STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 11 



REPORT 



Office of the State Board of Agriculture, ) 

 Sacramento, February 1, 1888. j 



His Excellency, R. W. Waterman, Governor of California: 



Sir: Another year has terminated, and as we are required to render an 

 account of our transactions during the past twelve months, herewith hand 

 you a complete review for that period. 



Here also will be found the reports of the various District Boards of Agri- 

 culture, the financial statements of the Directors thereof, as well as several 

 able papers read and addresses delivered at the exhibitions held by these 

 organizations during the past year. That portion of the report relating to 

 the State Board, includes the usual statistical matter, and the financial 

 transactions; also, several able papers submitted by prominent citizens 

 having the welfare of the State at heart, and are thus willing to publish the 

 results of experiments by them made for the benefit of the new beginner. 

 Their actions in this respect are most gratifying to the Board of Directors, 

 and should receive more than a passing notice. If more of our citizens 

 would emulate this example, and show a spirit of willingness to assist the 

 newcomer in the various arts of agriculture that experience has made them 

 perfect in, we are positive that the encouragement would be most accept- 

 able, and where failures now occur successes would result. 



annual exhibitions. 



Occasionally we receive communications from foreign lands, inquiring if 

 our system of annual exhibitions is looked upon as beneficial to the gen- 

 eral public; also, if our system of District Agricultural Associations is 

 found to be of assistance to the State exhibition. To queries of this char- 

 acter, we have answered in the main: that we think our system is most 

 beneficial and prolific of much good, as " competition is the life of trade." 

 Hence, we argue that all efforts of this kind encourages the producer to 

 make an unusual attempt to excel in the arts of agriculture and trade. 

 Our breeders of live stock have achieved great success, so also have those 

 engaged in other productive industries. 



We certainly believe that showing these successes to the world not only 

 tends to stimulate trade, but likewise encourages the home-seeker to locate 

 among us, and use every possible energy to excel in the pursuit followed. 



The immense advantages of our fruit-producing sections have been more 

 fully shown by this course than by any other, and the marked increase 

 each year in the quality of our productions satisfies us that our system of 

 annual exhibitions has had the desired effect. 



Our intent is to encourage the producer to bring forth superior fruit, 

 whether of growth or labor, and to urge the consumer to purchase the best, 

 consequently our aims in both directions are effective. 



The benefits of the district associations are the same applied to their 

 respective localities. In addition to which they are most important factors 



