The morning call., 1892-06-09
QUE FooD sUPPLY.

According 10 the annual report OF the
Produce Exchange, made up to June l. the
wheat crop Of California in the year 1891
footed up loss, 4S9 tons. which was less
than the crops of 1881, 1883. 1856 and 1889,
but in excess of the average for the past
two decades The price, while not alto
gether satisfactory to the farmers, has been
up to the average of recent years; if the
local freights had been as reasonable as
they are in the river valleys of the Central
States the producers would have done fairly
we'll AS it is the wheat-grOwer can realize
for the small unsold remainder of his crop
about a cent pound on the farm, and two
months ago he was getting nearly cent and
a quarter. He would not have done so well
as this if the speculation in charters had not
collapsed.
OF the million odd tons produced in Cali
fOruia in 1891 the CustOm-h0use returns
show that four-fftns. or &c., 55 tons, were
exported. This aggregate would have been
larger hut for the inroadS which Oregon has
made into our export trade OF flour TO
China. Flour is about the only product
which we ship in large quantity to China,
and the Empress line OF steamers from
Victoria have fiji ed up with the product Of
the Oregon mills in order not to sail in bal
last. This, of course, has taken the place
Of Just so much -four that would have gone
from here in the Pacific Mail ships. When
the new line of steamers is laid on they
also will I'LL up with Oregon -four and our
export will again suffer diminutiOn. The
c0mretti0n Injuries this port, for it is more
profitable to ship -four than grain; but
there does not seem to be any remedy I'M
less by judicious tactics Ne can draw the
Canadian and the Portland line 10 this
port.
The Produce Exchange adheres to the
stereOtyped figure of SOC, 600 tons as the esti-
mate Of home consumption, including seed.
According to that body this consumption
has not increased in 10 years. though the
population of the State has sWelled nearly
40 per cent. The chances are that the
old estimate was an eXaggeTatiou. as 10
bushels a head per year is very full allow
ance for wheat consumption; but perhaps
the consumption for seed has been larger
than has been generally reckoned.
II is curious that this State. which is so
large and SO abuBdantly supplied with both
agricultural and pasture land, should be so
largely dependent on other States and Ter
rito,ics for It's meat supply. a very large
proportion of our beef and mutton comes
from Oregon. Nevada, Utah ana Arizona ;
and Of meat products the Importation
mainly from Kansas City and ChlcagO-is
reckoued at 10000, coo pounds annually.
There is no reason why we should not grow
all the pork consumed here. Because We
have no corn, and corn is the main food Of
the hog in the States on the Mississippi ri and
Missouri, therefore, it has been assumed
that we cannot raise pork. But they have
no corn in Europe. and yet they raise plenty
Of hogs. and when Bismarck started his
roorbach about American lirichiu9, the
German growers supplied the home de-
mard. Our dependence upon States fur
Their east for provisions is another effect Of
our incurable propensity TO lean on Proyi-
dence for everything; if we tried. we could
export meat products instead Of importing
Them Some day We shall exploit our re-
sources.
THE encroachment Of orchards upon
grainfelds appears 10 be Offset by the ex-
tension of agricultural acreage. Observers
OF the substitution Of fruit for wheat in
some Of tie most fertile counties Of the
Stale expect every year a reduced wheat
crop. But the expectations are not realized.
There is every reason TO believe that the
crop of 1892 will be equal to the average
perhaps little above it. This may be con-
tnued in future years. A mere fraction Of
arabic area Of California is under cultiyd-
ton; We may 20 on for some time increas-
ing our orchards and expanding our pas
lures without necessarily curtailing our
wheatfeids. 1t is not easy for farmer TO
grow rich by raising wheat to sell at any
thing like a cent pound on the farm; but
he makes wages at the business, and it is
an axiom that the farmer who has to buy
his daily bread must grew poor. Wealth
will come by the culture of fruit of the
highest grade. shipped at a minimum charge
for transportation to markets which cannot
be gutted. But the production Of 16 to %
bushels OF wheat to the acre will always
EarEe In kaen the wolf from the dnnr