The record-union., 1894-02-06

gain anu nOt De cnarge against It's pro-
ducts. Upon this basis we find the actual
cost OF growing wheat per acre to be as
follows:
Cost OF preparing land, per acre.... 81 so
COST OF seed, eighty pounds, at 81 20
- per ceIlliil ....-............... 90
cost OF so
COST OF harvesting. ! 90
Cost OF sacks and hauling ng.................... 90
1oIa4 cost per $4 So
At yield of sixteen bushels, or eight
sacks, per acre, which is a medium esti-
mate OF returns at anything like an
average year, shows the cost of produc-
ton to be 2S5 cents per bushel, and any
excess Of yield over this estimate re-
duces the cost per bushel proportion
ately.
We will take for example 100 acres of
good wheat land that yields say eight
sacks or sixteen bushels per acre-and
TINS is not an eXception-we find the cost
OF production per bushel to be 2S5 cents,
or 9l29 6O for the yield Of 1850 bushels.
Then taking the average selling price for
ten years preceding 1893 at IS cents per
busheI, we have return Of s., ,252 50, or
balance of 81, ,523 20 to pay interest upon
land values and profits. return for time
spent upon crop, which is usually about
tour months IN the year. This should be
net profit, as the wages of owner, If work
is done by himself, is included in cost Of
production, and by the careful and busi-
neSs-ike farmer enough other resources
should be available in the way of sales of
surplus stock, butter. poultry and eggs,
to pay his living expenses.
Those of our farmers who raise wheat
upon large scale are proportionately
more successful, as they can reduce eX-
penses Of production by use of all kinds
OF modern machinery to greater extent
than can the owner of a small area.
The system Of cultivation in wheat
growing districts Of California differs ma
terially from that Of other Wheat-produc-
ing countries, and accounts for the nom
use of fertilizers so much needed in
many other States. Our system Of sum
mer following" wheat lands tends TO
save it from exhaustion. As this manner
Of cultivation is not generally understood
by non-residents, it might be well to
here explain its workings and benefits.
The custom among extensive wheat
growers is, after the heavy rains Of the
winter are past and the land upon which
a crop had been taken the preceding sea-
son has received a thorough deep wet
ting, to begin with early spring and give
such land a very thorough ploWing,
thereby turning the soil up to the suns
rays during the entire summer. Then in
the following fall, say about the month of
benefit of the entire rainfall Of the win
ter, and unless crops are alternated land
thus tarmed is rested up every other sea-
son. By this plan OF soil working own
ers Of large tracts have an advantage
whereby they obtain greater gains than
to alternate crops and winter SOW.
By this summer following" system
much of the best wheat lands will yield
from ten to twelve sacks per acre. or say
fC 40 h1t
slight exhaustion of vitality.
The blowing and seeding Of land under
this system comes at a time of the year
when there is but little demand other
wise for both meu and teams, hence
slight reduction III expense can thus be
made. The condition of farmers in Cali
fornia compares most favOrably with those
OF any State OF the Union. We lind, as
rule, more prosperity and comfort
throughout the farming community of
this State than in the cities.
The farmer in California Is found to be,
as a rule, a most intelligent and indie
pendent individual, possessed of prac-
tical education and sound judgment upon
matters appertainlng TO the welfare of the
country, and are men that can usually be
trusted to the utmost in all affairs of a
public nature. Upon visiting their homes
one will find the members of the family
refined and educated in many arts that go
to make home both pleasant and attract
i've, and we believe that the farmers who
attend strictly to the business Of farming,
raising their own stock and selling their
products when fair profit is obtainable,
avoiding speculation, form the most
prosperous class of citizens we have here.
1t will be found that many are in debt.
but not as a rule through losses in farm
ing. 1t is either from an over-purchase
OF land-as it is a Well-knOWn fact that
when farmer gets any surplus cash on
hand his natural tendency to acquire
more land impels him to go in debt tor
portion of the purchase price-neglect of
his own business. or outside investments.
We have large number of successful
wheat-growers in California, and venture
the opinion that very small proportion
of their wealth was acquired through any
other source. While upon the subject of
wheat culture we must make mention of
the fact that our growers of this great ar
ticle Of export rely upon the elements for
moisture of soil. A very small proper
ton of wheat is grown upon irrigated
lands, consequently when the elements
are against them either by too great or too
little rainfall they are the sufferers.
The President of this board is the Sec
ond largest individual wheat grower in
California and says, in addition, upon
this subject:
Il lind that farming In the manner
spoken of herein, when it is carried on
with due regard to economy, is a success
in California and returns more profit
than almost any other business that one
can be engaged in.
For thirty years / have farmed on
tract OF land and am more satisfied with
its yield, in financial way, each season
than | would have been in any business
L know OF. [ find that farmers as a class
in California. where farming has been
carried on properly, are in fairly pros
porous condition. OF course, some are in
debt, but not from losses in farming. 1t
is either from over purchase of land or
other causes. Those who went in debt
when they commenced have lifted their
Indebtedness and now have elegant farms,
with an annual income Of many thou
sands OF dollars, which they have in
vested TO the best advantage, and | know
they never made a dollar except from
the production of the soil.
"A most profitable adjunct of the bus
mess of farming is the raising of hogs, as
they require no extra feed other than
what they obtain from the pasture fields
during eight months of the year; that is.
no prepared food is necessary. as most
every farmer has alfalfa fields to run
their hogs upon after they have used up
the stubble fields, where there is always
considerable waste grain after harvest.
While wheat has been declining in price
for several years. with our improved sys-
tenn of farming and especially harvesting