The record-union., 1898-01-05
CLIMATE AND CROPS IN 1897.
GENERAL REVIEW BY THE
WEATHER BUREAU.
An Average California Year Whose
Conditions Should Interest
Fasteners.

Following is a review of the climatic
and crop conditions of California for
the year 1897, prepared and issued by
Director Harmon of the California Sec
ton of the United States Weather Bu-
reau:
Unlike other sections of the country,
agricultural areas and periods are not
sharply defined in California. The
topography Of the State is very df-
versified, and the conditions of climate
and soil almost equally so. The length
OF the growing season, the relations OF
rainfall and water supply to yield, and.
dn brief, the whole general character or
farming operations differ materially
from those existing elsewhere in the
united States.
The agricultural products include
wheat, barley, hay, oats, hops, beans,
Vegetables of all kinds sugar-beet
melons, honey and all manner of dairy
products.
The fruits embrace almonds, apples.
apricots, berries of all kinds, figs,
guavas, grapes, lemons, olives, oranges,
peaches, pears, plums and prunes, rad
sins and walnuts Pasturage is i'm
portant because of large stock inter-
'ests. Horses, cattle, sheep, swine and
sangora goats are among the livestock.
California is one of the chief wool-pro-
.ducing States, and there are probably
100000 sheep upon its ranges
Sugar -beets are cultivated extensive
1y, and in the vicinity of Salinas there
is said to be 10000 acres under cultiva-
ton. In the Fresno district there are
b, 600 acres of raisin vineyards, and the
l. "a
average yield is one ton to the acre
In the production of citrus and de-
'ciduous fruits California has a larger
acreage than is devoted to this pur-
pose in all of Europe The citrus
fruits run in general from December
18th to the end of March.
Pruning fruit trees progresses from
November 1st to March LIST. Thinning
fruit begins with the apricot about May
list Picking apricots begins about
June Goth. First peaches are picked
about July 10Th, and the season runs
until October. The cherry is the first
fruit to ripen, sometimes as early as
April 18th.
At the beginning of the calendar year,
which is not the beginning of the agr1-
cultural year, however, the season was
considered to be about two weeks late.
The rainfall was about normal during
January, and above the normal in Feb
ruary. In Southern California in Feb
ruary the rainfall was neary two inches
in excess. In March the rainfall was
about normal.
The last week of March was cold and
wet F,rosts did some damage to al
ronds and apricots. The first week
in April was not favorable, and the sea-
son was still regarded as backward.
The second week was one of excessive
heat and sunshine, greatly benehung
all crops. In favored localities farm
ers began haying, sugar-beets were
planted in large amounts.
Plenty of sunshine with temperatures
well above normal marked the latter
half of April. Fruits throve, but dry
winds crusted the ground and MADE
plowing for summer failow dlffcult-
The grain yield is largely dependent
upon successful summer following Inc
object is TO give one crop the ralnIali
of two seasons. With the ADVENT Oh
Mary the summer was fairly on, and
the rain practically at an end. Fogs
helped materially wheat, barley, oats
and fruit Haying was in fun plast
and bean planting commenced.
continued dry northerly winds. This
may be considered perhaps the most
critical period of the year, for heavy
northers can do great damage to grain
and are always a source Of anxiety.
Fruit drops and grains are parched and
burnt At the end of May the hay
crop was short, but grain and frut
held their own, and there was every
prospect of a successful year for the
farmers. June brought cool and on
the whole favorable weather. There
was a hot wave during the first week
which ripened fruit rapidly and shrlV-
eled grain some.
The damage was less than might
have been expected. Wheat and par
ley were harvested by the middle OF
June and the yields We're generally
large. The growing and maturing sea-
sons were free from insect pests. "A
few grasshoppers we're noted IN the
foothills.
Cherries were all picked by the end
of June. and the crop was an excellent
one Apricots. blackberries and straw
berr-es were plentiful. In July thresh-
inc was general. and with warm and
favorable weather the harvest was eA-
cellent.
Apricot curing was carried on ex-
tensiyely. Peaches We're plentiful;
grapes ripened rapidly. Occasional not
northers touched the fruit a little, and
grapes. especially Tokays. were dam
aged. Sugar beets made large crop
and were safely harvested. The olive
crop was a large one
August was dry and warm. Table
grapes suffered from sunburn and vine
hoppers There was a slight potato
blight Hop-pickers were busy, and
the season was brisk one. The sec