The Patrons of Husbandry on the Pacific Coast Being a Complete History of the Origin, Condition and Progress of Agriculture in Different Parts Of

TO THE

HUSBANDMEN, MATRONS AND TEACHERS

OF THE

PACIFIC COAST,

AND ALL WHO CO-OPERATE WITH THEM IN ITS INDUSTRIAL, 80CIAL
AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT,

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

PREFACE.

To present in a compact and readily accessible form the
annals of the farmers' movement in California, with a sum-
mary of the advantages thus far secured by combination and
coöperation, was the primary object of this work. In addition,
I have thought it desirable to show the general relations of ag-
riculture to human progress; to give the results of recent official
investigations into railroad affairs, and to treat of some other
questions of general public interest, by summarizing important
and recent reports not generally accessible to Patrons.

Again, I know of no single work in which the statistical in-
formation which farmers so often need for reference can be
obtained. I have endeavored to meet this want, in the dis-
cussions of the various subjects to which such information
appropriately belongs.

As the work grew upon my hands, I have found that the pres-
entation of my subject involved a constant reference to author-
ities. As far as possible, therefore, I have allowed each witness
to speak for himself, to the exclusion of all claims to originality
on my own part. I am greatly indebted to able writers, Pro-
fessor Perry, President Anderson, Henry George, Hon. M. M.
Estee and others, who have placed their valuable papers at my
disposal, and I only regret that want of space has made it
necessary for me to exclude any portion of them.

The second chapter, defining the "office of Agriculture in the
Social Economy," is a condensation of the instruction in Po-
litical Economy, given more than twenty years ago, to college
classes, by the late John H. Lathrop, LL. D., first President
of the Universities of Missouri and Wisconsin. In the chapter
on "Agriculture in the Public Schools," it will be observed
that the agitation of this question is not a recent thing in agri-
cultural bodies. The Grange has done little more than to
organize the public sentiment of farmers for the effective exer-

cise of their legitimate powers. Its progress is no marvel to
those who have been in sympathy with the working classes of
the country, who understand their needs, and are ready to lend
a hand in removing their burdens.

Great care has been taken to insure correctness in the sta-
tistical part of the work, and to omit nothing of importance in
the documentary history of the State Grange. The names of
the charter members, having been copied from the original dis-
pensations, where the signatures are not unfrequently nearly
illegible, it has been impossible to entirely avoid orthographical
mistakes. The attempt to preserve a complete record of the
founders of Subordinate Granges, will, we trust, excuse a few
unavoidable errors in its execution.

Valuable assistance has been rendered by the officers of the

State Grange, and especially by W. H. Baxter, its Worthy

Secretary; also by the officers and agents of the various busi-

ness associations. To Mr. Edward Vischer, of San Francisco,

who has kindly furnished the rural illustrations from his own

admirable sketches of California life and scenery; to the

editors of the "Rural Press," and other agricultural and local

journals, I am under many obligations.

E. S. C.

OAKLAND, August 1st, 1875.

CONTENTS.

PART FIRST.