170 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



HISTORY OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAl. SOCIETY 



OE CALIEORNTA. 



PREPARED BY I. N. HOAG, FOR THE CALIFORNIA SPIRIT OF 



THE TIMES. 



In nearly all the States of the American Union agriculture was the 

 first occupation of the early inhabitants. 



In California, mining engrossed the attention and gave almost 

 exclusive employment to the pioneer American settlers. The first 

 impression, that California was good for nothing for agricultural pur- 

 poses, was almost universal, and, like most other first impressions, 

 was very fixed and tenacious. But the wonderful growth of natural 

 grasses and clovers on the river bottoms, and oats, wild on the plains, 

 could not fail to attract the attention of thoughtful and practical 

 men, and lead them to entertain more favorable opinions of the pos- 

 sibilities of California agriculture. The extreme high prices ruling 

 for all articles of food for man and beast also had their influence in 

 leading men to make an eff'ort to grow something from California 

 soil in spite of what was then generally considered a most unfavor- 

 able climate. The general success of the first experiments led to 

 greater and more extended efil'orts the following year. Experiments 

 were made with many different kinds of products, and in many 

 different localities and kinds of soil, simultaneously, and the results 

 were so generally satisfactory that the problem of agricultural pro- 

 ductions in California was in a rapid way of being settled almost 

 before it had assumed any definite form or shape. But men of expe- 

 rience knew that general success in agriculture here, as in all other 

 countries, must be greatly dependent upon a general exchange of 

 thoughts and experience between those engaged in the business, and 

 they began to look about them for the mo^ available and efi'ective 

 means of securing this interchange. By a general concurrence of 

 opinion, the formation of a State Agricultural Society was the first 

 and most important step to be taken. A bill for an Act incorporat- 

 ing such a society was, therefore, drawn up and introduced in the 

 Assembly at the session of the Legislature in 1854. 



The Committee on Agriculture to whom it was referred took a 

 very commendable and lively interest in its passage. In the report 

 recommending the passage of the bill they, among other things, said : 



" This is not merely a bill to create an incorporate society whose 

 influence only affects those immediately interested, and has no 

 bearing ujjon the State or upon the great masses of the people^ — but 

 it is a bill the provisions of which will act upon every interest, aff'ect 

 all classes of citizens,. and touch with electric power every branch of 

 industry throughout the entire State. 



" Four years ago the agricultural resources of California were com- 



