118 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



John Bidwell. The committee are of the opinion that they contain within themselves the 

 weight, elements, and general character that constitute the best bread-making wheat — the most 

 profitable for the farmer to raise, the miller to grind, and, not the least important, the consumer 

 to buy — but, in so stating, wish to add that the varieties known as Propo, Australian, Club, and 

 Sonora, exhibited by G. W. Colby, were the best of their kinds on exhibition, and the white 

 Chile and Tuscan}'', of H. Cronkite, very fine also. 



The exhibit of the different varieties of corn, made by John Bidwell, shows to what perfec- 

 tion that valuable grain has attained. The quantities were too small for a premium, and hence 

 we award the premium for the best bushel to H. B. Gilbert. 



There were bales of hops in competition for the first premium, placed by Messrs. Daniel 

 Flint, Flint & Lehmen, 0. D. Lovdall, and A. Mouton, all of which were of so superior a char- 

 acter that the committee found much difficulty in making an award, but concluded that the 

 bale of 0. D. Lovdall was entitled to the first premium, and so awarded. 



M. Waterman <fe Co. placed three varieties of imported Australian wheat for inspection, which 

 the committee reported to be very superior; and, in view of the great importance of our grain 

 interests, recommend to our farmers to frequently obtain their seed wheat from abroad, as one 

 of the best means of insuring the permanent superiority of our California wheat. 



The College of Agriculture of the University of California exhibits one hundred and thirty- 

 two varieties of cereal grains, without irrigation, on the experimental grounds at Berkeley, Ala- 

 meda. Of these, eighty-six varieties are of wheat, thirty-two of barley, thirteen of rye, and one . 

 of oats. This is a part of the collection brought together for the purpose of illustrating lectures 

 before the students in agriculture. In response to a call for contributions of specimens of grains 

 grown in the State, numerous contributions have been received of grain in the head, accompanied 

 with the clean-thrashed product. The greater number of varieties, however, were bought of a 

 reputable seed house in Erfut, Germany. More than one hundred kinds were thus secured in 

 one importation. The quantity of each was but small, so that the cost was very light compared 

 with the benefit which will be derived from them by the farmers of the State. It is the inten- 

 tion of those in charge of the College of Agriculture to devise some efficient method of distribut- 

 ing the most promising of these grains among the most practical farmers of the State, as soon as 

 seed can be spared for that purpose. It is expected that it will take some' time to acclimatize 

 grains brought from the moist climate of Europe to our comparatively dry one. The barley 

 specimens bear out the reputation for hardiness of that plant, and show that the climate of 

 Berkeley is well suited to their vigorous, growth, although critical judges may say that the loca- 

 tion is too near the coast to give the best color. The ryes come next in quality, but will probably 

 be improved in the future. There is but one specimen of oats — the Black Tartar — and that 

 shows a vigorous growth. Of the other varieties of oats grown, some were very promising, and 

 all will be tried again on the University grounds, and also sent to the true oat-growing region 

 of the State on the northern coast. The wheats have in general much handsomer heads than 

 the original imported ones which were shown at the State Fair last season. Most of the thrashed 

 specimens are wanting in plumpness, and show that they were Winter wheats in Europe. 



Your committee take this opportunity of commending the praiseworthy exertions of the Pro- 

 fessor of Agriculture of the State University and his aids for the valuable experiments they have 

 made in this department, which must result in great good to our State, and will in time be one 

 of the most important aids in producing those kinds of cereals best adapted to our climate, thus 

 enriching our own people and benefiting the whole world. While, as a committee to make 

 awards for the best exhibits, it may be regarded as inappropriate to make suggestions outside of 

 the direct line of their duties, they will venture to remark that many complaints have been 

 made here, and what is of more consequence, in Europe, that too little attention is paid to the 

 proper harvesting of our wheat, whereby gravel, quartz, and dirt is permitted to be shipped, 

 sacked, and sold as wheat. While it is not a supposable case that any farmer would knowingly 

 permit such an unwise piece of carelessness, it has all the effect of an intentional fraud with the 

 foreign purchaser, and though the most of our farmers will and do use all efforts to prevent it, 

 the indiscreet carelessness, or, perhaps, dishonesty, of a few, does every grain grower of our 

 State a great injury — one that may, indeed, lead to a permanent loss to the whole State. One 

 cause assigned for this is said to be the great extent of land cultivated by individuals, amount- 

 ing to many thousands of acres in some instances. It is urged that on such farms harvesting is 

 necessarily hurried, and proper care cannot be taken for want of time. If this be so, then it is 

 very desirable that the era of smaller farms, and a larger number of farms, may soon arrive. 



L. WILLIAMS, 

 J. B. WATSON, 

 J. W. B. MONTGOMERY, 



Committee. 



