The herald., 1895-08-23
LOCAL FIELD OF COMMERCE
The Wheat Crop for the Cur
rent Year
THE SMALLEST ON RECORD
II Promised Well, but the Harvest Is
Small
The Reasons Do Not Seem to Be Plain, but
the Fact Is Only Too
Apparent
THE SMALLEST ON RECORD

1t is realized that California has just
harvested the shortest grain crop in years
twenty five years, according to some au
thorities cited by the Pacific Rural Press.
1t is, from all accounts, the ligE test total
ures in tons that will be revealed on the
final summing up of the crop. 1t is not
quite SO bad for barley, corn and other
spring crops; but for wheat, the chief
dependence for expectation. the yield IS
the most disappointing that has ever oc-
Cured in the history of the state-disap-
pointing. because. in fully half of the
wheat growing area. appearances up to
che beginning of harvest indicated full
average crop, and in some counties ABOVE
it, hence the disappointment.
1t has almost uniformly been the rule
that no short crops have occurred when
the rainfall was an average one and was
well distributed over the great interior
valleys. But this year proves an excep-
ton, since the precipitation of moisture
was fully up to an average everywhere,
and in the Sacramento valley was consid-
erably above it. and yet the cereals de-
clined to grow, fill or mature. The cause
then is worthy of investigation by stud
ents of agricultural science; and. assum-
ing that the question will attract their at
tentio n, few points may be submitted
that seem to require adjustment. Prac-
tically, all reports from local correspond
ents accused the hot north winds of
spring for deteriorating the crop, when
in the year before the winds were hotter
and remained in the north at least foul
times as long as last spring. Again,
while Sacramento valley may have had
more moisture than was useful, the San
Joaquin valley was everywhere jubilant
over sufficient and timely rains, produc-
ing condition rarely excelled, and yet
the results are very nearly alike i'll both
divisions. Again, in some localities rust
anu smut are given as causes for The poor
yield, yet the yield was no batter where
there was neither smut nor rust, as in
Sutter and neighboring counties. Then
here and there we hear Of wheat shelling
out throughssh heavy winds; but since the
grain is somewhat shrunken, the loss
from this cause is probably overestimated.
as is evidenced by short yields aeound
the bays and along the coast. where the
drying north winds are unknown. Now.
since the crops were good in 1894 through
out the Sacramento valley. along the coast
and in the San joaquin, except in few
isolated spots, on less than average
rainfall, and during a siege OF north wind
scarcely paralleled In the history OF the
state, it becomes question of surprising
interest what d i'd produce the shortage the
country is deploring.
4 4 =
In Europe ripe olives are picked for
home consum ption and green olives are
picked for export because the former
will only keep for about year, while the
latter will keep almost indefinitely. The
ripe olive whom picked is rich in oil. and
hos. flavor that 10 Ia fol hi n
as well as nutritious. as an article of food
being fully equal to beef steak, while the
green picked olive is hard, tough and of
little account.