Imperial press and farmer., 1902-05-10

county except Colusa, Butte, Amador and Yuba, which show decreases of 43.7, 1S.5, 14.S and 10.7 per cent, re- spectively.
 Irrigation Statistics.
 From an elaborate report on Califor- mia irrigation statistics, accompanying the agricultural report, the following facts are taken: In ten years ending with 1899, the number of irrigators in the State increased from 13,732 to 25,- CTS, or S7 per cent; the area irrigated from 1,004, ,233 acres to 1 ,446, IA acres, or A per cent. Of the total improved acreage in 1900, 121 per cent was re ported as irrigated. In 1SS9 26 per cent of the farms were irrigated and in 1899, 35.4 per cent. In 1899, there were operated 1913 dltches, receiving water from open streams, lakes and springs by gravity, and used chiefly or solely for irrigation purposes. The total cost of construction of these ditches was $12,S55,O12, and the area irrigated was 1,24S,17S acres, making the average cost of construction per acre irrigated $10.30 The total length of the main ditches was 51O6 miles.
 Live Stock.
 The total value of live stock in creased 11.7 per cent, the largest rela- tive increase being in Tuolumne county. The general agricultural prog ress of this county in the past ten years has been very marked. Prom 1850 to 1900, the population of Califor- mia increased from 92, 597 to 1,4S5, ,053, or siXteen-fold, while the number of farms increased from SIP to 72,542, or ever eighty-fold. In other words, from 1850 to 1900, the number of farms, and hence the number of persons operating them as owners or tenants, increased faster than the population. This state ment applies also to the decades. In the last decade the number of farms, and hence, of owners and tenants, in creased 37.1 per cent while the total rural population increased but 12.7 per cent This indicates that, in the last ten years, unlike the two decades pre- ceding, the number of persons opera ting farms as owners or tenants in creased faster than the number of those who worked for wages.
 The total value of all live stock on the farms and ranges June 1, 1900, was $67 7,242,112. Since 1850, the number of dairy cows has increased over seventy fold. but decrease of 31 per cent is shown for the last decade. It is prob able that this decrease is more appar- ent than real, as many of the 3O4,450 cows and heifers not kept for milk were doubtless milch cows dry at the time of enumeration. The fact that the production of milk has increased 3S per cent since 1890 supports this view. The number of horses, mules ana asses have steadily increased since 1850, the rates of gain for the last decade being 54 per cent for the for mer and GIG per cent for the latter. The number of sheep increased until 1880 since which year it has decreased, { loss for the last decade being 3.3 per cent The number of swine has Hue tuated.
 Social Conditions.
 There has been a marked improve ment in the last two decades, in the social and economical condition of the California farmer During this period great additions were made to the rural ] population The number of farms operated by owners increased 9S.6 per ! cent, and the number operated by ten ! ants 1858 per cent. the former show l ing the greater increase from 1880 to