The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-02
CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRIES.
Review OF the Conditions That Prevailed
the Past Year.
Interesting Report of the Directors Of the State
Board of Agriculture.

war with Spain had a depressing effect
upon our export trade. March proved
to be a rainless and cold month. The
month of April gave US the most notice
able set back in the shape of a hot
wave that did great damage, coming
at time when showers were longed
for by the already parched crops, and
when moisture was almost entirely out
of the ground.
Alk possible methods were improvised
for the purpose of irrigating land ada
cent to our water courses, and in some
cases beneficial results followed, but in
the absence of any organized system
for the handling of water, the expense
was so great that we doubt any great
financial gain came from it, although
stock was saved, and expenses for feed
minimized.
Att this time pears, prunes and apples
were about the only fruit crop expect
ed for shipment. This warm, unnat-
ural weather continued through April,
and not until the middle of May did We
get rain, at which time came our heav-
lest spring shower, over one inch fall
ing in the Sacramento Valley, but the
great grain fields of the San Joaquin
Valley were past redemption. This rain
greatly helped late sown grain in the
northern and central counties, and cool,
cloudy weather prevailed the entire
month, thereby holding in suspension
and advancing growth of grain that
usually nears maturity at this time
Prospects for the time being were
greatly improved, people generally felt
safe. as the indications We're favorable
to a good yield from acreage of the low
lands which promised to offset by in
crease of yield the loss of crops on high
lands. The low lands that are subject
to overflow are seldom seeded to wheat,
but when there is less than eight
inches Of rain before the month of
February, it is planted in large quaint
ties and makes prodigious yield-as
high as sixty bushels per acre have
been taken from 1.OOO-acre tracts when
the rainfall is below normal, thereby in
surfing against overflow of rivers
Nearly 40 of an inch of rain fell dur
ing the last week in May in the Sac
ramento Valley, and on June LIST heavy
showers came. The first three weeks
of this month gave to US most favorable
weather, but the last week proved a
period Of great disaster to our then
most promising cereal crop, as it
brought the strongest north wind of the
season which, coming at a time when
our grain crops were ready for and In
process of harvesting, the effect was
magical, as the heavy headed grain, by
reason of favorable weather during
early maturity filled exceptionally good,
was fully so per cent. whipped out and
scattered broadcast, thereby lessening
our prospective yield beyond computa-
ton. This was 1.-THE straw that broke
the camers back and but for which
our wheat yield would have been al
most the equal Of 1897.
The season Of 1898 can well be looked
upon as one of great disaster to our
farming community, while the business
of the State has not suffered as much
thereby as it would ten years ago, as
other productive industries and trade
conditions have advanced to such an
extent that California is not wholly de-
pendent upon grain growing as in for
mer years.
Since 1880 California has experienced
but four dry" seasons, as follows: