Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-13

Ssip Dosu a. W space anu time Tor display, tnan
mas heretofore been attempted II these require
ments are not met the very inadequacy Of fairs
Will urge them on the downward way OF decline to
their ultimate extinction
THE HARVEST.
Again it is my good fortune to congratulate YOU
upon the prosperity of State, and upon the con-
dions Of peace and plenty which still attend US as
people. The season just closing has not been
remarkable for its large aggregate yield of cereals,
but taken as whole the industries of the State
have proSpered, and the general results of the year
VIII De very satisfactory. In n former address |
took occasion to point out certain facts bearing
upon the question of liberalization OF our soils In
that address instances were cited where lands
which had been devoted for many successive
seasons to the growth of wheat, had in later years
been more instead Of less productive. The past
season is not without. its lesson in this regard In
the great Sacramento valley and particularly in the
largest wheatgrowing sections the rainfall for the
season did not exceed eleven inches-an amount far
below the average precipitation and yet have per.
sonsl knowledge Of yields exceeding forty bushels
to the acre, and in few instances reaching fifty
bushels. These instances relate to summer. falowed
land and were the results Of careful cultivation.
few years since like results could not have been
obtained with less than full average of rainfull
Improved methods Of cultivation are therefore in.
surfing us against the reverses of dry seasons
From the very best obtsnab!e data estimlte the
surplus yield for the year at 5000 tons place
this estimate before you with high degree OF conf
dencs in Its accuracy. The information l have re-
ceived leads me TO believe that the yield will not
exceed one-half that Of average crop While in
few localities full crops have been obtained in the
large wheat growing areas of the San Joaquin valley
and the west side of the Sacramento valley the crops
have been very short and in many instances almost
entire failures 1t is not necessary in this connection
to present In detail the data upon which these fig
ures are based. Let it suffice that the statement il
made upon information and judgment for whatever
it may be worth in estimating the volume and sup
ply so far the granaries Of California are TO con-
tribute supply to the great breadstuf markets of
the world
A PLAN FOR THE COLLECTION OF CROP STATS.
TICS.
At this point, and because | am led to it by the
natural association Of IDEAS beg to introduce 10
your notice the suggestion of plan whereby an ac.
curate ascertainInent of the annual yield of wheat
may be definitely arrived at. l suggest that the
State Board OF Agriculture secure from each person
engaged in thrashing grain in the State full state
ment of the number of bushels Of each kind Of the
cereals thrashed by him. The practicability OF this
plan will be briefly presented. However great the
number OF persons engaged in raising wheat in
California, the number of persons engaged in
thrashing that wheat is comparatively very few
Each thrasher keeps accurate account of the num-
Der OF bushels measure ed from the machine because
the thrashing is paid for by the sack or by the
bushe and therefore the number OF sacks or bushels
thrashed for each wheat-growe is an indispensable
Item to the proper bookkeeping of the thrasher.
Thus we lind in the hands of comparatively small
number OF persons not merely the approximate
data, not only the comparative, estimate through
which to reach a conclusion, but the actual data
the authentic accuracy expressing the actual fact
and the last bushel measured and sacked MANY
plans have been tried for ascertaining the wheat
yield Of the State. The number of acres sown to
grain has been approximately ascertained; the
yield per acre being ascertained in few instances
and the entire acreage has been multiplied by the
number Of bushels each acre has been supposed or
estimated to yield, giving as a result the supposed
or estimated aggregate yield In this case both the
multipher and multiphcand are very largely guess
the best result attained by this process will be
multiplied guess. The only ;ssible failure in the
plan which have briefly presented tonight to take
the place OF this very imperfect method would re-
side in the failure to obtain returns from all persons
who have been engaged in thrashing But the value
OF the statistics to be obtained in this accurate way is
sufficient to justify the expenditure of money
to make the figures absolutely certain If each person
engaged In thrashing grain is given pecuniary re.
ward upon the receipt Of full returns of his work
for the year, none, in my opinion, will fail to re-
spond But ii in addition to the actual number
OF bushels thrashsd the thrasher will fur
nish the President Of your Society with state.
ment OF the number OF acres upon which the wheat
and other grain thrashed-by them was grown, the
average yield per will be easily ascertainable
and the comparison Of the yield, one year with
another, will possess highly instructive value.
The export statistics may always be ascertaiped
with reasonable certainty. Now, il an accurate
statement of the aggregate yield can be obtained.
the tonnage remaining in the State can ALWAYS be
ascertained, at any period OF the season, b, sub.
tracing the export from the ascertaned aggregate
The plan herein brihey outlined is submitted for
your consideration.