100 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



onstrations of productivity of the State in surprising 

 volume and variety of staple crops and of un-Ameri- 

 can products, recognized. Local population fully 

 supplied and importation of staples displaced by local 

 products and exportation thereof begun. Conceptions 

 of world entry of unique California products confi- 

 dently cherished. 



1860-1870. Decade of wheat. Beginning of 

 exports of wheat by specially chartered ships to 

 Europe, which grew into larger fleets, year after year, 

 until the peak of the movement was reached in 1896, 

 after having won title in 1878 as the "greatest wheat 

 state in the Union," the title being, however, soon 

 lost to Minnesota even while the California wheat 

 product was still increasing. 



1870-1880. Decade of wool. California attains 

 place as largest wool-producing state, with twice as 

 many sheep as any other, and secured her greatest 

 wool product in 1876. Wool production gave way 

 to the growing convictions of the better use of land 

 for other products for which the first decade of an 

 overland railway brought not only a shipping outlet 

 but a multitude of new settlers eager to invest in more 

 intensive agriculture. It was the dawn of new devel- 

 opment which closed the pioneer period in rural life 

 and industry. 



1880-1890. Decade of fruit. Not of greatest 

 achievement for after forty progressive years that 

 is still in the future. It was, however, the decade of 

 definite and adequate foundation; eager demand for 

 land; successful colonization and subdivision; wide- 



