing want,
which to some degree paralysis the arm of
industry and lies like an incubus upon the
prosperity Of California. allude of course,
Co the want of a railroad connecting us with
the Atlantic seabosrd."
The fourth annual fair, in 1857, was held
at Stockton on the ooh of September, con-
timing four DAYS. William Gansfd took the
place of G. NJ. Weber as President Of the So
cisty. The important value of alfalfa as
forage plant was made known through the
publications of the society this year. TAis
fact was set forth in the report OF the Visit
ing Committee, as well as in the address of
the President, who remarked: "This crop
seens designed by Providence for cur peculiar
climate" A remark which an experience Of
twenty years has fully confirmed. The fair
at Stockton was in many respects tia best
that had been held. A coed display oe home
manufactures was made, and fine collection
of blooded stock was on exhibition.
The fifth annual fair was hsld at the city
of Marysvills in 1858, in new Pavilion
erected by the city for the accommodation of
the State Fair and designed to be used in the
future for the fairs of district society. John
q. Fall was the President for this year. The
two new features Of tia exhibition in 1853
were an exhibition of tropical fruit-oranges,
lemons and citrons-from Los Angeles, and
au exhibition of honey bees imported from
the Atlantic States. At the annual meeting
thia year an amendment to the constitution
was adopted permanently locating the offics
of the society at the cspitsl Of the State.
Hon. S. b Bell, who delivered the anrull
address, called attention to the fact that this
was the filth annual State Fair in a State
not yet nine years old, and, too, when the
State was settled for mining an not for agri-
cultural purposes.
The Society had made the rounds of the
principal cities of the State, and in 1859
came back to Sacramento, where il has since
found a psrmsn eut home. By authority 90.
tanned of the Legislature, Sacramento city
and county levied tax aud built the present
Pavilion, and presented the use of the same
to the Society for its fairs in the future. The
fair of 1S59-the sixth in the State-was
really grand success as an exhibition. The
exhibition Of the products of the dairy was
an important fssture. In the horticultural
lire an exhibition of Oregon fruit by the side
of California fruit attracted great interest.
G.. 1. Hutchinson was again President of the
Society. In his address he was fully up
to the spirit of the occasion. He COM
menced in these words: "Our hands have
seized the pillow, and we must not
fslter. We have glorious prospect before