The record-union., 1897-02-02
Report Of The State Board Of Agriculture for the
Year Just Passed.
A Comprehensive Review Of the Condition Of The States
Agricultural Industries During 1885, With
I'm portant Recommendations

noble vocation seemed to have passed
into history as another one of the VIC
TINS of OVerprOductiOn. But it must
now be conceded by all that the pro-
duction Of wheat offers special induce
mentS to the soil worker as much as
the days past when the virgin land
produced immense quantities and the
expense of harvest three times as great
as now.
The prices Of the past few years have
not encouraged extension, and lands
have been put to other uses. while nee
essary inventions have greatly reduced
cost of harvesting. This condition Of
affairs viii for the next few years be
most beneficial, as lands that have been
used for other crops will now, when re-
turned to wheat yield some of the old
time" crops that will make handsome
returns under prospective prices.
We took occasion in our last report
to review the markets for the past
thirty years, and 50 remarka bic was
the fall in prices during that period
that We could not help writing dispar-
agingly of the future of wheat growing
But the unexpected has happened, and
America is again called upon to furnish
the staple food product to foreign coun-
tries. that but a short time ago prom
ised aunihilation by reason Of their
increased productive qualities of our
leading agricultural industry. 1t is
now more fully demonstrated than ever
that the safety Of the soil worker lies
in his adherence 10 the production Of
staple food articles. These form the
basis of agriculture, and as prices are
regulated by supply and demand, his
returns viii be equaliZed accordingly.
Recent reports show that the wheat
crop Of Australia for the next harvest
ending in April-wiI fall 50 short as
to change her position as an exporter
to an importer. and that she will need
at least 1000, 600 bushels to supply her
own consumers Heretofore she has
exported upward Of 10000, 900 bushels.
This condition Of affairs Will benefit
California. as we will be called upon
to supply a larger portion Of the H.,
600. 600 bushels covering her demand
and deficit export. Then, again. the
shipments Of bTeadstuffs from San
Francisco during the last six mbnths
Of 1896 We're the largest since 1891.
This fact shows clearly the rapid alb
sorbtiOn Of our stock. which will re-
quire several years with favorab BILE crops
to accumulate any great surplus. and
with the exhaustion of soils that have
been devoted exclusively TO wheat it
is quite apparent that the growing of
wheat for the next few years Will be
a profitable venture.
We publish herein a table prepared
by the United States Department of
Agriculture showing course of wheat
production and expectation in the sew
eral wheat growing countries of the
world from 1880 70 1896. which will
be Of great value for reference by those
interested in the subject of wheat grow
ing.
MEAT PRODUCTS.
With a consumption Of about 100
pounds Of meat annually per capita by
the people Of Great Britain. Of which
- per cent. is imported. makes the
United States an important factor in
the expectation of food meats, as we
furnished during the first six months
Of 1896 151 per cent. of the live meat
and over 80 per cent. of the dressed
meats used in that country.
This fact has had its effect upon the
local prices of cattle in California. as
the condition of trade for the past three
years has caused a very perceptible re-
duction in stock cattle, as extension
was not warranted inasmuch as border
ing States with extensive ranges that
were Of no value except for grazing.
and the accessibility of our markets by
rail. gave US competition that in de-
pressed times affected our extension in
the production Of cattle. But now that
Eastern purchases having extended to
the adjoining States, there is at the
pI 7sent time a brisk local demand for
our own stock at from 6 to : cents per
pound net which is a better price than
has prevailed fer years, and will be a
boom to our breeders that have re-
maiucd in cattle breeding through ad-
verse times.
There IS also a healthy demand for
good rai.ch cows by reason of local
cream ~ organizations in the various
counties Of this state. The remunera-
tive prices received for hogs during the
two years. 1S94-3. and the low price
of wheat during the same period. of
tension IN the production Of hog meat.
as the demand then warranted the
farmer in locking for local relief for
increased stock. AS result. we be-
came overstock I. and prices fell to
2ls and , cents per pound but at the
present writing there seems to be
slight upward tendency. the west
bound tonnage OF hams and bacon from
Eastern States during the past year
amounting to about 1000 tons.
This condition can be ascribed to but
one cause. and that is lack Of proper
facilities for home packing We pro
duce the meat buy capital is not forth
coming TO remedy rhis omission SO dis
astrous to the producer. But we still
permit the packer living 2.o00 miles dis
tant TO supply. not only what should
be our export trade but a large part
Of home trade as well. while California
is capable of increasing the production
Of al food meats necessary to entirely
supply all the present demands.
II has been practically demonstrated
that wheat equals corn in the produc-
ton Of this great food product. but
what we lack is confidence of capital
to overcome the difficulty in the devel-
opment Of this as well as other of our
natural resources.
This same state of affairs exists IN
the production of poultry and eggs,