The record-union., 1899-10-08

thor of California Fruits and How to
Grow Them," and California Veget- |
ables in Garden and Field" etc.l
California is not a new country. For
more than a century livestock and
grains and fruits have been grown and
have yielded wealth and comfort to a
farming population 1t is true that
until the discovery Of gold about half
century ago the population of Euro
pean blood was small, and farming
methods were rude and were pursued
with very little system and energy, but
still under the control of the mission
aries there were large herds accumu-
lated, vineyards and orchards made
productive and considerable quantities
of animal products, wine and grains Sc
cured. Large land owners followed
the example of the missionaries and
possessed themselves of vast herds,
traded the produce with visiting ship
Captains and became rich and prosper
Gus and secured such degree of agri-
cultural development and home COM
fort as Seemed to them desirable
Over fifty years ago the discovery of
gold brought to California thousands
of enterprising and energetic men and
women of American and European
birth, and intelligent and systematic
agriculture was shown ere long to be
on the average more profitable and
sure than mining The experience and
the materials of the preceding half GEN.
tury of rude agriculture were used to
their fullest extent and they lie in the
foundation of the California agriculture
which is now the wonder and admira-
ton of the world. But other elements
of the foundation were greater than
these. The bright men of all the ma
tions who came to California fifty years
ago, brought the agricultural wisdom
and methods of all parts of the world,
and the tools, plants, seeds, improved
animals and other materials which they
knew to be the best in their own coun-
tries They brought also energy and
understanding and devotion The re-
suit of a half century of agricultural
progress secured by emgrants from all
enlightened nations and their children
is seen in the present eminence of Cali
fornia agricultural productions with
value of one hundred million dollars
a year; cities and towns of great size
and industry; transportation companies
of great mileage and capacity; nobler
free universities and common schools
than are possessed by many States of
much greater population; agricultural
machinery of wonderful capacity and
effectiveness; a larger variety of grains
vegetables and fruits than any other
State can grow, and best of all, homes
of comfort and wholesomeness for all
classes of population-all these are fea-
lures of California's industrial develop
ment.
These are few facts about the Cali
fornia which is now sending her splen-
did products to all parts of the world
and is, as never before, attracting the
attention Of investors and home seek
ers from all nations. 1t is important
to remember that the State is not new.
1t is impossible to have such tried
and triumphant agriculture in a new
State or country. Such achievements
are the result of experience and devel-
opment, and they are the guarantee to
those now wishing to make investments
and homes that they are not proceed
. ing uLion prophecies or prospectuses,
but upon the basis OF facts which earn
est men and women have labored long
to demonstrate, and whose demonstra-
ton lies in profitable accomplishment.
He who wishes to invest his labor and
money in agricultural home making in
California takes no risk if he is sure
of his own energy and common sense,
and has discernment enough to secure
good advice. The newcomer is much
less liable than formerly to be misled
by self-serving and ignorant advisers,
but bad advice is still current The
truth about California is good enough;
but one must be sure he has the truth.
NATURAL ADVANTAGES IN CALL
FORNIA SOIL AND CLIMATE.
There are several indisputable advan-
tages which the California agriculturist
enjoys few of them may be enum-
Grated as follows:
First-A great variety of soils which
are for the most part very deep, rich
; and easily cultivated. These soils have
! been formed under conditions which
have prevented the escape of plant
{ food by the teaching effect of excessive
rainfall. For ages the rocks have been
: disintegrated for ages the streams
a have deposited rich alluvium; for ages
q wild vegetation has yielded humus and
= all these rich accumulations have held
their plant food, SO that now the agri-
culturist finds, not alone near the sur
: face, but to very great depths, soils
which are rich and fertile throughout
, their whole mass, so that the feeding
, roots of fruit trees and vines and some
E forage plants are found more than
twenty feet below the surface. 1t is
, true that in some places there is rock
! or hard clay and in other places there
is standing water, which prevent this
!. deep growth, but the experience OF
, planters and the systematic investiga-
ton of the agricultural experiment sta
ton of the University of California
both show that the predominant char
acters of California soils are great
depth. permeability and natural fertil-
: ity. This is also shown by the fact that
= California agriculture has proceeded
9 thus far almost without the use of ma
. nures except for some of the older fruit
!, trees which have been bearing heavily
= for years. This natural fertility is g
matter of surprise to farmers of Older
! and more humid countries who have
always found that an investment il
manures was necessary to the produc
;, ton of a profitable crop
a Second-The climate of California i.
h of incalculable agricultural ADVANTAGE
:. This has usually been estimated by the
q possibility of growing semi tropica
q fruits which the low temperatures deny
8 to wintry countries, but this is only ons
: measure of the advantage The milo
: winter, which prevents ice and snow
except upon the mountains. is of grea
oil lx xi,aIe 80 g.