The record-union., 1894-02-06
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE


THE REPORT.
OFFICE
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,
SACRAMENTO Feb. l, 1894
HIS ErceILency, II. II. Markham, COZ
eTpoF of CdGifO1WiG-SIR: In compliance
with law we herewith submit the re-
port of our transactions for the fiscal year
ending upon this date. Weinclude herein
a larger proportion of statistical matter
than ever before, showing in detail the
yield of cereals in each county of the state.
We also offer many suggestions bearing
upon the agricultural possibilities OF Cal
ifornia. and while we have no other
power or authority to bring about cuIml-
nation Of our ideas, we sincerely hope
their presentation herein will serve IN
stimulating to action our resident citl-
zens. as well as attracting non-residents
who have tastes and inclinatlOns that
way.
There is also herein embodied the re-
ports of the various Agricultural DIS
tricts. which, by reason Of the law re-
ouirements, we are compelled to publish,
to show that proper expenditure has been
made of the States money.
1t is to be regretted that the law does
not 90 further and require of these nu-
nerous associations the collection and
compilation of statistics relating to the
agricultural resources of their respective
districts. Upon them there is nothing
incumbent to furnish information Of this
character, and we are forced to seek else
where for knowledge and information
that should be by them furnished to this
office. Some requirement of this kind
should be the law, as q partial return Tor
money appropriated.
THE SEASON OF 1898.
This has been an exceedingly unprofit-
able year for almost every branch of ag-
riculture, circumstance that insures
stagnation IN all interests, as nearly every
avenue of trade in California IS depend
ent on soil culture. Never before III the
history OF agriculture in this State has
prices for soil products reached as low a
figure as during the season just closed.
Never before has the happiness OF the
phrase ''as good as wheat" been eXem-
plifed. Wheat was good for nothing this
season, not good security for the sacks
that held it. This great commodity
reached the lowest average price IN the
United States than ever before IN the MS
tory of the country. The average price
of wheat in this Union as reported by the
Department Of Agriculture for the season
of 1898, was but 52.l cents per bushei.
The report shows the next lowest price
in the twenty-three years from 1870 10
1898, inclusive, was 64.5 cents IN 1884. The
average price for the ten years 1870
To 1919 WAS lUt.J, dIiu 1OI tuO IOL y Sctl .
1880 to 1889. S2.7, while for the three years
1890 to 1892 it was 76.6. The decline this
year from the average of the three years
preceding-in two of which, viz, 1891 and
IS92-occurred the largest yields IN the
history of the country, is Z4.5 cents, or
% per cent.
To show the rank of California prices,
we will quote the principal State averages
for 1893:
New York 76 cents per bushel, Penn
sylvania 6S, Virginia So, Georgia 90, Texas
56, kentucky, Ohio and Michigan a,
Kansas 49, Nebraska IS, South Dakota Al,
North Dakota 43, California 81.
Never before in this State has this price
for wheat been reached, and we hope
never to realize it again.
This state OF affairs was the natural re-
suit of the continued depression in
Europe and the financial condition OF our
own country at the time of harvest. The
scare of foreign holders of American
securities caused them to force realization
at once, thereby depicting America of a
vast amount of surplus gold-an occur
renee most potent to the agricultural in
terest at that particular period, and re-
suited in Generalization and disaster
throughout the land.
The farming community were naturally
the greatest sufferers, as this class as a
rule extend rather than curtail indebted
ness. Their natural tend is 10 acquire
land, which is often done in advance OF
payments therefor, and as no semblance
of warning of the coming disaster was
given, no preparation could be made.
Hence it is reasonable to suppose that
which is a fact-our farmers are at the
present time in a detected condition.
There is, however, a better outlook
ahead the worst, we hope, is past. In q
series of articles recently published
1 .,p1 F,.ry,T
they elaborately review the production
movement and consumption of wheat.
In one of these articles they estimate the
surplus of wheat available from export
ing countries on July 81, 1894, to be 337, :
100000 bushels, and the requirements OF
importing countries to be 420, 400, 00t
bushels, which show an excess of require
ment over supply to be $1,000, 900 bushels,
which would indicate a great reduction
in the reserves of both America and
Europe.
1t is thought that America could supply
about 81 000 600 of that amount. This
state of affairs is sure to increase both
values aud demand for California's great
est product, so that the future is not as
dark for this interest as many believe.
The yield of wheat in California for the
season of 1898 was 81, l9l, 400 bushels, the
lowest for many years, and can be easily
accounted for, as the season opened with
an almost continuous rain for five or six
months, which resulted in an average
rainfall from October, 1892, to March, 1873,
OF 2l.64 inches, whereas the average for
forty-two years past in the same time was
but l5.I4 inches. This unusual rainfall
was obviously disastrous to all summer
falloWed" land as that Sown early was
drowned, while the late-seeded grain
made short yield. Notwithstanding the
prospects the season opened rather en-
couragingly, every line of trade seemed
prosperous until the month of May was
reached, when moneyed agencies pro-
claimed their inability TO grant loans upon
any kind OF security, and this coming al
a time when harvest opened, the effect, as
can he imagined, was magical In It's scope
and created havoc throughout the State
In many Instances growers were forced
to sell their wheat at whatever price was
offered in order to obtain money foI
necessary harvesting expenses, as credit
on every hand was shaky, and the whole
system of trade was at once transformed
to cash basis. The banking institutions
of the State were drained for resources
and compelled to refuse aid to all indus
tries, thereby extending the depression tc
all avenues of trade.
There was but one product of the soil
that kept UP to average price, and that
was hops, the demand for which was quite
brisk and the prices good. | include
herein statistics showing the yield and
export of this great product. 1t is esti-
mated that sales of hops amounting tc
nearly SS00.000 were made in the Sacra-
mento district alone this season, showing
D~ooJ cod 20