The morning call., 1894-04-16
THE RAINFALL OF THE SEASON.

Half of the month of April has passed
and the rainfall which Is nsedsd to bring
the season of 1893 "a to the average seems
no nearer than 1t was. The average pre-
eipitation for the last half Of April IN the
past twenty years has been almost one
inch That would help US materially, but
would not be enough. Still it would raise
the rainfall at San Francisco to ITO
inches. within four inches Of the normal
The scarcity of rain extends over the
whole State. Sacramento is six inches be-
low the average and Fresno two inches
San Diego has had less than one-half its
ordinary share OF moisture. The upper
Sacramento Valley is also short, but there
rain enough falls in dry years to make
crops.
In 1S9O-91 and 1892 there were heavy
rains all over the State in the last two
weeks Of April and that may be The case
this year. II 1t is. the S. ate may have an
average crop; if it is lot II will be prudent
to look for q short crop Of cereals and fod-
der.
Since the American occupation there
have been three seasons Of drought when
the crops were almost complete failure.
Fer instance. in 1850-51 the precipitation
at Sacramento was only All inches; again
in 1s63-64 only 7S7 inches fell al the same
lace. Besides these years OF disaster
there have been several seasons in which
the rainfall was so scanty that the crops
suffered. In 1873 there were only Is inches
Of rain at San Francisco; in 1877 only 10
inches; In 1928 only Is inches, and the
same quantity in 1891 and 1892. These
were not indeed years of crop failure, but
OF crops reduced below the average.
In countries where the soil absorbs the
rain, and 1t is not carried of from shall
low hard pan into the sea. 10 inches of
rain properly distributed and falling In
light showers will generally suffice for
purposes of irrigation. The Eastern States.
in which 40 inches Of rain often falls. are
no better off than some parts of this State,
where a rainfall Of Is inches is considered
copicus. Still. we possess no control over
the westher; until artificial irrigation be-
comes general our agriculture must suffer
from an occasional year of drought. We
must take the rain as it comes. Two
inches of rain now would be of more value
to the valleys than twice than quantity
would have been last November; but we
cannot force the clouds tG output their
treasure. Raln-making continues to be a
delusion Of cranks.
It is fortunate for the State that so
large a portion of the cultivated land is
now devoted to fruit instead of cereals.
Many fruit trees require little rain; some
Of our best fruits, such as olives. thrive
we'll in dry years. AS the trees sink their
roots into the earth they seem to possess
the capacity to husband their moisture
from year to year. and an accidental
drought does them little injury, unless
they are planted in shallow soils.
East of the mountains the crops promise
to be full average, and small deficiency
in Californis will not be felt in the mar
kets Throughout the belt of central grain
States good harvest is anticipated. and
though the country will 60 into the new
crop year with small surplus there will
still be something left over for export.
According to the law Of rotation, IL is
probable that the Europesn nations will
have good crops this year. England and
France may return to their old averages.
If they do, and if the Danube valley is
as productive as usual. there will be little
danger of dear bread.