Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-12

ment, the State should investigate and map
out the natural divisions of soil, ETC, so
I that every one may be able to know accu-
ratcly the character of all the soils of the
State. Such Il work would save unSld
misery, numberleSS failures, discourage
ment of effort
| Bearing in mind our main object, name
| ~, the establishment of a comprehensive
progressive system of agriculture, we come
now to the crop problems.
The State of California is phenomenal in
its comprehensive peculiaritieS. 1t has
every variety of soil and climate known
elsewhere in the temperate zones of this
continent, with those of the semi-tropical
regions.
Not to enlarge upon this point, and to
come bluntly to the matter that we are
after, We ask, Can we positively affirm that
we are raising on any given acre the crop
best fitted TO its powers?
Can we affirm that We are raising in this
State the most profitable crops? If we are
raising the crops best suited to our several
soils and climates, and those most in de-
mand, we may ascribe the fact to accident
as much as to intelligence. We have
neither considered the power of the soil
nor the real demands of the worlds mar
kets. What farmer can truthfully say that
he cannot produce on his land crops better
adapted to his soil, and more profitable
than those now raised by him? Is il not
barely possible. TO say the least that the
"quinoa plant, the pyrethrum; the New
Zealand flax; the ramic plant; the angola
panic; the New Zealand salt bush that
cotton. sumach, sorghum; the large varie-
ties of foreign forage grasses. and a large
number besides, now unknown To us, may
be better adapted 10 our soils and climates,
and more remunerativc than some of our
present crops? Is it not possible that there
are varieties of oats, barley, wheat, etc,
that would drive out all the varieties now
produced by reason of their adaptability
to our soils and climates, and make re-
munerative returns? We do know that the
seeds now in use have superseded other
seeds, and the fact suggests probability of
further improvement.
But, after all, this must be continuous
work; il can have no end until the seeds of
the world have been tried; each variety
must be tested IN the several soils and eli
mates, and the conditions of success or fail
ure must be positively aScertained. In the
East everything that will succeed in given
place will also succeed i'll any other place
within, say, 500 miles, Here plant that
may be successfully grown in one place
may be untitled to the soil and climate of
another place fifty or even ten miles dis
tant. Successful experiments have been
made, but we know little, because We do
not know the condition as to soil, climate,
culture and treatment.
But this much YOU will all admit, name
w, that we cannot consider our agriculture
developed to a high state until we produce
the crops best suited to our soil, climate,
and market: that fact cannot to established
without elaborate and careful experiment.
Then | say. in the name of our common
humanity. let the State and nation eXpend
its millions in true experimental work. for
III so doing they will hasten the day that
will find on this coast a comprehensive and
ever progressing system of agriculture.
But must particularizc somewhat i'll the
matter Of crops, for the purpose of impress
ing upon your mind the necessity OF expert
mental work Much attention is now given
by our people to the subject of wine pro-
duction, especially the production of claret
grapes and we are spending vast sums of
money in the advancement of this interest.
Is it not probable that our people are plant
ing grapes on soils that will not produce
what they expect? Experience rs well as
the investigation of the Niticultural Depart
uent of the State University answer this
affirmatively, by facts that cannot be
denied. | viii not 90 into the details OF
this subject. as the Niticultural Commits
sioners and the State University have done
a work in this direction that cannot be
overrated.
This variety of soil and climate, giving
to the same grape a decidedly different
composition, according to the peculiaritieS
of localities, pushes to the front the I'M
mistakable fact that as good wine can be
produced in California as elsewhere, only
IL Of Il hot
grapes can be most advantageously used in
pleading is the question of the hour? As
vet we do not know; and few know the
fact that with but two or three exceptions
there is no one variety of grape that will of
itself produce the best wine. Aside from
these exceptions, the best wines of Europe
are produced by blending. Their advantage
over us in this respect is found in the fact
that they know by long experience what
varieties to use in blending. Much is ex-
pected in this line of experimentation from
the work of the College of Agriculture now
in progress upon the farm OF the Hon. J. I.
Doyle, in Santa Clara county. These facts
are mentioned to show that the peculiari-
ties of California more thaN ordinarily
require special investigation and careful
and that we have the talent
among us requisite for successful expert
ment.
The same line of thought may be taken
with reference to all the fruits, etc.
Without pursuing the discussion of the |
crop problem further. desire to call your |
to another matter closely related. |
and of grave Importance.
Great losses occur because of the excess |
of production in certain lines. Our people |
are apt to run in one line, producing the |
same crops, thus reducing the price. And |
no system of agriculture can be regarded as |
highly advanced until this evil is remedied. |
The remedy can only be found i'll intelligent |
and reliable crop reports. If some COM |
petent person could be found who would |
give his entire time to 4 consideration OF |
probable and possible production, with |
careful deductions thercfrom. as to the best
crops for given season, he would add i'm
menSely to the prosperity of California.
And we may feel quite certain that wisely !
developed system of agriculture will in
cude thorough work in this direction. The
necessity of this is so obvious that an As
of Fruit Growers has already been
formed for this very purpose.
Other subjects press upon us, but they |
can only be alluded to.
Insect pests and fungi are beginning to
attack our grain. orchards and vineyards,
and MeSsrs. Chaplin, Cooke Behr, Hank
ness, and Others, have done good service in
studying these subjects. Indeed, | may
safely say that in fighting insect pests Cali
fornia already leads the world. But feel
constrained to say that more elaborate
work is needed. We must, to meet the
wants of progressive system, employ the
best talent the world can produce. We
need accurate teaching, not only about the
nature and habits of pests of all kinds, but
also as to the best safest and most econom-
cal methods of applying insecticides.
Without profound practical instruction in
-hese matters we will be at the mercy of
pests If we can call on the State to de-
lend our fields against savage tribes of men,
why not expect the State to defend us
against the peStiferouS armies that are even
more destructive.
A true, progressive comprehensive syS-
em OF agriculture must include forestry |
he introduction of hardwoods; the pro-
iuction of timber for lumber and fuel; the
growth of trees as windbreakS and tannin-
bearing trees for manufacturing purposes.
The subject of forestry must be studied
in this State. The cutting down
Of primitive forests does not involve the
same consequences as in Eastern countries
where denudation is followed by sudden
hoods and prolonged drought, because our
lenuded mountains rapidly produce a
covering that is quite as useful as the
forests that they succeed. But the lumber
problem is as important here as there.
In relation to the administering trees
ind in the bulletin of the Professor of Ag-
-iculture of the State University an import
ant beginning of this discussion. L find