104 



government by bringing abundance where poverty and want taxed the 

 resources of statesmanship. 



In all these years the American farmer has gone on unaided save by the 

 inspiration of his love of home and country and made this nation great 

 and powerful. 



France, with one twelfth our area and not much over half our popula- 

 tion, appropriates $20,000,000 annually to foster agriculture. Brazil, with 

 thirteen million population, appropriates $12,000,000 for this purpose annu- 

 ally. The United States, with a larger area and ten millions more popula- 

 tion than both these countries, appropriates less than half a million dollars 

 in aid of agriculture. 



Let us hope that the new Department of Agriculture will be liberally 

 supported and wisely administered, and that the Division of Pomology will 

 not be overlooked. 



To illustrate the increased consumption of fruits, and this bears directly 

 on the question of market, I give a table showing imports for three decades 

 of oranges and lemons: 



1856-57 447,136 boxes of oranges 238,297 boxes of lemons. 



1866-67 692,259 boxes of oranges 337,441 boxes of lemons. 



1876-77 893,820 boxes of oranges 612,463 boxes of lemons. 



1886-87 1,741,644 boxes of oranges 2,281,087 boxes of lemons. 



Imports of oranges have doubled in ten years, notwithstanding the large 

 shipments going forward each year from California and from Florida. 



We imported for the year 1886-87, forty million six hundred and sixty 

 thousand six hundred and three pounds of raisins — over two million twenty- 

 pound boxes, and we produced last year and sold about eight hundred 

 thousand boxes. There is no reason why we should not have the entire 

 raisin trade of this country, and push our goods into foreign lands. 

 Already four thousand boxes have gone to London on an order for this 

 year's crop. 



We imported same year eight million seven hundred and fifty-two thou- 

 sand eight hundred and ninety-eight pounds of figs. No doubt is enter- 

 tained by any one that fig growing in California is very remunerative. 

 Prices are quoted at 5-J to 10 cents. At 6 cents a pound the figs imported 

 would show a value of $525,173. 



From the single port of Bordeaux we imported of prunes in 1886 of value 

 of $840,299 19 as shown by report of our Consulate. 



We excel in our prunes, and eventually we must have the market. I 

 have no means of knowing our production but it is quite large and is 

 increasing. 



I have spoken of the faith in fruit shown by the investments in lands at 

 high prices, and the extensive planting going on by our most intelligent 

 and sagacious people all over the State. Let me further emphasize this 

 point by showing comparative results: 



In 1871 there were less than two million pounds of green fruit shipped 

 overland; in 1887 we shipped forty-nine million seven hundred and twenty- 

 nine thousand eight hundred pounds. 



Of canned fruits we shipped, in 1872, one hundred and eighty-two thou- 

 sand pounds; in 1887 we shipped forty-five million one hundred and twenty 

 thousand nine hundred pounds. 



Of dried fruits we shipped, in 1875, a little over five hundred thousand 

 pounds; and in 1887, thirteen million five hundred and seventy-seven 

 thousand one hundred pounds. 



