204 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONEE OF AGRICULTURE. 



267,450 in 1874, 245,708 iu 1873, and 0,091 in 1872. This direct British 

 export has rapidly increased, and promises . to become a permanent 

 feature of the trade. China and Japan took 192,104 barrels in 1870, 

 121,174 in 1875, 1-14,188 in 1874, 135,457 iu 1873, and 115,058 in 1872. 

 These are the lar^jest items of export. The coast-trade to iSTew York has 

 nearly ceased, only 520 barrels having been sent by that route, against 

 11,215 in 1873. In the local terminology of the market, ^New York, 

 Great Britain, and Australia are designated as casual, and other coun- 

 tries as regular, customers. In 1870 the casuals took 220,415 barrels, and 

 the regulars 287,728; in 1875 the casuals took 203,118, and the regulars 

 234,035 ; in 1872 the casuals took only 31,238 barrels, while the regulars 

 took 215,850 barrels. The subsequent equalization of the figures shows 

 a tendency of some of the casuals, especially Great Britain, to become 

 regular customers. 



The prices of flour during 1870 were remarkably uniform ; quotations 

 of superfine made at the beginning of each month ranged from $4 to $5 

 per barrel ; extra-superfine, from $4.50 to S5.50 ; family and fancy, from 

 $5 to 80.50, the maximum being in May and the minimum during the 

 last four months of the year. The "gilt-edged" flour, made by the 

 Golden Age, Golden Gate, and Yallejo Starr Mills, ranged from $7 to 

 $7.50 per barrel. It should bo remembered that on the Pacific coast 

 business is regulated b^^ the specie standard, and the above prices rep- 

 resent gold values. 



Wheat. — The California wheat-crop of 187G was the largest ever raised 

 in the State, being estimated by local authorities at 22,000,000 centals, 

 or over 30,000,000 bushels. The season, on the whole, was favorable to 

 shippers, the immense crop having attracted a large number of ships 

 for its transportation. The receipts at San Francisco during twenty- 

 one and a half harvest years will be found below. 



The receipts of the calendar year 1870 were 10,030,840 centals, or 

 17,720,070 bushels. Yet of this immense supply there were left over in 

 the State at the close of the year only 3,040,727 centals, or 0,007,808 

 bushels, equal to only one-sixth of the crop of 1870 ; a considerable por- 

 tion of this surplus was Oregon wheat. The delay of the regular win- 

 ter rains at the close of the year caused the impression of a short crop 

 in 1877, and to a considerable degree maintained the tone of prices, 

 which had been raised by the prospect of a general European war. 

 Low freights also enhanced the shipping demand, and the Pacific coast 

 farmers disposed of their immense yield at very good prices. The mar- 

 ket opened in January at 81.95 to $2 per cental, but began to decline in 

 the spring, reaching 81.00 to 81.05 in July, the new crop bringing only 

 $1.50 to 81.571. In September these rates began to advance, reaching 

 by the end of the year $2.15 to $2.25. The quantity sold for shipment 

 during the year was 11,000,000 centals, or over 18,000,000 bushels. The 

 special feature of the trade was the immense shipment to Europe ; En- 

 gland took over 15,000,000 bushels, Belgium nearlv 1,000,000, France 

 over 250,000. 



Corn.— The receipts of 1870 were 214,215 centals, or 357,025 bushels, 

 against 101,213 centals, or 288,088 bushels, in 1875. This cereal is but 

 of limited growth on the Pacific coast. The crop of 1870 was unusually 

 large and prices fell in consequence as low as $1 per cental, but rose 

 again to $1.17^ to $1.25 before the close of the year. 



Eye. — This grain is also of limited culture on the Pacific coast. The 

 receipts at San Francisco during 1870 were 20,184 centals, or 33-,G40 

 bushels, against 10,423 centals, or 27,372 bushels, in 1875. The market 



