A RlJURl CULTURE 



CALIFORNIA ORCHARDS. 



THE natural charm of the country side in CaUfornia is very great, and to that 

 has been added the charm brought by cultivation, in the great valleys there 

 are miles of orchards, and in the season of bloom, the picture is one to be 

 remembered, in the Santa Clara Valley the specialty is prunes, and "Blossom 

 Time" is celebrated by a festival among the trees. A glimpse of the valley from 

 some hill top is like a peep into a land of enchantment. The traveler by the Coast 

 Line of the Southern Pacific rides for a long distance through a wilderness of fruit. 

 In the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys are vast orchards of oranges, 

 figs, apricots and olives, to say nothing of peaches, pears and other fruit. Vine- 

 yards, too, that outrival France spread over hillsides and miles of level land in the 

 valley. In Italy the grape gatherers know the chill of wet mornings, and p eking 

 must often be deferred until the vines are dry. Here the harvest is unhindered by 

 dew or rain. In October the crushers are at work and grape juice runs like water. 

 About Fresno the great raisin vineyards are a feature of the landscape, and in the 



season of harvest the roads are spotted with dripping juice and the air musky with 

 the odor of crushed grapes. 



The olive harvest comes later and lasts from November into February. One 

 great orchard has 2,000 acres of gray olive trees. The berry is allowed to ripen on 

 the tree, becoming dark or purplish black. They are picked by hand, and for oil 

 are "procured" at once. For pickling they are allowed to develop their oil and 

 natural salts, and are a valuable food product and not a mere relish. The oil is put 

 up direct from the press and is absolutely pure. Two Lines of the Southern Pacific 

 reach Southern California and two lines serve the great valleys, so that transporta- 

 tion is adequate. The orchards and vineyards are characteristic features of the 

 state, and the most attractive country life in the world is found here. 



Literature pertaining to the state can be had of any agent of the Southern 

 Pacific. The "Prune Primer" has been issued and the "Orange Primer" is just 

 out of the press. A small treatise on the olive is bemg prepared, the object being 

 to encourage the use of ripe olives and of a pure oil. Booklets for the settler are 

 carefully^prepared, and the industries of the state are fully represented. 



XI 



