UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. BULLETIN NO. 11. [In order to render the results of investigations ticular interest at the* time. Beyond this.every and experiments conducted by the Agricultural De- partment of the University of California more quick- ly and more generally available than has heretofore been done through the annual or biennial reports, it is proposed to embody hereafter, in the form of "Bulletins," to be issued as often as may seem de- ! valu , e ? ma P? m S out the general features other opportunity for personal travel was util- ized for observation, and a growing correspond- ence with intelligent farmers in various parts of the State furnished local information of The sirable, reports of results, as well as such other discus- (Work, however, progressed very slowly and un- sions, information or answers to questions as may satisfactorily until in 1 879, the writer was re- be of general interest. It is intended to make these quested by the superintendent of the census to bulletins, as a rule, short enough for insertion in the undertake the general supervision and editing daily or weekly papers of the State, and proof-slips of the report on cotton production in the United of the same will be regularly mailed to papers apply- States, including more or less detailed descrip- ing therefor. The substance ot these bulletins will tions of the several States. To this after some ultimately be embcxhed in a more complete iand con- -hesitation he agreed, provided he were to be Ariculturei " * reP ° rtS ^ P ermit ted to treat California as one of the vir- ^ cu u tually, if not actually, cotton-growing States. This being agreed to by superintendent Walker, Concerning the CenSUS Report "On the i* became practicable to visit, either personally 7~i-i . i j a ■ i. i -n or by deputy, some of the agriculturally most Physical and Agricultural Features important portions of the State, in so far as of California." they might become of consequence in connec tion with cotton production. As in the case of other States, a certain expenditure for clerical, chemical, and other work was authorized, and , , \ thus were furnished the means for collecting g before the , and elaborating the mate rial for a description of Inasmuch as copies of the above report on California, forming part of the census report on cotton production* public, it is desirable that the origin of that j the natural features of California, that kty report, and especially the extent of its claims scattered in numerous publications, largely of a to accuracy and completeness, should be fully ! transient nature, as well as in manuscripts, let- , , ters, etc. Doubtful points of special import- understood. ance were e i uc idated by correspondence. Most From the time that the writer took charge of . important assistance was rendered by the au- the agricultural department of the University, I thorities of tlie^ C. P. R. R., at the request of it has been his steady aim to obtain as com- plete a knowledge as possible of the agricultur- al features of the State; it being his conviction that truly practical and useful instruction in agriculture is-that which is illustrated by the examples and facts that have come before the students at their homes, or with which they will have to deal in the agricultural practice of initiative of the late B. B. Redding, by the de- tailing of an intelligent young engineer, Mr. X. J. Willson, who made observations and collected soil specimens along the main line of the road from Redding to Bakersfield, furnishing notes, both of observations mado by himself, and of information gathered from the resident farming population. It was no easy task to combine into a readable their own State hereafter. Moreover it is man- and consistent whole, the scattered material if est that a full and authentic description of a State is of the greatest importance to the immigrants or settlers seeking a new home, as well as to the farmers and capitalists desiring to locate or invest to the best possible advant- age, who naturally distrust the ex parte statements of interested parties. The usual and best mode of obtaining such information is a n agricultural survey, system- atically and fully carried out; but all efforts to revive,to that extent, theold geological survey, or to obtain means for the prosecution of such work from the State, have thus far proved unavailing. Up to 1880 the only means at command for such purposes was an appropria- tion of $250 made by the board of regents in 1875; apart of which was expended in visiting, on special occasions, points, or meetings of par- thus brought together and often presenting contradictory and exaggerated statements re- quiring to be sifted out. Nor was it possible to give more than general credit to all the sources of information drawn upon, without going to intolerable lengths. It was also obvi- ously necessary to confine the report to those features which, in the nature of things, are es- sentially unchangeable. However desirable it might have been for practical purposes to go somewhat beyond these limits and give some data regarding the chief towns and settlements, the rapid mutability of such matters in the United States, and the difficulty of avoiding ex parte statements and invidious comparisons, * Appendix to vol. 6 of the final reports of the Tenth Census^ with an agricultural map of the State, issued in April, 1884.; with their traiu of wounded sensibilities and in- willing to correct the outlines of the several re- terests, rendered such additions clearly inex- gions laid down on the map, or to give the lim- pedient. It should therefore be fully under- its of any additional subdivisions worthy of stood that the omission of such matters is inten- note, blank maps of the corresponding portions tional and general throughout the series of re- 0 f the State will be sent for the platting of such ports, of which the one under consideration information, to be incorporated in a revised forms a part. map, drawn cn a larger bcale. All such con- Under the circumstances surrounding the ; tributions are earnestly solicited and welcomed, compilation of the report on California, it can- an d due credit will be given for them in the re- not be claimed, nor can it reasonably be ex- por t s of the College of Agriculture, pected, that mistakes have been entirely It is quite likely that some counties or regions avoided and no important omissions made. On 0 f the State may feel aggrieved in having their the contrary, it is quite certain that in the lat- agricultural advantages underrated. To these ter respect a great deal is left to be desired, and it can only be said that the best of all available that, in -fact, the present publication can be hiformationhasbeendrawnupon.andthatif incor- considered only as the groundwork upon which rec t, it rests with their people to furnish fuller a more thorough and correct hand-book of the an d more correct information, which will be State is yet to be constructed. It is therefore promptly elaborated and published. It would hoped that it will be critically scanned by all be more desirable and satisfactory to have such interested in agricultural progress and in the in- information gathered by experts in the field; crease of emigration to the State, and that all but so long as no funds are available for the faults of omission, commission or inaccuracy be purpose of travel, and the writer's time is fully noted, and with comments and additional in- occupied by duties at the University, such per- foration be communicated to the writer, in son al exploration is, as a rule, impracticable, order that they may be put on record for incor- an d he must rely on the voluntary co-operation poration into a subsequent corrected and ampli- 0 f t he agricultural public. E. W. Hilgard. fied edition of the work. To persons able and 1 Berkeley Cal., May 1, 1884.