The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-02
Annual Report of the State Board OF Agri=
culture

There is not much difference in the
yield of barley as compared with that
of 1896. and the exports for the year
amounted to ), 40o, 900 centals, or almost
4o0, 900 less than in 1886. The European
demand for our best barley still con-
tinues, and prices ranged from 30 cents
for feed to 81 10 per Genital for export.
While it is quite early to get the exact
acreage for 1888, we are safe in say
! ing that there is very marked in
crease in wheat acreage for the coming
season, and thus far the condition of
plant life is most favorable. With a nor
NAL rainfall from this time ON we
should have the largest crop since 1889.
when the yield for California was No.
600 600 bushels, as all available land in
the wheat-growing counties of the State
has been seeded.
WHEAT GROWING.
Z Viewed at this time We can say with
qualification that the conditions of trade
look most favor able to the wheat growing
industry in this country. While it's
success is to certain extent due to
| crop failures in other lands this is one
! of the contingencies that arise period
| ically in almost any calling, be it ag-
riculture or manufacture. Crop failures
and war are two great agencies in the
| advancement of prices of all bread
stuffs, and some country is going to BEN
| eft thereby. This time it is America,
it. In our opinion it will require at least
two good crops the world over to ac-
cumulate a surplus that would reduce
/ fNrin ccy low 1,axy in Ernm
present indications America will have
| 10000, 600 bushels of wheat for export
at exceedingly good prices, and as the
/ producer will, as he did in 1897, get the
benefit, We hope for prosperous year,
as stiff demand for staples insures ex-
tension in all lines Of trade.
| From reports thus far received from
other large wheat-producing countries,
We note a very perceptible falling off in
yield. Australia's crop is estimated at
only about 9500,0 600 bushels, as against
a normal yield Of about p, 900 900 bush
| els. A large part of this deficit will be
| supplied by California. Telegraphic adj
vices show that the shortage of harvest
III Austria Hungary is much greater
! than was anticipated. and that the i'm
ports for food products alone will be
/ 500, 600, 600 in value.
When it is realized that the wheat
| yield of these countries for the past five
years has averaged 1877 ,605,S1 bushels
annually, from which has been exported
10 100000 bushels, it will be readily seen
that they are important factors in the
worlds grain trade. A shortage of this
magnitude is quite significant, and
would indicate that America and India
! will again be called upon to make good
| the European deficit.
| Thus it will be seen that the outlook
| for wheat growing in California is
healthy and promises profitable returns
70 the grower.
THE DAIRY.
| The science of dairying has made
such rapid strides during the past few
| years, aided and stimulated by the De-
paltment of Agriculture, that this in
| dustry now stands as a most important
| and growing factor in the agricultural
| exports Of the nation. A review of the
| growth and condition of the butter
! trade of America furnishes most in
! teresting article in the report of the
| Secretary of Agriculture for the year
! just closed, and shows the total export
| of butter from the United States to for
! eign markets to be 81 100000 pounds
| for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1897,
an increase of 10000, 900 pounds over
| the exports of 1894 This increase is
| largely due to the shipment of better
! quality of butter, which goes to show
| that more thought, attention, and study
| have been given the science of butter
/ making.
Under recent series of experimental
| exports made by Secretary Wilson, for
| the purpose of promoting an increased
/ foreign demand for our butter, it has
! been fully demonstrated to the people
| abroad that we can make as good but
I ter as any other nation, and the result
/ is a much better feeling now exists for
/ the American product. 1t has also
/ been shown by recent tests that the
/ quality of selected American butter
/ equals the best offered in London from
/ any other country. The butter from
/ the United States and that from Dem
mark have been found to be the only
absolutely pure article imported into
/ England. and the English customers
mare so well pleased with the American
/ production that 1t commands the high.
! est market price.
The development of this market in
J sures a more uniform demand for the
Eastern product, thereby removing the
Eastern surplus from competition in
! California. AS the manufacturer in
the Middle States had to add but about
| cent per pound TO get it into this mar
ket, and as prices here are generally
better tl.an in his own local markets,
! the butter generally came This way
This accounts for the large westbouni
! tonnage each season.
CALIFORNIA; export trade by sea IS or
the increase. as is shown by the fol-
lowing table:
I DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND
CHEESE Ely SEA.