THE M0NTHL"! BULLETIN. 



isr. 



how it all impressed him. "Well," he said, "You know 1 saw the 

 Hobart and Spreckels buildings in San Francisco. I thought they 

 were pretty high. After thai il did not matter bov high you made 

 them." . 



It is really very difficult to make comparisons, because to the 

 average mind there is no particular difference between four millions 

 and two billions. Judgment, however, is based upon comparisons. 

 Therefore, in order to understand the California farmer be musl be 

 compared with other farmers, even a1 the risk of giving offense to one 

 or the other. Unless you are willing to accept the unfavorable along 

 with the Favorable, no eorrecl judgmenl ran be reached. 



It so happens that there are four tracts of hind of approximately 

 equal size, and characterized by four rather distinct types of agricul- 

 ture, which are admirably adapted to comparative uses. Doubtless 

 other areas might have been chosen, but one must draw the line some- 

 where. These four tracts are: (1) The nine North Atlantic states; 

 the six New England states, plus New York, Pennsylvania and New 

 Jersey, the grass and trees states. (3) The three eon, states. Indiana. 

 Illinois, and Iowa. (3) The two Dakotas of spring wheat fame. 

 i) California, the land of fruit and flowers. 



The agriculture of the oine North Atlantic states is based on pasture, 

 timothy hay. and apples. The agriculture of the three "I's" (Indiana. 

 Illinois and [owa i, is characterized by corn and hoes; that of the two 

 Dakotas by wheal and cattle; while the foundations of California 

 agriculture are laid in barley, alfalfa and fruits. 



These four areas are approximately equal in size, but very different 

 in population. The nine North Atlantic state- contain twenty-five 

 millions of people, California two and a half millions; the three corn 

 states contain a population four times that of California, while tin- 

 two Dakotas contain only one-half its population. 



The value of all crops and the value of all animals owned on farm- 

 according to the census of 1910 was greatest in the com states and 

 least in California. The North Atlantic states are characterized by 

 the products of their manufacturing, while the Dakotas are charac- 

 terized by their lack of manufactures. The per capita value of all 

 crops raised and animals owned on farms in the North Atlantic states 

 is tar less, and manufactures somewhat more than in the other sections, 

 while in the Dakotas the value of crops and animals is far greater 

 per capita, and that of manufactures very much less. 



After all has been said about things being unusual in California it 

 seems strange to relate that the per capita value of all crops raised and 

 all animals owned on farms, and all manufactured products, was in 

 1910 almost identical with the average of the whole United States. 

 Whatever may be said of individual localities or particular individuals. 

 California as a whole is distressingly normal. From the standpoint of 

 society California was in a satisfactory condition in 1010. I wish to 

 repeat thai I did not start oul to prove it to be true. It just happens 

 to be so. If, however, one is not considering society, or even the 

 agriculture of the state as a whole, but is interested for the moment 

 primarily in the status of the individual farmer, the situation will be 

 found to be somewhat different. The average value per farm of the 



