8TA I K A.GRICULTUB \l. BOCIETY. 1 1 



ing tin' products of localities, that their variety and qualities may be exam- 

 ined. It is to be hoped that the interest will continue without abatement 

 until the entire fifty-two counties of the State arc represented; proper 

 encouragement, financially and otherwise, will at all times he extended by 



the Board of Directors. 

 The exhibition of 1885 was fully up to the standard in each department; 



the exhibit of live stock was most varied, and we confidently believe that 

 no other State in the Union could have shown a finer selection of cattle. 

 The increase of yearly sales made by the various breeders, through the 

 medium of the State Fair, is one of the practical illustrations of its useful- 

 ness. At the Exposition building various kinds of goods were exhibited 

 indifferent stages of manufacture. The art of mechanical products in this 

 State is in its infancy: the limited territory dependent upon us irives hut 

 little encouragement to our manufacturers to increase their plants until the 

 demand increases, as well as the interest. Capital is timid and does not 

 care to experiment without there is a field for action, hence to successfully 

 compete with the eastern factories, prices must he low. profit on outlay 

 small, and returns slow; for these reasons OUT progress in manufactured 

 goods has not kept apace with the advancement made in agricultural pur- 

 suits. 



The display in the agricultural department was most gratifying. Ex- 

 pressions of surprise and admiration were heard on all sides by visitors who 

 were not fully acquainted with the productive qualities of our gnat State. 

 What may he said in this report regarding the same will he considered as 

 having come from an interested source and hardly he credited by those not 

 familiar with the subject; sutlice it to say. that the exhibition in the agri- 

 cultural department contained a sample of everything California is credited 

 with being ahle to produce, and it will then he readily understood. 



The exhihition of machinery and agricultural implements was most 

 complete. The many new and novel devices shown were of interest to all. 

 Those who had machinery they desired to show in motion were supplied 

 gratuitously with power from the large stationary engine in that depart- 

 ment. The several lines of shafting were readily encircled with belting, 

 and motion given to many useful machines, the noise and hum of which 

 gave additional life to that section of the building. 



The new addition to this department gave us a hall of 158x168 feet, 

 which was most acceptable, and filled with a complete assortment of field 

 machines. ' 



CROP REPORTS. 



It is the aim and desire of the Board to furnish the people of this State 

 with reports, from time to time, of the crop outlook; and for the past two 

 years much has been accomplished towards that end by the assistance of 

 the Department of Agriculture, at Washington, D. C, through the agency 

 of this Board; but owing to the depleted condition of the appropriation 

 this assistance was withdrawn, in consequence of which we are without a 

 detailed statement of the yield of cereals for 1885. It is with much cha- 

 grin and regret that we are compelled to acknowledge that the first wheat 

 growing State in our Union is without a Statistical Bureau of Agriculture. 

 With the assistance before named we were able to give full returns of the 

 growth and yield of our principal cereals for the years 1883 and 1884: and, 

 contemplating the withdrawal of this assistance, and knowing full well 

 that the resources of this Board would not permit the expenditure of the 

 amount necessary to maintain this portion of an expected work, we caused 



