37 



would cost at least $200 per head. It also seems that an allowance of $500 for 

 living expenses for family is low. . . . Neither can I see where the $300 cash 

 income could be expected the first year. It seems to me that one man working 

 alone would be doing exceedingly well to get anything like fifteen acres of 

 alfalfa during the first year and that from this he could hardly expect to grow 

 enough to furnish the income that you suggest. 



"Speaking in a general way with reference to the amounts allowed for the 

 purchase of cows and bulls, it seems to me that you are not allowing enough 

 for the character of animals that would be expected to produce the returns on which 

 you count. Grade Holsteins have been sold in this state for over $100 per head, and 

 dairymen find it exceedingly difficult to secure good dairy cows at any price at 

 the present time. While I have sold registered bulls at the price your beginner 

 could afford to pay, and have seen others offered for sale, the buyer would need 

 some good advice in order to be able to make such purchases by mail, and he 

 could not afford to travel in search of stock. 



"The returns that you have estimated, assume, it seems to me, a character 

 of land that may properly be called 'Alfalfa land,' much better in character 

 than much of that offered by dealers as suitable for growing this crop." 



THE EENTEE AND HIS OPPORTUNITIES* 



Various systems of renting land are in vogue in this state. One 

 thing must be kept in mind, namely, that a stranger finds it difficult 

 to secure a desirable piece of property at anywhere near a reasonable 

 rental. Most of the tenants in California are men who have either 

 worked for the landowner and have afterwards assumed charge of 

 his property for him, or have successfully worked land in the 

 immediate neighborhood. The land owner is thus well acquainted with 

 the tenant. In the irrigated section of the state it is not uncommon for 

 a young man who shows himself especially industrious in caring for 

 dairy stock to be offered a proposition by the owner, who in the hot 

 summer months may determine that he can leave his ranch in the 

 hands of the hired man by making him a share participator, turning 

 over his entire ranch equipment, livestock, etc. The man may agree 

 to pay a cash rental of so much per acre and to deliver to the owner 

 at the expiration of his lease as many cattle as are received and one- 

 half of all the offspring. He also agrees to pay the water rentals and 

 to keep the place in good condition. Sometimes this rental is put 

 aside and a man will agree to rent his place with stock on condition 

 that the renter deliver to him one-half of the monthly cream check 

 and one-half of the sale of all farm products and one-half of the 

 offspring that remain on the place over and above the number of 

 animals that were there when the man took charge. 



By DAVID N. MORGAN, Assistant to the Director. 



