CHAPTER III 



THE FRUIT SOILS OF CALIFORNIA 



The favoring characteristics of the California climates, which 

 have been described, find their fitting complement in the adaptation 

 of the California soils to the perfect development of fruit-bearing 

 tree and vine. In their wonderful variety and consequent great 

 range of special adaptations within narrow limits of area our soils 

 also resemble our climates. As a man may sometimes find within 

 the boundaries of an ordinary-sized farm such a difference of at- 

 mospheric conditions that the same fruit will thrive in one spot and 

 not in another, so he may find differences in soil which will tend to 

 produce the same results. For this reason the precise spot in which 

 to plant any given fruit must be chosen with regard to both soil and 

 exposure. In the chapters devoted to the several fruits, there will 

 be an attempt made to describe the soil requirements of each, so that 

 the inexperienced planter may not err seriously in choosing the loca- 

 tion for each kind of fruit he desires to grow. While this is true, it 

 will also appear in these special chapters that the choice of roots 

 upon which to bud or graft gives the planter a certain latitude and 

 independence. This is of the greatest value in the planting of home 

 orchards, or orchards for local markets, in regions where the soil is 

 not what is usually preferred for fruit production. With proper 

 choice of stocks and wisdom and diligence in cultivation, one need 

 hardly despair of growing good fruit on soil which will support any 

 laudable plant growth. 



DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF CALIFORNIA SOILS 



One of the most interesting and important recent achievements 

 in soil investigation consists in demonstrating distinctive differences 

 between soils formed under arid and under humid climate condi- 

 tions. In the development of this subject certain distinctive char- 

 acters of California soils clearly appear, and they are of direct 

 relation to the thrift, productiveness, treatment, and longevity of 

 fruit trees. These characters are: (a) lightness and consequent 

 permeability and ease of cultivation; (b) depth, admitting excep- 

 tional root extension and penetration; and (c) richness, containing 

 some kinds of plant food in considerably greater amounts than are 

 found in the soils of humid regions. These characteristics, as demon- 

 strated by Prof. Hilgard,* may be outlined in this way with special 

 reference to their relations to fruit growing. 



Lightness. California soils predominately exhibit the sandy, 

 silty or pulverulent nature of all soils formed under arid conditions,' 

 save in case of pre-existing clay formations of former geological 



*Prof. E. W. Hilgard's studies of California soils are summarized in his book on "Soils," 

 published by The Macmillan Co.. N. Y. 



