182 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



their neighbors, they could not accommodate half the applicants. 

 The clover had then, June 15th, been fed down close twice and was 

 still nearly three feet high and in bloom. Where the banks of the 

 river had caved in, they saw the roots twenty feet below the surface, 

 and while all other grasses were dry and yellow, the alfalfa on the 

 same kind of soil was green and luxuriant. Mr. Garrard, the Presi- 

 dent of the Society, also spoke of the great value of alfalfa as a for- 

 age plant, and especially for hogs. He said: 



The experience of tlie last two years had demonstrated the inaportant fact that this climate is 

 as well adapted to curing meats, both by salt pickle and smoking, as that of Ohio or Kentucky. 

 But the great difficulty has been to raise hogs at a cost to compete with the imported article. 

 The trouble has not been in the fattening, for we can raise grain as cheaply as most countries; 

 but it has been found in the absence of proper grasses to raise and grow the hogs on. This diin- 

 eulty will hereafter be remedied. It is certain that in a large district of our country, alfalfa,, 

 when once well rooted, continues green the year round, yielding three hay crops yearly, and 

 affording a full pasture equal in richness to a grain field. This crop seems designed by Provi- 

 dence for our peculiar climate. 



The annual address was delivered by Judge Henry Eno, of Cala- 

 veras. He dwelt at considerable length upon the advantages of agri- 

 cultural education, and urged the importance of an Agricultural 

 College for California, where science in agricultural practices was so 

 much needed. He also discussed the subject of irrigation, and gave 

 a history of irrigation in all the countries in which it had been prac- 

 ticed to any great extent. In speaking of manufactories in this State 

 he said : 



In 1S49 there was scarcely a grist or saw mill in the land; now we have one hundred and 

 thirty-one gi'ist mills, and three hundred and seventy-three saw mills, seventeen tanneries, fifteen 

 iron foundries, one pajDer mill, with a capacity of turning out six tons of paper per week; a 

 sugar refinery that can manufacture four hundred tons of sugar and twenty thousand gallons 

 of syrup per mouth; and a cordage and oakun:i manufactory in successful operation; and one 

 hundred and thirty-three quartz mills propelled either by water or steam power. 



The fair at Stockton was in many respects a long step ahead of any 

 State fair that had preceded it. Especially was this noticeable in the 

 exhibition of manufactured articles and fine blooded stock. The 

 attendance w^as also much larger. The amount aw^arded and paid in 

 premiums was $7,991. 



At the annual election of officers held this year at Stockton, the 

 City of Marysville was selected in which to hold the annual fair for 

 1858. 



The question of selecting a permanent location for the fairs of the 

 Society in the future having been agitated to some extent among^ 

 members of the Society, a committee of five was appointed, and this 

 subject referred to them to report at the next annual meeting. This 

 committee consisted of O. C. Wheeler, of Sacramento; Geo. H. Beach, 

 of Yuba; Wilson Flint, of Alameda; Wm. Daniels, of Santa Clara; 

 and Dr. E. S. Holden, of San Joaquin. 



It should be here stated that the annual appropriation to the aid of 

 the Society made by the Legislature in 1854, having been exhausted 

 in 1857, this appropriation was renewed at the session of 1858 for the 

 term of five years longer, from the 15th day of May, 1858. The charter 

 was also amended by striking out a number of restricting provisions, 

 leaving the Society less trammeled in its management, and requiring 

 the Board to make an annual report to the Legislature. 



John C. Fall, of Marysville, was elected President of the Society for 

 1858, and G. N. Sweezy of Yuba, G. C. Yount of Napa, John Bidwell 



