CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



evenly when well grown; a favorite with the canners, and an excellent 

 varietv for drying. Fruit roundish, large, oval, slightly compressed; skin 

 dull yellow with orange check, very faintly tinged with red, and a shallow 

 suture; flesh pale orange, firm and juicy, with a rich vinous flavor. 



The Derby Royal is grown in the Winters district; like the standard 

 Royal but two weeks earlier. 



The Barry is grown in Alameda County as an improved Royal. 



Blenheim or Shipley. This is a valuable variety in this State, standing 

 with the Royal in popularity; was described by John Rock as follows: "A 

 very good variety, above medium, oval; orange, with a deep yellow, juicy 

 and tolerably rich flesh; vigorous grower and regular, prolific bearer." This 

 behavior of the variety was first demonstrated fully in the University or- 

 chard at Berkeley, where it was for years the best of twenty varieties. It 

 is now popular in all parts of the State. Fruit runs a little larger than the 

 Royal and is usually better distributed on the tree, but it must be well 

 thinned. This variety has been approved by canners. Ripens a little later 

 than the Royal. 



Losse Blenheim and Knobel Blemheim are selected strains growing in 



Santa Clara Valley. 



Thirty years ago Royal and Blenheim were considered different varieties 

 and distinguishable. At present (1921) they are propagated and sold indis- 

 criminately by many nurseries, and a promological problem of original 

 identity or diversity presses for solution. 



Hemskirke. A fine English variety quite widely grown in California; 

 ripens later than Royal; described by Downing as follows: "Fruit large, 

 roundish, but considerably compressed or flattened on its sides; skin orange, 

 with red cheek; flesh bright orange, tender, rather more juicy and sprightly 

 than the Moorpark, with rich, lucious, plum-like flavor; stone not perforate, 

 rather small and kernel bitter." Esteemed in California, because the tree 

 is more hardy and a more regular bearer than the Moorpark, and the fruit 

 ripens evenly on both sides. Sometimes drops worse than other varieties. 



^ Peach. A variety from Piedmont of the largest size, about two inches in 

 diameter, roundish, rather flattened, and somewhat compressed on its sides, 

 with a well-marked suture; skin yellow in the shade, but deeply orange 

 mottled with brown on the sunny side; flesh of a fine yellow, saffron .color, 

 juicy, rich, and highly flavored; stone can be penetrated like Moorpark, and 

 has bitter kernel. This has been a very successful sort in the warmer parts 

 of the State especially, and a favorite in the Sacramento Valley, but is now 

 in less favor because of rapid ripening and inferior appearance in canning 

 and drying. It ripens just ahead of the Moorpark. 



Routier/s Peach. Originated with Joseph Routier, near Sacramento. 

 Large, yellow in shade; deep orange, mottled or splashed with red in the 

 sun; flesh juicy and rich, high flavor and a good market variety. Blooms a 

 week later than Peach. Very popular in Sacramento and San Joaquin 

 Valleys. 



Moorpark. A standard of excellence and an old variety which originated 

 in England. Fruit large, roundish, about two inches and a quarter in diam- 

 eter each way; rather larger on one side of the suture than on the other; 

 skin organe in the shade, but deep orange or brownish red in the sun, 

 marked with numerous dark specks and dots; flesh quite firm, bright orange, 

 parting free from the stone, quite juicy, with a rich and luscious flavor; 

 stone peculiarly perforated along the back, where a pin may be pushed 

 through; kernel bitter. In California the Moorepark reaches grand size, but 

 has the fault of ripening unevenly in most localities. The tree is tender and 

 bears irregularly, which leads to its rejection by most planters, though 

 some growers cling to it because of its size and quality and occasional grand 

 crops. The San Jose districts lead in the production of this variety, and 

 in some~parts of the Santa Clara Valley the Moorpark seems to ripen uni- 

 formly. The same behavior is reported from localities in the upper San 

 Joaquin Valley, where it also seems to be a more regular bearer. The 

 variety is almost wholly rejected in Southern California. 



