State Agricultural Society. 55 



Edwards' trees are doing well. He estimates the probable expense of 

 care and cultivation at about ten dollars per year, and remarks that in 

 ten years he expects to have fence posts enough to fence all his own 

 land and some to spare for his neighbors. 



Stratton proves that he has planted out on fifty-three and a half acres 

 of land thirty thousand blue gum (or eucalyptus globulus) trees, and 

 three thousand red gum trees. His trees were planted in forest form 

 during the last planting season, and were in August last on an average 

 four and a half feet high. They are planted eight feet apart each way. 

 They were grown from seed gathered in December, eighteen hundred 

 and sixty-eight, from trees belonging to Stratton then seven years old. 

 Stratton estimates the cost at about one hundred and fifty dollars per 

 acre before any revenue will have been derived from them, which he 

 thinks will probably be in about seven years. The eucalyptus is a native 

 of Australia, where it is considered a very valuable forest tree, being 

 used extensively for piling, flooring, and other purposes. Thus it will be 

 seen that we have made a beginning in the cultivation of artificial 

 forests. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN STOCK. 



The annual exhibition of stock, both horses and cattle, at the State 

 Society Fair the past few years have shown most conclusively that Cali- 

 fornia is not surpassed by any other portion of the world as a stock 

 growing country. The appearance on the Fair grounds at the last exhi- 

 bition for the first time of many superior specimens of imported 

 thoroughbred horses, cattle, and sheep indicates that our people fully 

 appreciate the advantages to be secured by the introduction of the best 

 breeds of animals. The improvement indicated in our California bred 

 colts over their dams and sires and creditable performances on the track 

 speak well for the judgment and intelligence of our stock breeders and 

 give promise that California may at no distant day present the best turf 

 record of the world. <• 



GENERAL CONDITION OF THE STATE. 



It was generally anticipated that the completion of the Pacific Rail- 

 road would bring to our shores a large immigration from the eastern 

 States, introduce among us a large additional circulating capital, and 

 consequently give a general impulse to business on this coast. For 

 reasons now generally understood and much to be regretted, these 

 anticipations have not been realized to the extent expected. On the 

 contrary, our merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, and many classes of 

 our agriculturists found themselves, by this event, brought face to face 

 in sharp competition with the merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, and 

 agricultui-ists of the eastern States, not only in the general commerce of 

 the world, but in supplying thousands of necessary articles of consump- 

 tion, wear, and use to the people of the States and Territories of the 

 Pacific slope. Our eastern competitors had the advantage of us in many 

 respects. Their habits of living were more frugal and economical; 

 their modes of business more close and careful. Their products had 

 been made by cheaper labor. They were satisfied with less profits. 

 While the money with which all their business operations were carried 

 on and sustained was rated at an interest of but six and seven per cent 

 per annum, that with which we were operating was rated at from 

 twelve to fifteen per cent. With such odds against us it could not be 



