The record-union., 1895-02-05

invidious reference is made to the State
Agricultural Society, and which is mis-
leading. Following the tabulated state
ment OF district appropriations showing
amount received and the proportion eX-
pended for premiums, a paragraph added
says the state Agricultural Society has
cost the State since 1880 $3.50, ,000." Would
IL not nave been just as proper to show
What TINS money was used for, as in the
case OF district associations? a few lines
OF ABOUT this character would have eX-
planned to the people and members of the
Legislature exactly how we cost the
State this money:
The appropriations made for the State
Agricultural Society since 1850 are $277.
500. The printing charged by the State
TO their account was Slll ,353 80; total of
S369 i53 80. OF this amount. Sl92. I63 5S
was awarded in premiums; 500, 900 was
used in the construction of the new Agri-
cultural Pavilion, the property of the State,
leaving about $4,000 for care and lnsur-
anCe OF State property for fifteen years."
This, in our mind, would have been a
more eX pIlClt way OF showing how the
institution had cost the state the amount
named. We challenge comparison with
any other State institution. The amount
of printing seems large, but we know
that nothing was ordered printed that was
not necessary and CT benefit to the State.
named are as follows: 1850, S6,502; 1881,
$6,GO3 60; 1882, $o,65I SO: 1883, $6,9i5 90:
1854, Sll, ,467 26; 1882 $l3, ,Gl2 y; 1885, Sl3,-
$40 IS; 1887, Sl4, ,53S 81; 1888, Sl4 256 9S 1889,
1906 10; 1880, $I5,70 10; 1891, $I7, ,62S 10;
1892, $l7, 100 70; 1885, SI3,244 70; 1884, SI3,
Az 20; total, 9l02, 1913 IS.
Other agricultural Items.
The present conditions OF trade where
by every production of the soil is selling
at minimum figure should not discour-
age Investment in land. 1t is, TO our
opinion, an opportune time to purchase
farming land, but not in quantity to re-
qulre the aid OF any great amount OF help.
Inc owner OF q tract that can be iarmed
with little help, anu which Will grow
variety OF products salable at all sea-
sons OF the year, can still make q COM
Portable living 1or himself anu family.
1t is the growers owning large tracts of
land, and who must necessarily depend
upon large amount OF help, that feel TO
the greatest extent the adverse condi- |
tons now prevailing. I
from this time forward the successful |
farmer will be the one who keeps ex- |
penses down TO the minimum. No other
profession or following offers greater en- |
cOuragemenU tor study at this time than |
does soil cultivation. In this State we
nave the opportunity for studying the
question IN Its most varied form, but il |
requires thought and business ability to
advance the Industry successfully. There |
are many soil products that Will stand in
creaSlng even III these times, and the low
prices LnaL now prevail therefor are
caused only by the stagnation OF all buSi-
ness enterprises. We have at this time
no large enterprise in course OF construc-
uon, for the reason that
CAPITAL Is WITHHELD,
surrounding our financial affairs, But.
in our opinion these conditions cannot
always exist. Money must find employ
ment as we'll as labor, and when the end
OF the present depression is reached a re-
action will follow, with demand for GER
tain kinds OF farm products, and the
growers must be prepared to take adyau-
tage OF the situation at that time.
IN reports received and information
gathered, we are informed that in many
instances during the past season growers
OF wheat, by turning a great portion of
their yield into meat, realized from l to
l.lU cents per GENITAL Tor their wheat. With
hogs selling at from TO A cents per
pound, fair profit may be realized upon
wheat. That we have not reached IN pro-
ductlon the demand for pork, lard, hams
and bacon, Is shown by the fact that in
1894 we imported this character of food
meat to the value OF 81, 100000. The price
81
cents per pound, decline caused entirely
by the farmers demands for money. The
packer Is not expected to pay any more
than he IS required; we think that the
lack OF competition among packers is
likewise cause for the tall in prices.
BROoM-CoRN CULTURE.
The growing OF broom-cor is another
prolific interest that has been sadly neg
lected in this State for the past few wears. |
a .to Carf 2 flaa
figures, but know that hundreds OF tons
OF the product OF other States have been
shipped into California in recent years
and the price advanced TO SlU0 per ton.
The river land and irrigated districts OF
this State should grow enough broom
corn to supply the entire Pacific Coast.
The seed Is most valuable for stock feed.
while the heads are in constant demand
Tor manufacture of Drooms.
GOOD ROADS.
It is to be hoped that the agitation for
good roads Will not be permitted to relax,
but be continued until each county OF the
State has thorough system OF roads that
will bear heavy use AT all seasons OF the
year. The farmers should take great in
terest in this matter. as good roads viii
permit the hauling OF produce to market
during winter months, thereby saving
the expense of storage, etc. a general
system OF permanent road structure
should be made a law, and the construc-
ton should be OF material that will last
for long term OF years.
CITRUS FAIRS.
The disposition of the appropriations
for citrus fairs las been made by this
board III manner that served the citrus
fruit interests to the best advantage. Dur
ing the winter OF 1854 the Northern Cal
liornIa Citrus Fair Association elected To
use the entire $1,000 appropriated by the
state 10 make one elaborate exhibit at the
MIdwinter Fair, which was held in San
Francisco IN 1894, in place of the two sep
arate fairs IL as many fiscal years.
AS this appropriation was exempt from
provisions OF the Act requiring but one
half OF the appropriation to be used in
any one fiscal year, this board acquiesced
in the proposition and can report that a
most worthy exhibit of citrus fruit from