ife-zones and of the fitness of crops; first hides and tallow, then
wool, wheat, grapes (which in the early eighteen-nineties were the
leading fruit), deciduous orchard fruits, and semi-tropical citrus
fruits successively. Prunes were introduced in 1854, but their
possibilities were only slightly appreciated for some thirty years. Of
various other crops much the same is true. Of late years progress has
been very intelligent; in earlier years it was gained through a
multitude of experiments and failures, and great pecuniary loss, and
progress was a testimonial chiefly to courage and perseverance. The
possibilities of the lower Sonoran and tropical areas are still
imperfectly known. Nature has been niggard of rain but lavish in soil
and sun. Irrigation has shown that with water, arid and barren plains,
veritable deserts may be made to bloom with immense wealth of
semi-tropical fruits; and irrigation in the tropical area along the
Colorado river, which is so arid that it naturally bears only desert
vegetation, has made it a true humid-tropical region like Southern
Florida, growing true tropical fruits.

In 1900 California ranked eleventh among the states in total value of
farm property ($796,527,955) and in 1899 fourteenth in the value of farm
products ($131,690,606). The growth of the former from 1890 to 1900 was
only 2.5%, one of the smallest increases among all the states.

The pastoral period extended from 1769 to 1848. The live-stock industry
was introduced by the Franciscans and flourished exceedingly. In 1834,
when the missions had already passed their best days, there were some
486,000 cattle, horses, mules and asses on the ranges, and 325,000 small
animals, principally sheep. Throughout the pre-American period
stock-raising was the leading industry; it built up the prosperity of
the missions, largely supported the government and almost exclusively
sustained foreign commerce. Hides and tallow were the sum and substance
of Californian economy. Horses were slaughtered wholesale at times to
make way for cattle on the ranges. There was almost no dairying; olive
oil took the place of butter, and wine of milk, at the missions; and in
general indeed the Mexicans were content with water. In the development
of the state under the American regime the live-stock industry has been
subordinate. A fearful drought in 1862-1864 greatly depressed it, and
especially discouraged cattle ranching. Sheep then became of primary
importan