78 PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERs' CONVENTION. 



made until one hundred acres were included. None knew what could 

 be accomplished, as the resources of the valley were undeveloped, and 

 at the beginning all was experimental. The story of obstacles over- 

 come, of failures redeemed, of the care and money expended, would be 

 too long for this occasion. Miss Austin believed that horticulture for 

 women ought to become a business for them as well as for men, and 

 with that idea came to Fresno in August, 1878. A part of the vineyard 

 had been planted two years before, and that year the pack of raisins 

 was thirty twenty-pound boxes; the next year, three hundred twenty- 

 pound boxes. From that time she applied her energy and intelligence 

 to the development and improvement of the place until a home, orna- 

 mental grounds, drier, packing-house, and ranch appurtenances were 

 complete. Her death occurred in March, 1889. We labored together 

 from January, 1879, until March, 1889, when the burden of care fell 

 upon me, and further this deponent saith not. 



WOMEN'S AGEIOULTUEAL AND HOETICULTUEAL UNION 



OF OALIFOENIA. 



J By MRS. EMMA SHAFTER-HOWARD, of Oakland. 



The reactionary movement against subjective education as judged by 

 results shows itself in various ways; in none more plainly than in the 

 return to nature and the study of those elemental facts and factors 

 which underlie the art of life and living. 



The advancement of women in agriculture, like other evolutionary 

 movements which call for the application of scientific methods and 

 inventions to economics, is in line with truths and realities which result 

 from the nature and relation of things. In this objective movement is 

 involved the expansion and extension of the home idea as a progressive 

 institution, vital to human society in all the phases of its growth. 



This advancement is hindered by the gulf which separates the inter- 

 ests of city and country, especially among women; in the isolation of 

 the country home apart from the so-called advantages of the town; and 

 in the greater isolation of the city home in its lack of intelligence and 

 sympathetic relation to its basis of supplies — the country. 



It is largely the opportunity of women to throw out lines of mutual 

 recognition and helpfulness, and to stimulate the home up-building of 

 this State. "As a people are helped in their hearts to be brave in the 

 face of difficulties, so they prosper." 



The registration of the names of women in California who have 

 entered into horticultural and agricultural pursuits has begun. It is 

 the first important and practical step to be taken. Women throughout 

 the State have been asked to send their names and statements of their 



