addition to this he must use his brain as well as his hands, and cultivate 

 his land to its highest degree, and so arrange his crops that the diversity 

 will insure him an income. 



The future of California agriculture depends on intensive and diversi- 

 fied farming. To the superficial cultivation of large tracts of land is due 

 California's lack of progress along agricultural lines in the past. Great 

 stretches of land in California were granted by the Spanish and Mexican 

 governments to favorites, and millions of acres were given over to loose 

 farming and to the pasturage of cattle, horses, and sheep. To such an 

 extent was this done in the past that at times when, owing to lack of water, 

 the pasturage was insufficient great herds of horses which ran wild over the 

 land, were rounded up and driven over precipices into the sea in order 

 that the cattle and sheep might have more feed. What cultivation came 

 to these enormous estates was in a comparatively small part of the land. 

 The owners received such princely incomes because of their vast holdings 

 that they paid no attention to the details of farming, but preferred to live 

 in the cities or in the magnificent haciendas in a style the magnificence 

 of which rivaled that of many of the princes of the old world. This was the 

 reason the possibilities of California's incalculably rich soil were as a closed 

 book to the world for so many years. 



But, as those same Spaniards say, "Otra dias, otra cosas." Other 

 days have come and with them have come other things. The people of 

 California are awakening to the wonderful possibilities of the soil and 

 climate of the State, and with this knowledge comes the doom of the large 

 holding of land. Where at one time great tracts maintained at most one 

 hundred people now thousands are provided with homes on the same area. 

 Thousands of acres of the richest soil in the world still lie waiting the com- 

 ing of the small farmer to California. It is only through intensive farming 

 that these lands will give all their best, and when the land is worked to its 

 utmost that best is something never dreamed of by farmers of the older 

 States. Such thorough farming without exhausting the resources of the 

 soil requires an intelligence scientifically educated to constantly supervise 

 the work. 



It will be seen from this fact that the area of land which one man can 

 care for and supervise to its fullest advantage must of necessity be small. 

 Hence it is that intensive farming requires a small farm. But with inten- 

 sive work on a farm diversity goes hand in hand. It is a dangerous condition 

 to have but one product on a small farm. In good seasons and in average 

 seasons the crop will pay wonderfully well; but when there comes a bad 

 season, a poor market, or any of the many things that are adverse, then the 

 small farmer finds himself without returns for his labor, without means of 

 sustenance, and obliged to wait an entire year before he can hope to re- 

 cover from the mishap. The small farm, intensely cultivated with diver- 

 sified crops, is the boon of the farmer and the hope of the State. In the 

 small farm there must be no waste places. No weed-grown corners nor 

 weed-lined fences must deface the farm and draw life which should go to 

 the crops. Between tree-rows neither grass nor weed should find room to 

 absorb irrigating water, and draw sustenance from the soil which belongs 

 to the crop. 



The small diversified farm is especially alluring to the man with small 

 means, who, while he can buy but a few acres, can feel assured that he 

 will not only provide for his family, but will also be able to lay aside some- 

 thing each year which will go for future comfort. His returns are sure, 

 and if properly managed his little farm is bringing in cash every month with 

 the regularity of a salary. 



Fresno is shipping from sixty to one hundred tons of figs a day, and 

 these shipments are not keeping pace with the packing of the crop. 

 Prices, here and in the East, remain firm. 



11 



