State Agricultural Society. 417 



of the ground, dryness of the soil and the temperature, and is not gen- 

 eral; hence our markets are supplied for many months with a given 

 variety of fruit in all stages of ripeness. From the same cause there is ' 

 also a great difference (undoubtedly more than in other countries) in 

 the flavor, size, and coloring of California fruit. Our pioneers in horti- 

 culture, formerly strangers to that vocation, tried to surpass each other 

 in possessing the greatest number of varieties; and it is to be regretted 

 that in very many instances they were imposed upon by unscrupulous 

 nurserymen with long catalogues of so called choice varieties, which 

 mainly proved perfectly worthless, and the products of those -trees now 

 encumber our markets with unsaleable and inferior fruits. 



It would be desirable if there could be the same spirit enlisted in the 

 effort of renovating and infusing new vigor in the few really choice and 

 desirable varieties that is now devoted to producing new ones from seed. 

 The effort would he as alluring in its results^ and require fully as much 

 attention, care, and judicious discrimination, besides affording far more 

 profitable returns; it would necessitate the careful selection of well 

 developed seeds from thrifty seedling trees, if possible, to raise stocks, 

 and the selecting of cions from perfectly healthy young trees bearing a 

 number one fruit and in every way of normal condition. 



Our fruit trees are as yet measureably exempt from disease and dep- 

 redations of insects, but those pests begin to multiply and soon will be as 

 annoying as in the older cultivated sections of the country. 



But California can claim preeminence in the culture of the vine. The 

 choicest foreign varieties, either adapted for the table or for wine, thrive 

 to perfection, and it is only a matter of time to render superfluous the 

 importation of raisins and wines. It is not to be expected that a new 

 industry, requiring very nice and careful manipulation, considerable accu- 

 mulated capital, and many provisions and appliances which in other 

 countries took many generations to establish, can have arrived at per- 

 fection within the one decade past; but there is no exaggeration in pro- 

 . claiming that here are lying'idle innumerable most choice spots in every 

 way favorably adapted for viniculture, waiting for the first comer to 

 appropriate his share as a free gii't from the nation. Those future 

 princely vineyards can be selected according to whim or knowledge in 

 every desirable aspect, altitude, underlaying strata of decomposed vol- 

 canic or aqueous detritus, with afey desirable predominance, either of 

 silicius or calcarious formations, and with equally great modifications in 

 climate and other meteorological conditions. The vine once rooted 

 delights in the ardent rays of the sun; no drought checks its growth; no 

 vicissitudes of season destroy the vinegrower's hope in California; no 

 exhausting labor exacts his every* moment ot' existence for carrying 

 on his back the little earth he can Scrape between rocks and cliff's to 

 nourish his vine; nor needs he to toil through many unpropitious sea- 

 sons to obtain now and then a fair crop. The fig, the olive, pomegran- 

 ate, the citron family, the tea and coffee, and even the tropical palm and 

 banana are ready to fill his lap with golden fruit — a most worthy prize 

 for exertion. The more modest mulberry is destined to exceed them all 

 in value with the silken threads soon to be spun in so many prosperous 

 households. Nut bearing trees of many varieties and the nourishing 

 chestnut are ready as so many substitutes for bread. Even the cork 

 oak takes delight to float us over many difficulties and assist in all good 

 offices towards the vinegrower. 



J. STKENTZEL. 



Aljiambra, August 12th, 1871. 



