CHAPTER V 



CALIFORNIA MISSION FRUITS 



Cultivated fruits were first brought into California from the south. 

 Mission work among the Indians of Lower California was actually 

 begun by the establishment of the mission at Loreto by Salvaj^erra, 

 October 19, 1697. The following years horses and cattle were brought 

 from Mexico, and from this introduction came ultimately the vast 

 herds which roamed the hills and plains of California. Probably the 

 first seeds and plants of cultivated vegetables and fruits came about 

 the same time, for there was a small garden and a few fruit trees at 

 Loreto in 1701. But Loreto was not fitted for horticulture, and in the 

 same year an expedition in charge of Father Ugarte, who is called the 

 founder of agriculture in Lower California, crossed over the mountains 

 to a more suitable location at the mission of Vigge Biaundo, which 

 had been destroyed some time before by hostile Indians. Ugarte re- 

 stored the mission, made irrigating ditches, and planted fruit trees 

 and vines. This effort was successful from a horticultural point of 

 view, for in 1707 Ugarte made more wine than would suffice for 

 mission use, and sent some to Mexico in exchange for other goods. 

 Thus began the export trade in California wine. 



The Jesuits continued their establishment of missions in Lower 

 California until there were fifteen missions, at five of which there were 

 vineyards, and presumably as many or more which had gardens with 

 fruit trees. 



The variety of fruits grown, in Lower California was small. They 

 had figs, oranges, citrons, pomegranates, plantains, and some olives 

 and dates. There were no North European fruits, with the exception 

 of a few peaches, which, however, did not appear to thrive. 



The Jesuits were supplanted in Lower California, in 1768, by the 

 Franciscans. The Franciscans, led by Junipero Serra, at once pressed 

 northward, and entered the territory which is now the State of Cali- 

 fornia. Their first establishment was at San Diego, in 1769. Thence 

 they proceeded northward, braving many perils, and undergoing great 

 hardships, establishing missions through the coast region of the State. 

 Credit is given to the secular head of the expedition to San Diego, 

 Don Joseph de Galvez, representing the king of Spain, for ordering 

 the carrying of seeds of fruits, grains, vegetables, and flowers into the 

 new territory, and from the planting at San Diego the same varieties 

 were taken to the twenty missions afterwards established. 



Kinds of Fruit at the Missions. It is of no little interest to 

 ascertain how great a variety of fruits was grown in these mission 

 orchards. Vancouver, in 1792, found a fine orchard at Santa Clara, 

 with apple, peach, pear, apricot, and fig trees, all thrifty and promising. 



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