40 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



ornamental in the eyes of white people. They may be briefly enu- 

 merated : 



The "manzanita" (various species of Arctostaphylos, especially 

 A. manzanita, A. glauca, and A. patula) the "little apple" of the 

 Spaniards, bears a rather dry but sub-acid fruit. 



The "bear berry" (Arctostaphylos uvaursi) is esteemed by the 

 Indians both as food and medicine. 



"The western buffalo berry" (Shepherdia argentea) has small 

 acid edible fruits. 



The "salal" (Gaultheria shallon), small fruit, either red or pur- 

 ple, is also a favorite of the aborigines. 



Of "barberries" we have three species of Berberis. One, aqui- 

 folium, is called the "Oregon grape," chiefly notable for its hand- 

 some bloom, which has been chosen the State flower of Oregon. The 

 fruit is dark blue and the root is said to be a febrifuge. Another 

 species (nervosa) has a larger fruit which is esteemed in cookery; 

 and a third species (pinnata) bears a small, pleasant-flavored fruit. 

 It is the Lena amarilla of the Spanish Californians. 



Our "service berry" (Amelanchier alnifolia) is from a quarter to 

 a third of an inch in diameter and of a purple color. 



The "lemon berry" is a fruit of Rhus integrifolia, and is coated 

 with an acid exudation which is said to dissolve in water and make a 

 pleasant drink. The fruit of Rhus trilobata is said to have both a 

 sweet and acid coating. 



The berries of the "toyon" or "tollon" (Heteromeles arbuti- 

 folia), or "California holly," are said to be eaten by Indians, but 

 they serve the white people a better purpose in Christmas decora- 

 tions. 



The "jujubes" of commerce (Zizyphus jujuba) has a local rela- 

 tive in Zizyphus parryi, which is, however, dry and mealy, rather 

 than juicy. 



The "beach strawberry," or "sea fig," is the fruit of Mesembri- 

 anthemum aequilaterale, a relative of the ice-plant. The good-sized 

 fruit is gathered along the seashore, and its flavor remotely suggests 

 a strawberry. 



Wild Olive (Forestieria Neo-mexicana). This is a tall willow- 

 like shrub, found in springy places on the borders of the Mojave 

 Desert. It also grows in the Salinas Valley. It bears an abundance 

 of small fruits which, from their botanical relationship to the olive, 

 have attracted some attention. Experiments to determine its stand- 

 ing as a possible root for the olive have been suggested. 



Wild Nuts of California. The wild nuts of California are of very 

 little commercial importance. The wild almond (Prunus Ander- 

 sonii) of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas is chiefly of botani- 

 cal interest, although some experiments are in progress in its use as 

 a grafting stock for the sweet almond. The California filbert (Cory- 

 lus Californica) has none of the quality of the improved filberts nor 

 even of the wild hazelnut. Our native chestnut, the giant Chin- 

 quapin (Castanopsis chrysophylla) has a sweet kernel, but a hard 



