87 



implement. They know that they have a domestic animal by which 

 they can till their soil. 



MULES. 



I cannot recommend these valuable animals too highly, for they 

 are far better for the rancher or farmer than the horse, where they 

 have to depend on hired help, as they require less attention, and 

 are less liable to disease, and can stand the heat much better. 



SHORTHORNS, OR BEEF CATTLE. 



AVe have certainly excelled any State or country in our cattle. 

 Twenty-five years since we had nothing but the Spanish cattle here, 

 excepting what few American cows were brought across the plains 

 by emigrants. The raising of cattle was all done by the natives. We 

 now challenge the world with our shorthorns. We have the finest 

 beef catte in the world. Yes, when our neighbors, the Japs, come all 

 the way from Japan, go to New York and examine the finest herds 

 in the Atlantic States, they return to California and purchase their 

 cattle and horses in this market, showing to the world that we can 

 produce the best animals that stand on hoof. Alderneys, Jerseys, 

 Devons, Herefords, Ayrshires, Holsteins, and Holderneys, all have 

 their advocates for their fine quality of milk, and the fine quality of 

 butter and cheese made from the same. They certainly stand very 

 high in the estimation of the public of this coast, and I would advise 

 every family to try one of those fine milch cows. One great beauty 

 about them is they are so gentle and kind, as well as useful. 



OUR WOOL. 



Allow me to show the amount of wool produced in this State during 

 the past six years : 



1871— pounds 22,187,188 



1872— pounds 24,255,468 



1873— pounds 32,155,169 



1 874— pounds 39,356,781 



1875— pounds 43,532,323 



1876— pounds 56,550,977 



The improvement in quality has kept pace with the production, 

 and our California wools are sought after to the preference of others 

 in the Eastern markets. 



A VARIED AGRICULTURE. 



The subject of a variety of agricultural production has been made 

 the theme of discourse in addresses before Agricultural Societies of 

 the State, and in the current agricultural literature. The varied soils 

 and climates of California naturally suggest a variety of agricultural 

 and horticultural productions. In her semi-tropical climate we 

 know that semi-tropical fruits may be cultivated with profit. In our 

 foothills and the higher altitudes of the mountain ranges the produc- 

 tions of the temperate zone may be grown. We have successfully 

 introduced here a greater variety of production than may be found 

 in the States of the Mississippi Valley. To my mind the question is, 

 what is profitable ? Every country is adapted by nature to a specific 

 class of productions, and men are wise when they follow the sug- 

 gestions of nature. California is specially adapted to the growth of 



