THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 703 



Three times the area is now in process of planting of two years ago, while pro- 

 ductiveness is gaining, through improved methods of culture and innoculation of seed. 

 The avocado industry is receiving much attention and several acres are bemg planted 

 to this fruit. Spineless cactus is gaining a wide planting, but very few, if any, of our 

 farmers have succeeded in getting their stock to take to the new forage. Reports thus 

 far are to the effect that stock has to be starved to eating the food, and they refuse to 

 touch it when other food is available. None seem to form a fondness for it thus far. 

 Even the accommodating hen does not take to it. The general conditions of crops 

 for the year are fully normal, and returns will equal normal. What is lost on short 

 crops is made up in price or by increase on other commodities. The unharvested 

 crops promise full normal returns, with possibly an exception m the bean crop. — 

 C. W. Beers. 



Santa Cruz County: 



The avvle crop has been considerably damaged by the recent hot weather, 15 per 

 cent to 50 per cent, according to conditions. The total output of shipping app es will 

 probably not exceed 600 cars, but culls are abundant — about normal supply. Shipping 

 stock is moving rather freely at $1.00 to $1.25 per box f. o. b., and higher prices are 

 obtained in some cases. Considerable fruit is going into cold storage. The grades of 

 Newtown culls are bringing $9.00 per ton, with drying stock at $7.00. The market 

 conditions are a decided improvement over last year, but the almost total tailure ot 

 the crop will prevent this district from deriving much benefit. Beets are the best crop 

 this valley has this year. The 800 acres in this year are estimated at 11,000 tons. 

 The minimum price is $5.50 per ton, but the average should be between $6.00 and 

 $7 00. The acreage is about twice that of last year and yield is considered normal. 

 Potatoes are very poor this year, only a small acreage and very light yield which 

 may be placed at 25 per cent crop. Berries, referring largely to strawberries, but 

 including black- and loganberries, have produced heavily this year. Market condi- 

 tions have been poor and frequently glutted to a serious extent. ^Prices have ranged 

 from $8.00 to $3.00 per crate, with large quantities going for $4.00 or less. Very 

 small profits and positive losses have resulted. The acreage is on the increase, owing 

 to past records and anticipation of a large market in 1915. The total output this 

 year is about 300,000 crates. Apricots were about 661 per cent normal crop, with 

 good prices and fairly free movement. The product of 1,000 tons dry sold from 10(J 

 to 140. Oranges were about 50 per cent crop and sold for good prices.— W. H. Volgk. 



Shasta County: 



Our fruit crops are all off the trees and vines. The Winter Nellis pear crop is not 

 being shipped. The crop was good, as also are the sizes. The Bartlett crop was not as 

 good as last year, and much of the fruit was infested with codling moth, which cut 

 the shipping tonnage down considerably. The fruit crop in general was not near 

 normal that is, in general over the county. In fact, aside from pears and prunes, 

 there was no fruit crop in the valley proper. The Happy Valley section had a good 

 crop generally, of all kinds of fruit. The peach crop was good, but the infestation of 

 peach moth was very bad, and we expect to plan a district and make a general spray- 

 ing order for all the orchards the coming season, and enforce a clean-up. The prices 

 of the green fruit in that section were 30 per cent to 40 per cent more than for three 

 previous years. Our hay and grain crops were all good over the country, the Fall 

 River section having a bumper crop. Our alfalfa acreage is increasing and there 

 will be quite a planting the coming season. The hay and grain prices range about 

 the same as previous years, with the exception of grain hay, which is 25 per cent 

 higher than last year. — Geo. A. Lamiman. 



Solano County: 



Alfalfa — crop 90 per- cent. Almonds — crop 65 per cent. Grapes (table) — crop 60 

 per cent. Peaches — crop 90 per cent. Pears — crop 70 per cent. Prunes — crop 75 

 per cent French prunes and pears have been in a demoralized condition the latter 

 part of the season. They averaged smaller than last season. Many fresh prunes 

 shriveled before maturity. Pears became half sized — all due to dryness. Tokay 

 shipments are very light at present, about one car per day leaving the county. Some 

 new drying prunes, one of which is the Standard, have developed well on young trees. 

 They have reached normal size, which is about the size of the Grand Duke plum. 

 Peaches at Winters and Suisun are normal in size ; at Vacaville they are normal in 

 most orchards, but in some they average very small; in some orchards too small to 

 use. — C. R. Mc Bride. 



Sonoma County: 



General conditions of crops for vear: The general conditions of crops in Sonoma 

 County for the year are below the average, running from 50 per cpnt to about norrnal 

 for hops and grapes. Returns for crops compared with other years: The financial 

 returns for crops will approximate the average for other years as the higher prices 

 will make up for the shortage in production. General conditions of crops not yet 

 harvested: The late apples, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, grapes, etc., are below the 

 average, with the possible exception of wine grapes, which seem to be nearly an 

 average crop. — A. R. Gallawat. 



Stanislaus County: 



Alfalfa — crop 110 per cent, due to more water ; returns $10 to $12 per ton. Almonds 

 — crop 5 per cent, due to frost ; returns 150 per pound. App/es — crop 100 per cent 

 returns Ic green. Apricots — crop 10 per cent, due to frost; returns 2J(i green. 

 Beans — crop 100 per cent; returns 40. Berries — crop 100 per cent; returns, 80. 

 Cherries — crop 50 per cent ; returns 80. Figs — crop 125 per cent ; returns, 30. Grapes 

 (wine) — crop 80 per cent; returns, $12 to $14 per ton. Grapes (table) — crop 80 per 

 cent; returns $20 to $25 per ton. Lemons — crop 50 per cent; trees killed last winter. 

 Olives — crop 125 per cent; returns $17 to $25 per ton. Oranges — crop 100 per cent; 



