1878.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



79 



Island Greening, Caviiga Redstreak, or Twenty 

 Ounce; Jonathan, Vandevere, Wagener, Canada 

 Reinette, "White Winter Pearmain, Nickajack, 

 Ben Davis, Skinner's Seedling, Large Striped 

 Pearmain, Yellow Newtown Pippin. The last 

 is our best keeper, and most reliable market 

 apple. 



Pears have been grown for nearly a century at 

 the old Spanish Missions, and both soil and cli- 

 mate have proved congenial in the highest 

 degree. Large quantities are grown for the home 

 mark'^ts and also for export. Almost all the 

 varieties known have been experimented with ; 

 but the tendency among large growers is now to 

 plant only a few kinds, selecting those best 

 adapted to transportation to a distant market. 

 The following have been most profitable : Bart- 

 lett, Clapp's Favorite, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, 

 Beurre d'Anjou, Beurre Clarigeau, Easter 

 Beurre, Winter Nelis. Only second in import- 

 ance are the Virgalieu, Madeleine, Bloodgood, 

 Beurre Hardy, Vicar of Winkfield, Duchess 

 d'Angouleme and Glout Morceau. 



The peach is grown largely in all this district 

 south of San Leandro. This delicious fruit does 

 not ripen so early in this region as in the warmer 

 interior valleys ; hence the attention of orchard- 

 ists is directed mainly to the medium and the 

 late peaches, in which we excel. For the local 

 demand, however, all varieties are grown. Our 

 most popular kinds are: Alexander's Early, 

 Briggs' May, Tillotson, Strawberry, Large Early 

 York, Shinn's Rareripe, Crawford's Early, 

 Crawford's Late, Orange Free, Morris White, I 

 President, Salway and Smock's Late. The Thur- 

 ber. Susquehanna, Foster, Silver Medal, Nanti- 

 foke and man}- others are yet on trial. Early 

 Beatrice is not a success. 



The Cherry, also, does admirably with us if it 

 is trained low so that the branches protect the 

 trunk. The leading varieties are : Knight's 

 Early, Early Purple Guigne, Elton, Black Tar- 

 tarian, Gov. Wood, Napoleon Bigarreau, May- 

 duke, English Morello. The cherry is preferred 

 on Mazzard stock, but bears well on the 

 Mahaleb. 



The Plum, Prune and Apricot are staple crops, 

 entirely free from insect ravages, and peculiarly 

 adapted to our soil and climate. They market 

 well while fresh, and are dried with ease. Our 

 best plums are the Washington, Columbia, Peach 

 Plum, Quackenboss, Duane's Purple, Coe's 

 (rolden Drop and Imperatrice. Of prunes, the 

 Early Felenberg, German, Hungarian and Petite 



j Prune d'Agen. The most popular apricots are 

 I the Early Golden, Royal, Moorpark and Hem- 

 kirke. 



The almond and English walnut are grown in 

 ■ every part of the valley, with promise of entire 

 success. Many orchards of almonds have been 

 I planted, and some have paid largely. The 

 I almond does best in a place somewhat sheltered 

 I from the north wind. A line of Eucalyptus 

 globulus is usually sufficient protection. 



There are few difhculties in the way of the^ 

 i fruit-grower of this section. No destructive 

 insects have troubled us, and we are near the 

 j leading markets of the State. In dry seasons,, 

 I the increased price of fruit compensates for the 

 [Short crop. But in some respects the home 

 market is overdone, and we must make an out- 

 let by exporting more fruit, either fresh, canned 

 or dried. Much interest has been shown in 

 various methods of drying, but the present ten- 

 dency is towards cheap family driers, which will 

 utilize the w^aste in small orchards, and enable 

 each orchardist to prepare his own fruit. 



The region whose leading varieties of fruit I' 

 have briefly described, constitutes one of the 

 most desirable portions of California for the 

 orchardist. The business of raising fruit is 

 rapidly extending, and many farmers are aban- 

 doning the growth of cereals and i)lanting or- 

 chards and are beautifying their places. The 

 awakening of public interest on this topic has 

 been wonderful, and it is hardly too much to say 

 that probably in a very few years this entire 

 valley will be occupied by orchards, vineyai-ds. 

 small fruits and market gardens. 



THE DIOSPYROS KAKi OR JAPANESE 

 PERSBMMON. 



BY REV. H. I.OOMIS. 



This fruit is found in Japan and China in the 

 same varieties of soil and climate as the wild 

 persimmon of our own country'. It will proba- 

 bly succeed as far North as Lat. 42°, and from 

 that to the Gulf. 



Like other fruits, it differs widely in size,flavor- 

 and value, according to the soil, climate and 

 culture. It is stated that there are a hundred 

 varieties, of which but few are of value for 

 general cultivation. Some are the size of a 

 musket ball, and others have exceeded a pound' 

 in weight. Some also ripen on the tree like the 

 apple, while others (and some of the choicest 

 kinds) are subjected to a process of ripening tO' 

 remove the astrinsency and develop the peculiar,, 

 rich and luscious flavor. 



