State Agricultural Society. 85 



more to learn, viz: that a farming community does not do wisely that 

 seeks chances of sudden wealth by over production of some one article 

 instead of diversifying its products and relying on smaller gains? I 

 have called attention to the fact that one million dollars worth of butter 

 per year is imported into this State. Where are our dairy farmers? Are 

 they not all wearing out their lands to raise wheat to come in compe- 

 tition with all their neighbors, and make or lose as a bad or good crop 

 in Europe opens a foreign market? Our broad acres sheared by ma- 

 chinery tempt to large farms and the cultivation of cereals. Would it 

 not be better to reduce the size of many farms and diversify the produc- 

 tions? There is no reason why home-made butter should not expel 

 every pound of the imported article. Here you need not feed or shelter 

 your stock during Winter even. In the other States the stock must 

 be fed and sheltered nearly half the year. The cost of production 

 should be so much less here that California should ship its butter and 

 cheese successfully by the railroad or Isthmus instead of importing it. 

 But this may not be hoped while our farmers see wealth only in wheat, 

 and neglect the diversified interests that make up agricultural industry 

 elsewhere. 



The most vigorous protests have been entered of late by agricultural 

 authorities against the extensive and exhausting production of wheat 

 that characterizes California and some of the Western States. We are 

 assured that our soil is being rapidly and hopelessly exhausted. The 

 elements that go to make this cereal are the most precious constituents of 

 our soil. To raise twenty-five bushels of wheat on an acre strains the 

 capacity of that acre, and renders it less able to produce unless recruited 

 with appropriate plant food. Our rich new land — rich in lime and 

 potassa, in the nitrates and phosphates — produces more abundantly, but 

 every crop weakens the soil. For a few years the strong inducements 

 to sow a great breath of the productive soil, aided by implements of 

 modern agriculture, may make the farmer overlook the consequences. 

 But he is only eating out his fresh and fertile soil, and wasting the herit- 

 age of his children. The riches of our lands are drained to pour their 

 affluence into the sewers of London and Paris. Were I a practical farmer 

 I would press these facts and considerations with all my force upon 

 your attention. As it is, I point to your best authorities who deprecate 

 the enormous, unvarying production of wheat, and prophesy barrenness 

 and desolation as a consequence. Is this the practical answer, " If so it 

 is, we will get rich in the process — ' after us the deluge?' The answer 

 might have been characteristic of California in the past; but now let us 

 believe it has higher aims and principles. 



Another drawback to our State is not the peculiar fault of our farm- 

 ers — it pervades all classes. It is that extravagance of life and ideas, born 

 of the flush days of the State, when the gold glittered among the grass 

 roots and wealth came and vanished like a dream. It is amusingly illus- 

 trated by the affected reluctance of some Californians when first visiting 

 the East to take small change, as unworthy their attention — an affecta- 

 tion that only makes them ridiculous. It is also illustrated by the 

 exuberant, undiscriminating hospitality extended at first to all comers 

 here from the East, and often bestowed upon mercenary adventurers 

 or unappreciative selfishness. The frank openheartedness of Califor- 

 nians was abused and frequently rewarded with sneers. An instance 

 occurs to me of a person who was feted about this State and Nevada, 

 and treated with the utmost consideration and kindness, although he 

 had no claim to such attentions except as one of a party of early visitors. 



