EIGHTH DISTRICT A.GBICULTUKAL association. 481 



yield, or twice the amount returned in the first report, and amounted to 

 16,676,702 bushels. The Last report, that of 1880, shows that in 1879 tins 

 yield had increased to 29,017,707 bushels, or almost one and three fourths 



times the yield of 1870, and our State ranks seventh in the list of wheat 

 producing States and Territories. Already in 1S7 ( .» she w&B'first in rank as 

 a barley producing State,her yield being 12,579,561 bushels; almost equal 

 to the amount produced by both New York and Wisconsin, which were 

 next on the list below California, and ranked in the order named. 



In the other cereals our State makes a good showing, hut the attention 

 • if her farmers has been turned more to the two cereals which J have named. 



In other respects, when compared with the other States and Territories, 

 California ranks in the following manner: tenth" as to the number of acres 

 in farms, and yet the proportion of land in farms to the total land surface 

 of the State was, in 1880, only 0.166 per cent, showing what is yet in re- 

 serve. In 1870 the total number of farms in California was 23,724, and in 

 1880, 35,934, the percentage of increase in tha, + , time being 51.5, and has 

 since been greater. Only thirteen States have more improved and culti- 

 vated land; only four have more acres of orchards, vineyards, permanent 

 meadows and pastures, and only twelve exceed us in the value of all farm 

 produce. 



These figures are significant; they speak volumes for the young State, 

 and -the advancement she has made. And while we give ourselves to 

 laudation of our commonwealth, and feel that w r ords are all too weak to 

 fully sound her praises, we also think with pride that the district repre- 

 sented here is an important and component part of that commonwealth, 

 whose vital interests are the State's, and to which all praise of State must 

 needs redound. Every ray flashing from the jewels of her well merited 

 crown falls with undimmed luster upon the counties clustered round her 

 like children round their mother, or subjects round their queen. 



In our Agricultural District, also, figures are significant, and the facts 

 show well for us. Our population is about 31,000, and is fast increasing. 

 Amador and El Dorado have the largest population, and rank as named. 

 They are, of course, essentially the agricultural portions of the district, and 

 to them must we look for the chief returns of fruit and agricultural prod- 

 ucts, and for the greatest progress in these respects. 



This district has an area of six thousand one hundred and thirty-five 

 and a fraction square miles, or three million eight hundred and twenty- 

 seven thousand acres, and is larger than the States of Connecticut and 

 Rhode Island; El Dorado County alone being larger than the State of 

 Rhode Island, and almost as large as Delaware. 



Our broad acres are far from being settled up; thousands of acres of good 

 land lie about us to be had under the homestead and preemption laws by 

 settlers, and improved or partially improved land is to be had at reasona- 

 ble rates. Intending settlers will find great inducements offered them in 

 this county, and many are coming among us. And why should not the 

 settler, seeking for a spot to found his home, come into our foothill counties? 

 Here he will find all conditions favorable; a climate not to be surpassed, 

 and the finest in our American Italy; a soil that will produce almost every- 

 thing that grows, and water to be had in abundance. One great drawback 

 to the rapid settlement of our county is, undoubtedly, the lack of trans- 

 portation facilities, but improvement in this respect, we think, awaits us in 

 the future, and we trust the day will soon be here when the shriek of the 

 locomotive shall be heard in our midst, and the twin bands of steel will 

 be seen piercing far into our foothill region. That time will mark the com- 

 31 90 



