242 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



existing streams or deposited by prehistoric water courses, which 

 have left their mark by the elevated ridges of rich sediment above 

 the prevailing valley soils, are warm, deep, and thoroughly drained, 

 and delight the peach. Peaches are grown very successfully on 

 what is called hardpan in some parts of Fresno County, providing 

 the hardpan is blasted as described in Chapter XL In these situa- 

 tions the hardpan is near the surface and has a deep free soil below 

 it into which the roots can extend. 



At elevations on the hillsides there are free loams which result 

 from decomposition of the underlying rocks, and on them the peach 

 thrives, both where the soils themselves are deep and where the 

 underlying rock is loose and open, permeable by roots and affording 

 escape for water. Success has been reported even when holes are 

 partly excavated in these rotten rocks as in the soft sand rock on 

 the hills east of Vaca Valley, or in the broken chalk rock in what 

 is called Blackburn Gulch, near Santa Cruz. The superior warmth 

 of such soils is supposed to minister to earlier ripening of the fruit, 

 though the escape from cold air by elevation is no doubt a greater 

 factor to the end. 



The influences of comparatively slight difference in elevation is 

 very marked. E. R. Thurbar, of Pleasant Valley, Solano County, 

 had for many years a plot of peach trees on a natural terrace about 

 seventy-five feet higher than the general level of his orchard. On 

 the terrace peaches ripened and were disposed of before the same 

 varieties ripened in the orchard below. 



As in the valley a short distance to water is to be avoided, so on 

 the hills too great percolation from higher levels is undesirable. Of 

 course, natural defects of this kind can be corrected by adequate 

 under-drainage. 



Still, though such be the general soil conditions best suited to the 

 peach, the tree can be well grown for home use or local markets on 

 somewhat heavier soil, providing there is good drainage, but drain- 

 age must be insisted upon, for thousands of trees have perished 

 because planted in retentive soils without drainage. Alkaline soils 

 which are usually rather heavy should, however, be avoided, as the 

 peach, when grown on its own roots, seems to be of all fruits most 

 sensitive to alkali. 



As to exposures for the peach the same rules hold as for other 

 fruits which are liable to injury when in bloom or young foliage. 

 Thus low places where cold air settles should be avoided, also low 

 gulches through which cold drafts prevail. In frosty situations an 

 incline away from the morning sun will often allow the trees to 

 escape serious injury. 



PROPAGATION AND PLANTING 



Nine-tenths of California peach trees are grown on peach roots. 

 The chapter on propagation gives the general method of growing 

 and budding peach seedlings. In selecting pits, preference is usually 

 given to those from strong-growing, yellow peaches, at least for 



