The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-19

The most ambitious attempt that has
yer been made TO give TO the world in
one collection OF essays the facts con-
cvrning characteristic industries Of Cal
ifornis is 10 be attributed 10 the Cali
fornia commissioners to the St. Louis
Exposition. More than thirty leading
Californians have devoted time TO sup
plying information that is practical in
its bearing. and the collected essays are
now getting wide circulation among the
crowds that visit the exposition. There
are undoubtedly thousands who Will
peruse what has been written, and cor
respOndence and general enlightenment
viii follow.
There is much in the essays that is
admirably adapted to teaching CalifOr-
mans what there is in this State TO ad-
mire. In d condensed form or in eX-
tracts there is much that CalifOrnians
viii read with pleasure. California
Is the collective name that the ST
Louis commissioners have placed on the
essays that they have caused TO be
written The text is Illustrated with
pictul IS II Cenes that reflect the genius
of the countr-r. While there are thou
sands OF strangers in the State who
may not visit St. Louis. some portions
Of the essays are considered to be time
~ for publication.
BRIGGS ON AGRICULTURE.
Arthur r. Briggs. manager Of the
California State Board of Trade, is the
author Of two articles that are included
in the book issued b. the California
commissioners. One Of these, with the
caption Of Agriculture in California,
contains much that is new. Among his
many statements are the following, Sc
lected for use here on account OF the
amount Of information contained in
them:
When il is understood that California. the
second State in size in the Union. has total
land area Of 155, $50 square miles, or sD.s.l,-
zoe acres of which 2s.9 per cent or D IS Sol
acres were included IN farms when the cen
sus OF 1900 was taken. some general idea OF
its magnitude - farming area IS received
But no part Of California has yet been devel-
cped - ITS capacity. eitnef IS 10 l4ou1cts
or IN the selection - such as are ultimately
70 be Of the greatest proht intensive farming
taa been e1eupllheu ~ seNerai cuuhtlss' Dut
not one u them has its whole cultiyabie area
IN crops. Another consideration N estimating
the agricultural possibilities OF tslfornia IS
that the soil and climate are favorab bic for the
growth ~ all the prodUcts-that is, valuable
and high-priced crops-which made the re-
rion around the Mediterranean unique and
gave II an exclusive trade until California in
terrened. also that here in the same local
tie. and in adjoining tracts the raisin. the
hg. corn and ether cereals. ana all the vegeta-
tlou and frutzge common 10 the strictly tenn
perate zone. thrive 90 perfection
TRANSFORMING FARMS.
That the extensive grain fields OF former
years have been or are being converted into
ts~rrs 81 less acreage devoted 10 a new culti-
--gfso- ana fi,sr he combined harvester which
cuts threshes and sacks the grain ready for
market with its thirty-two mules a. a pro-
pelling power. is gradually being supplanted
with the machinery suited 10 smaller holdings.
are evidences Of a new and more modern c-v-
progress But this does not remove California
from the list q large cereal productions. The
grain product o. the state, though small as
compared with some former years for the
season I902-OJ aggregated 80 9c9 300 pounds
or s 965. 1Js bushels OF wheat Sc. Gee, coo
pounds or iS2, 29l. loU bushels Of barley r.
.2o0 pounds o. rye and il1sSoOoe0 pounds
Agriculture in California IL ought to be IN
cerstood. has passed through several phases.
Immediately after the subsistence % the char
acierisuc era % placer mining the cultivation
~ cereals began Cd very large scale Fruit
Was considered % be only Of advantage i1r
home neeas When Il was discovered that
green deciduous fruits could te successfully
marketed as FAR eastward as the Atlantic
distribution q canned and dried fruits might
De effected on larger commercial scale. other
branches q farming began 70 attract atten-
ton Intelligent experiments led 70 the discov-
cry u many frult varieties that could be sue
cessfuiiy grogn and marketed
been tried in California has been failure
from thc FieTDoint q production. II is ac-
cepted as = fact that everything viii grow In
California Its great variety Of elevation
ans climate provide all the conditions es-
genital for plant growth. The mes. forbidding
deserts blossom like the rose the magic
touch of wefcr Plenty waits only industry
fntcIligentlv APPLIED 70 give large rewards in
al narts of the state. with the exception OF
me higher attitudes IN the mountains. The
foothills and the valleys, the interior and the
coast counties alike are prolific in agricultural
products
u VIII be seen that agriculture in California
covers vide scope and affords opportunity
Tor important development The last quarter
~ century has given demonstration sufh-
Gent 10 justify expectation far beyond any
present devclcument The application OF sci
entihc methods IL bringing into this depart
rlert q industry intelligence and capital from
various parts n the world. promising great
results
TRIUMPH OF IRRIGATION.
Much that is Of interest may be
learned by reading an article by VIII
liam r. Smythe entitled Triumph OF
Irrigation" Detached paragraphs are
selected herewith:
The mission fathers gave the natives their
nrst lessons in the art OF irrigation and the
beautiful gardens and orchards which sprang
up ~ the early religious communities illus
trateo the agricultural possibilities inherent
IN California soil and sunshine But the
modern era Of irrigation began fifty years aeo
with the founding Of Anaheim. some twenty
miles southeast Of Los Angeles, by colony
o. German Americans. Anaheim Is rightfuIly
proud ot It's distinction as the mother COLONY
Far more widely celebrated however. are
Riverside and the numerous settlements which
came into being as the consequence OF its ex-
simple and influence. Among these are On