100 CALIFORNIA FRUITS I HOW TO GROW THEM 



of California, more apparent in some years than others, and with 

 some kinds of fruit than others, and the young tree retains a small 

 part of its activity very late, and in such cases it is not practicable to 

 wait for the complete falling of the leaves. Sometimes for convenience 

 of work, the trees have to be lifted before this takes place, and in 

 such case it is desirable to remove the leaves to lessen evaporation. 

 It is probably better to transplant in this condition for the sake of 

 early setting in its new position than to wait for all the leaves to 

 drop. This statement is not intended to include nursery stock which 

 is kept growing late in the season by late irrigation. Such trees are 

 not always desirable. 



Time to Plant. The best time to plant deciduous trees in Cali- 

 fornia is soon after the early rains have deeply moistened the ground. 

 It is not desirable, however, to have a stratum of dry earth below. 

 This can be removed by irrigation when available. Early planting 

 of common orchard fruits is of advantage for several reasons. First, 

 an early-planted tree gets the full benefit of the season's rainfall, 

 whatever it may be, and a late-planted tree, in a year with short rain- 

 fall, is apt to suffer during its first season's growth, unless it can be 

 irrigated. The two main things to observe are the dormancy of the 

 tree and the proper condition of the soil, and both of these are most 

 apt to coincide in many parts of California about the first of Janu- 

 ary, but in heavy loams in region of large rainfall, the soil may 

 then be too cold and wet. There will, however, be some variation 

 from year to year, and different parts of the State disagree as to the 

 date. Hence, the general rule must be based on conditions, that 

 of the tree and that of the soil. If the novice can not judge these 

 for himself, he must get the advice of some one of experience in the 

 locality. 



The dormant period of a tree in California, as has been stated in 

 another connection, is very short. As many cold-climate annual plants 

 become perennial here, so our deciduous trees, in comparatively frost- 

 less portions of the State, evince a tendency to become evergreen. 

 The period of dormancy in the root is also shorter than the inactivity 

 of the top. Trees transplanted early are found to have their root 

 wounds calloused over and new rootlets considerably advanced before 

 the buds swell. Therefore, by early planting the tree begins soon 

 to take hold upon the soil, the latter being well settled around it by 

 rains, which often follow early planting, and the high winds, which 

 are apt to come in the spring in some parts of the State, find the tree 

 well anchored and ready to maintain itself. 



Again, the proper condition of soil, if not seized at its first coming, 

 may not recur until after the great storms of the winter are over, 

 say in February or March (in most parts of the State), and then often 

 the buds are bursting into bloom and leaf. Planting when the soil is 

 water-soaked and cold is very undesirable, for in such condition it 

 cannot be properly disposed about the roots, the inactive roots may 

 begin to decay, and trees moved at this period are apt to show their 

 dislike of the treatment. If the work has been delayed unavoidably, 

 so that early planting cannot be done, it is better to keep the trees 



