The morning call., 1894-12-04
EXTENSION OF AGRICULTURAL
RESOURCES.

If the agricultural experiment stations
never GO beyond demonsi ration that cane
sugar can be produced in California they
will have justified their existence. 1t has
been known to many that sugar cane would
grow in certain places in this State. What
have been wanted are experiments carried
far enough to show that the cultivation
can be made profitable.
Some years ago stalks Of sugar cane were
exhibited here that were grown in the
southern part of the San Joaquin Valley.
There was apparently no difference be-
tween these and the cane that was brought
up from Mexico and Central America.
Then the sugar-cane experiments dropped
cut of sight. If it had been produced in
any large quantity there would have been
no sale for it in advance of mills for con-
verting it into sugar.
II is reported that leading sugar-mak-
ing firm in this State is ready to erect
product sufficient to justify such an enter
prise. 1t has been demonstrated by an
experiment station in the Sacramento Val
ley that sugar cane can be produced on the
islands and along the river bottoms. The
cane will grow here without irrigation,
while the sugar cane produced in the
Hawaiian Islands is the product of irriga-
ton. This is also true of the sugar cane
produced in Mexico and Central America,
as well as that grown in China. There are
some points of chief Importance yet to be
made clear. How large an area is there in
the Sacramento Valley, in the San Joaquin
Valley, or in all the counties of Southern
California where sugar cane can be grown
at profit?
There would be a great advantage on the
side of cheapness if sugar cane could be
grown or the reclaimed river bottoms
without irrigation. The farmers have this
advantage In producing all other crops on
such land. Sugar cane must have heat
and rich and moist alluvial SOIL All of
these condito ns are found on the recla lined
land of the Sacramento Valley. They are
substan TALLY the same In Tulare and Kern
counties, although in these counties irri-
CATION for a cane crop might be required.
Another demonstration wanted, which
one or more of these agricultural stations
could furnish, is as to the production of
hemp. Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas and
States lower down on the Mississippi pro-
duce the bulk Of the hemp grown in this
country. 1t has always been considered a
profitab BILE crop. The farmers of the III g.
souri, River bottoms get better returns for
hemp than for any other product of their
farms. 1t is still a staple crop and one
grown without irrigation. If sugar cane
will come to maturity on the rich reclaim ed
lands of this S ate, WHY will not hemp also
maturr? This question was partly an
swered some time ago: Hemp will come
to maturity, but there is no market for it,,
and farmers will not grow it without the
certainty of a market. 1t requires ma
chinery to prepare the crude material for
shipping" Blu would no the home pro-
duction create a market? Suppose the
demonstration was carried far enough to
show that it could be made a prof BILE
crop on comparatively large area of
land. would manufacturers not call for the
product as promptly as they call for it in
Missouri and Kentucky? Here are two
great agricultural staples which have made
no figure as yet in California. What would
the agricultural community gain If these
staples could be added to the list of paying