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THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



CROP STATISTICAL WORK IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY. 



By Daniel 1>. Sharp, County 1 1< . rtiniUnr.il Commissioner, Riverside, Cal. 



Upon becoming Horticultural commissioner of Riverside County it was found that 

 there was limited data on file to which I could refer for guidance in forming estimates 

 for the reason that very little data on crops had been required from the county 



commissioners up to that time. The demand for 

 this information is increasing daily as the real value 

 to the farmer is more fully appreciated, and it is now 

 necessary to have systematized records which can 

 readily be referred to, and to keep them on file year 

 after year for future reference. 



The first year the horticultural inspectors iu the 

 different districts were called upon for reports on 

 acreages of the various crops grown, it was realized 

 that there was a very hazy idea of what was needed, 

 as no two inspectors reported in a similar way. 

 Immediately it was decided that regular blank forms 

 were necessary for reports, consequently a regular 

 form was printed, with the listed crops down the left 

 side and five columns across the top ; the first column 

 for the bearing acreage, the second for the non- 

 bearing acreage, the third for the current season's 

 planting, the fourth for the addition of the other 

 three columns forming the total acreage, and the 

 fifth column for the yield. The column for this 

 year's planting was for the purpose of keeping track 

 of the various horticultural crops being planted in the different districts. These 

 reports signed by the district inspector furnished a ready reference of what was 

 planted and produced in each district, and simplified the totaling for the county as a 

 whole, which was done on a similar blank. 



A large chart was prepared, representing the thirteen districts in the county listed 

 along the top. and the crops reported upon listed down the left side, and the bearing 

 acreage of each crop listed under all districts producing it, as well as the percentage 

 of the total county bearing acreage of each crop in each district. Thus from the 

 report can be quickly seen the proportion of the county total that each man's district 

 report represents. 



A system such as described is very important. Without it, reports received are 

 often misleading. The same system should be followed whether the commissioner 

 has inspectors or not. If he has no inspectors he should have his county divided 

 into districts according to the factors that might cause a difference in yield, such 

 as irrigated and nonirrigated areas, and such areas that might be affected differently 

 by climatic conditions. The commissioner could then note conditions for the various 

 districts and keep a similar office record. 



The value to the farmers of these crop reports must not be overlooked. Through 

 them they are enabled to know conditions throughout their own and other counties 

 of the state. False and misleading reports by speculators have been circulated freely 

 in the past, and such reports can only be prevented by the compilation of accurate 

 reports by men whose interest is only in giving the facts. As commissioners we 

 should make every effort to have these reports as correct and as comprehensive as 

 possible, and in such form as to be readily available. 



