An example of a 1936 edition of The Pacific Rural Press.
The Pacific Rural Press (1871) and Edward J. Wickson, California Agricultural Educator
1871 – 1922
The Pacific Rural Press was first established in San Francisco, California in 1871. It was formed to educate and serve the needs of California’s agricultural community, primarily addressing fruit and vegetable growers. It became a major agricultural journal that was published between the mid-nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Many of the articles give information and advice on the different parts of the agricultural industry.
In Volume 1, 18 February 1871 the publishers, Dewey and Company stated, “Honest, intelligent and correct information will be faithfully provided on behalf of and urging an improved cultivation of the soil, a greater diversity of products, better breed of stock, better varieties of fruits, the culture of new products, the creation of new home industries, the adoption of improved implements, and happier and higher aims in life,” and with the subscription price of a low $4.00/year.
This publication was a major source of education for over 50 years for viticulturalists, farmers, growers, winemakers, local and government officials, and wine distributors, as well as liquor stores and restaurants. It was widely distributed on the west coast, and much of the advice is still relevant. Each month, we will introduce an article from the publication written in the nineteenth century as an example of the publication’s relevance then and now.
Background information on this periodical:
- Published in San Francisco from 1871 -1922
- Weekly publications, later biweekly
- Titled Pacific Rural Press and California Fruit Bulletin
- Founded in 1871 by a pair of Massachusetts printers, Alfred T. Dewey and Warren B. Ewer
- Goal to promote California farming
- Included a wide range of topic articles, from the vineyard to livestock to home lifestyle
- San Francisco market prices for vegetables and fruits were included towards the end of each publication, as were various advertisements
- Absorbed the California Granger among others between 1875 and 1889
- 1875 – Edward J. Wickson became the magazine’s editor, which he held for 48 years
- Became Pacific Rural Press, 1937 Southern Pacific Rural Press, was folded into the California Farmer in 1940
- The California Farmer was published until 2013, folded into Western Farm Press
Edward James Wickson (1848-1923)
Edward was born in Rochester, New York, and graduated from Hamilton College, New York, in 1868 with distinction in the classics and chemistry. After graduation, he joined his father’s agricultural tools factory which was destroyed not long after in 1870 by fire. He joined the Utica Morning Herald staff where he championed the state’s cheese industry. and eventually, in 1873, became the president of the Utica Dairymen’s Board of Trade. In both 1874 and 1875 he was chosen to speak to state dairymen’s conventions from the Midwest to New England.
He moved to California in 1875 where he joined the Pacific Rural Press eventually becoming the special contributor in 1894 and promoted to editor in 1899. He continued in that position until his death in 1923. He wrote widely on agricultural topics and published several books on growing fruit and vegetable crops, historical topics, and various bulletins for the United States Department of Agriculture.
In 1879 he joined the University of California as a lecturer in practical agriculture, where he worked in the UC system for 33 years; rising from lecturer to assistant professor, associate professor, professor, and superintendent of the Agricultural Extension service, eventually becoming the dean of the College of Agriculture and also director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He was appointed trustee of the California Polytechnic School at San Luis Obispo at the organization of that institution by the State in 1903 and re-appointed in 1906. He retired in 1912, but as emeritus professor of horticulture, he became involved in several more organizations between 1915 to 1923.
And Now, a Look Back at an Article from the Pacific Rural Press August 18, 1888
Cleaning Wine Casks By A. Mainthie Article from Gace, Orne, France
“When a cask has been left to dry, or has a bad musty smell, it has to be well cleaned before using. First take off all the bungs and let the air come in for a day or two. Next take half a quart of common sulphuric acid mixed with two quarts of water and pour it in. Roll your barrel over several times and let it rest a day. Roll over again and add 12 ounces of lime and four ounces of potash. Roll over several times, then let the mixture run off.
Wash then your (sic) cask several times with cold water first, next with boiling water and last with cold water again, to make sure there is no trace left inside of the sulphuric acid.
If your cask is only very dry and has no bad smell, the above is not necessary. After soaking it well with cold water and washing it with warm water, take a few chips of oak wood, soak them in good wine brandy or alcohol, and roll them over and over in the cask with a little warm water and your barrel will be a’l right (sic).”
