Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-01

we lack is supply. a more healthful fruit is not
grown and the demand for it in its dried state
TEN.
Grown with but little effort, easily handled,
and packed, commands ready sale; its consump-
ton is only limited by its supply.
We have seen this fruit neatly packed and
placed side by side with the imported article,
where its merits exeelled. This industry is now
in its infancy. Our fOothill lands are especially
adapted to the growth of the fig, as experiments
have shown so that it is not a risk Tor any who
have the desire to embark in this promising in
dustry. The planting of all varieties of fruit
producing trees has received special encourage
ment from this Board. We aim to assist in the
way OF premiums each new industry, TO the end
that it shall receive meriIed attention from both
press and pubic, and We hope TO aid the pro-
duction of this most worthy article of commerce
with all the energy in our power, to the extent
its importance demands.
COTTON CULTURE.
Years ago another important industry in
California received its first breath of life
through the agency of this society. Upon rec
ommendation of the State Agricultural Society,
in the year 1863 the Legislature OF California
passed an Act entitled IAN Act for the eneour-
., 1853. Among the list of awards offered
under this Act was the following: For the first
one hundred bales OF cotton of three hundred
pounds each, 5000; for the same quantity pro-
duced in the first, second and third succeeding
year, 3 600 $1,000 and $500 respectively In
the year 1865 exhibits were made in competi-
of Los Angeles county, received the bounty OF
S. 900, having produced the best one hundred
bales of cotton. In referring 10 this subject, the
Board of Directors, in subsequent report,
Experiments on q small scale had been made
for q number of years in diheren' sections, with
gratifying success. Encouraged in part by these
results and in part by the very liberal bounty
offered by the State for the first production in
large quantities, several parties in the southern
counties planted quite extensively in 1864.
oil lahn Nod adI-
stances Their seed was in great proportion OF
thu varieties not adapted to our climate, being
of the large, late varieties aad of poor quality
rendering replanting to great extent, neees-
las the parties referred to were competitors
| for the State bounty, on bundled acres they
strained every nerve, but more to secure the
number of acres specified to be planted than to
| insure proper cultivation OF the crop AFTER 1t
was planted.
IsBut, Notwithstanding all these unfsvorable
circumstances, they all produced a more or less
| creditable crop, those portions of their fields
which were planted with the Tennessee Upland
and Pettel Gulf seed making excellent crops,
| both in respect to quantity and quality. one OF
the parties alluded to, in letter to the Secre-
| tary of this Board says: The sum of our expe-
| rience may be considered to be:
" 'First-That the Pettel Gull and the TeDnes
! see may be considered safe and most profitable
and should be planted as early as frost will al
| low.
cotton.
'Third-That, from the hardy nature of the,
the plants but little skill is required in irriga
ton. and that much less water is required than
would be necessary in the successful cultivation
of corn
| especially favorable to the production and har-
yesting of cotton.
Another one of the parties writes: California
ought to raise enough cotton to manufacture,
not alone for all her wants, but sufficient for the
Pacific slope and the time may arrive when
| California viii rank as a single State, as the
| best cotton-growing region in America. | can't
see any difficulty III the way; it certainly will
pay better than cereals. The price Of cotton
ought to be a fraction higher in California than
in the European markets. The cost of planting
and cultiyating cotton Is about the same
as corn, only that corn requires about
| twice as much irrigation, or rain, as cotton. !
| paid from so to rs cents per pound for my seed,
| and much was damaged by being taken out OF
| heated pile, or because it sweated in the hold
of the ship that brought it, and made me much
| expense by replantipg.
| So say we now, the cause of neglect in the
| cultivation of this neces airy product has been,
as with many other, oyeTshsdowed by resources
| of easier results. 1t has been shown by experts
that it is not only practicable to grow cotton in
this STATE but that the product is OF unusual
excellence
| In the further encouragement OF Californias
! productive resources this Board induced the
| Legislature of 1889 to appropriate the sum OF
/
| fruits grown during the present and coming IFS
| cal year The Board subsequently decided TO
| hold two exhibitions each year for the display
| of this important winter production OF semi
| tropical fruit and located the proposed exhibit
| tions for 1898 at Oroville and Les Angeles, re-
spectively, spproprating 81 500 for each exhibit.
| The date of the former exhibition was set for
January 7th, and the latter for March 10, 1890.
That we are capable of showing an increased
production of citrus fruits and that their growth
| is not limited to any one locality, we present
| in rS r0lf no
Fair just held at Oroville, which display
embraced a most creditable exhibit of
oranges, lemons, lines, and dried deeidu-
mia lying between the second and fourth stan
dard parallels north of Mount Diablo base line,
and between the thirty ninth and tortieth paral-
lels of longitude, one hundred and twenty-one
and one hundred and twenty-five west iongi-
tude. We most respectfully invite attention
to the report made.
NATURAL GAS.
The discovery Of aatural gas in the city OF
Stockton opens up the fuel proposition, so long
the only obstacle, it was claimed, in the way of
establishing manufactures in California. This
discovery will encourage the extension of many
enterprises of which this State is in great need.
We hail with delight the discovery OF this most
important agent of many resources that have
been he'd in check by reason of the scarcity of
available fuel at such prices as would warrant
| its use
Now that the supply of natural gas in the vi
entity of Stockton has been demonstrated to the
textent that warrants the investment OF capital
tc further seek it, in hopes of obtaining limit
less flow, we expect to see the next twelve
months an era of progression heretofore une-
qualed by any other epoch in our history.
| AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.
The improved inventions in agricultural ma
chinery is certainly keeping abreast with the
demands The novelty of the combined har-
vester had hardly worn off before we were shown
a practical and powerful motive power for it,
| Among the many new and practical inven-
i M O
ton at the fair of 1859, was found the steam
wagon, which has been perfected to degree of
usefulness not heretofore attained. The ms-
chine on exhibition was the invention of Daniel
Best, and its use was demonstrated by q test be-
| fore a committee selected by this Board, and
| the perfect ease with which 1t handled a gang
oftwelve plows, in dry soil, was noticeable. Its
use in the large wheat growing sections of this
| State win be a most acceptable adjunct in both
blowing and harvesting seasons.
sTAGNATIoS OF WINE INTERESTS.
The exhibit Of California wines made at the
| recent Paris Exposition received gooGly share
| of awards and the character of wines shown
were pronounced to be of unusual excellence.
| The recent stagnatioH of our wine interest
| was occasioned by the fault of the wine-makers
themselves whose eager desire 10 realize
| insufficient investment OF capital, by foisting
| upon the market an inferior article, not only
| inmatured but defective in many ways. The
! decoctions sold for California vine were most
abominab,e, and created q prejudice against
our products that came near wreeking one OF
the principal resources OF our state, and by
which the maker OF good wine became the
greatest sufferer.
Ii is now thought the worst is past, and by
| cooperation, and free discussion by wine grow
ers in general, conclusions can be arrived at
| that viii not only cure defects of the past but
| at the same time stop an 'overproduetion, as
| il was ca led but what really was marketing
wines before matured.
| The excellence of our table wines when Prop
4 erly handled is not doubted by the most fastidi
Gus experts and if the growers will but take the
subject Il hand and market their products in
| original packages much of this so called doc
/ toring'' will be obviated and the counterfeit
article relegated to obscuriiy.
| Now that an advance in price has taken place,
whereby large lots that sold during the depreS-
! sion SIS low as cents per gallon now bring 10
and Is cents. with somewhat of a demand, we
hope confidence Is again restored.