448 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



THE LOQUAT IN ORANGE COUNTY. 



By Rot K. Bishop, County Horticultural Commissioner, Santa Ana, Cal. 



The loquat has been grown in Orange County over forty years which really marks 

 the beginning of irrigation and tree planting. 



At first these trees were only planted in the family orchard and for ornamental 



purposes. They were all seedlings but many of 

 them proved to be heavy bearers of good quality 

 fruit though generally small and uneven in time of 

 ripening. The first orchard of commercial planting 

 was made by Mr. C. I'. Taft near Orange in 1891. 

 Mr. Taft had by selection obtained some very promis- 

 ing varieties, such as the Advance, Champagne. Early 

 Red and Premier. Another variety of value is the 

 Thales which was produced at Placentia. 



Following Mr. Taft's planting there were several 

 acres of loquats planted much of which were interset 

 witli either Valencia oranges or lemons. Most of 

 these trees are now taken out to make room for the 

 citrus trees. 



As the loquat blossoms in October and November 

 carrying its tender fruit through the winter months 

 it necessarily requires a location where frost is very 

 slight. Therefore commercial loquat-growing is con- 

 fined to the foothill sections at Villa Park, Olive and 

 101 Modeua. 



As to soil this tree is not very exacting, doing well 

 on Bandy soil and through all grades to Mack adobe. It requires less water than 

 citrus fruits so could be grown where the summer water supply is limited. It also 

 requires less cultivation than the citrus and less pruning. As the tree is practically 

 free from insect pests the expense of fumigatiou and spraying is eliminated. There 

 are no serious diseases that attack the loquat. Pear blight occasionally kills a limb 

 but seldom destroys a tree. 



To get the best grade of fruit thinning of the clusters is practiced. This work is 

 usually done after danger of frost is past. 



The markets for the fruit are Los Angeles and the coast cities ; but the fruit 

 could be shipped to Eastern markets as has been proven by experimental shipments. 

 By the building of distant markets the industry could be very profitably extended. 



The better varieties are very delicious fruits to eat out of hand, for the making 

 of pies and for jelly. The loquat comes into the market in early spring when there 

 is practically no other fresh fruit. The first fruits ripening by March 1 and 

 continuing to ripen until June. It should he found in every family orchard along 

 with the peach and plum. 



The tree being an evergreen, with large, beautiful leaves, is very fine for orna- 

 mental purposes and therefore could be used as a street tree. 



The people that are growing loquats for the market consider this crop the equal 

 of other fruit crops. One orchard in El Modena consisting of one hundred trees, 

 interset with lemons of like number, has averaged the grower $7 per tree for the 

 past five years, which is more than the lemons have averaged. Another orchard of 

 ten acres has given an average yield for the past ten years of more than $400 

 per acre. 



Anyone interested in the culture of the loquat can find very useful information in 

 Bulletin No. 250, by Ira J. Condit, of the Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 Berkeley, California. 



