EXPLANATORY NOTE. i. The table of Rainfall represents the precipitation at San Francisco, which is a fair average of the wheat-growing part of the state. Its direct connection with the abundance of the crop will be apparent at a glance: a scanty rain is followed by a meagre harvest. This connection would have been more apparent if I had shown the spring rains in a separate table. The yield per acre depends very directly on the moisture in the ground between February I and May 15. The Population

more »

... is taken from the State Census for i862 and the United States Census for i870, i88o and i890. The growth of the intervening years is estimated. 3. The Acreage follows in general the State Surveyor-General's reports, down to 1878, after which these reports cease to give it. After that I have simply followed the best information I could get. I am satisfied the acreage is considerably over-stated. The Estimated Crops. This table is made up as follows: To the exports were added the consumption for food, seed, feed, and distilling, together with the stock left over at the end of twelve months, and from this was deducted the sum of the stock brought over from the previous year and the imports of the year; the balance represents the crop. The exports were obtained mainly by direct computation from contemporary newspapers. The consumption was estimated as follows: 390 pounds wheat was allowed to each individual of the population-330 pounds for bread, and 6o pounds for feed and wasteage. In some years an extra allowance was made for distilling, where I knew such a margin was required. For seed I have allowed 75 pounds to every acre, as per table of acreage. This figure was assumed after careful examination. I have corresponded with a large number of experts, and found that there was a great difference in the practice of different districts, running all the way from 40 to 120 pounds of seed per acre. Heavy lands require more seed than light; the northern part of the state uses more than the south; and old land requires more than new. The average of my answers is a trifle under 75 pounds. 6oo This content downloaded from 131.108.186.239 on April 27, 2018 16:40:42 PM All use subject to University of Chicago Press Terms and Conditions (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/t-and-c) A PPFRJVDIX. 6o i 5. The Imports are gathered from the old commercial newspapers down to 1871; thence from the records of the Merchants' Exchange to i882; and thence to the present time from the Produce Exchange Reports. 6. The "Stocks on Hand" are obtained from various sources. For the earlier years we have the account of stock in San Francisco warehouses taken each year by the dealers; while the amount stored outside of the city was not large prior to i868 and could be ascertained with reasonable accuracy. From i868 to the present time the Produce Exchange has taken an annual census of stock in the state. These figures I have adopted, except for the four years i871, i872, i873, and i874, where I could not obtain them, and was obliged to substitute estimates from other sources. 7. Prices prior to i859 are taken from the old files of commercial newspapers; since i859, mainly from the records in my own office. In Liverpool I have aimed at giving the price of Spot Wheat and not futures; in San Francisco the current price of No. i Shipping; in freights I have adopted the rate per ton of 2240 pounds for No.