68 FARMING IN THE WESTERN STATES. 



almost doubled the number; two hundred and twenty-three 

 ships left the port of San Francisco laden with wheat. The 

 crop of 1872 required three hundred and eighty-three vessels; 

 the freight of which would go far to provide a mercantile marine 

 for this coast. In July of that year, the rate of tonnage to Liver 

 pool was 4 15s. per ton, or $1 14 per cental; the average for 

 twelve years was about 2 11s. per ton, or a little more than 

 sixty-one cents per cental. 



The highest prices ever reached were in the years 1858, when 

 it brought $6 75 per cental, and 1865, when it brought $5 30 

 per cental. The lowest price was in November, 1860, when dis 

 tilling wheat was sold in San Francisco for $1 00 per cental. 

 The farmers found that inland transportation was effected by 

 rail, steamboat, and barge. The crop of 1872 w r as sufficient to 

 load sixty -five thousand railroad cars; or about one thousand 

 three hundred and forty average sized barges. The railroad 

 freight rate from Merced, one of the great centers, was thirteen 

 cents per cental; from Butte, by barge, $6 00 per ton; from 

 Chico, $6 00; from Merced county, $4 20, and from Monterey, 

 by steamer, $5 00. The handling, re-loading, etc., of this 

 great crop would require the labor of several hundred persons. 



Not only the cereal crops, but the other great staples of 

 wine and wool were concerned in this question of transporta 

 tion. 



The wool interest has yielded the highest average profit. 

 Indeed, California is the banner State in the quantity of the 

 staple produced, the size of her flocks and the average weight 

 of her fleeces. The climate is very favorable; and when wool- 

 growing becomes essentially an agricultural business, from the 

 necessary restrictions of the pasturage system, alfalfa prom 

 ises to take the place occupied by grass and clover crops in the 

 east, and to keep the proportionate advantages in our favor. 

 But it is to the fruit and vine cultures that we may look for the 

 most distinguishing features of our husbandry. As our wines 

 grow in the world s esteem; as our raisins find their way into 

 the world s markets; as our choice and luscious fruits, without 

 loss of flavor, variously prepared for export, become indispen 

 sable luxuries, and bring remunerative prices, small farms wall 

 exceed in profit the large ranches of the present day; and Cali 

 fornia will more and more resemble the belt of fruit-growing 

 States on the Atlantic Coast. 



