CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



THE POMEGRANATE 



This fruit (Punica granatum), famed in literature and art, is 

 grown in various parts of the State, and certain amounts are prof- 

 itably sold. The shrub or low tree, in good soil, will reach the 

 height of twenty feet. It is a hardy plant, easy of propagation 

 from seed or cutting. The beauty of the tree, not taking the fruit 

 into account, has caused it to be planted in many gardens. Exposed 

 to the raw sea winds, it does not bloom well nor set with fruit, and 

 is best adapted to the warmer regions of the interior, where it is 

 an early and abundant bearer. The variety chiefly cultivated is 

 a bright orange color, but there is found a large variety of them, 

 varying from almost pure white with a faint blush, to dark red. 

 The fruit ripens in the warmer parts of the State, north and south, 

 in October. 



Pomegranates for eastern shipment are proving profitable in 

 the citrus district of eastern Tulare County, and packers report the 

 supply scant of the demand. More recently plantings have increased, 

 partly because of the tolerance of the plant for alkaline soil and 

 because of profitable sales. Two of the older plantings are these : 



The Merriman ranch in the citrus district of Tulare County has five 

 acres of Ruby pomegranate trees, about thirteen years old in 1919. The 

 trees are planted 22 feet apart. The fruits are packed in half orange 

 boxes each box holding about 36 fruits. At first they were marketed by 

 putting a few boxes of fruit in each car of oranges. In 1915 they sent one 

 car to the Chicago and one to the New York auction. The Ruby is the 

 best variety for the market because of its rich red color. The Mission 

 variety is the best to eat, but is not marketable because of its poor ap- 

 pearance. 



In 1918 Harry Hooper in Sutter County had 26 acres of pomegranates 

 (interplanted with olives), four and five years old, and shipped 700 boxes 

 from the young plantation. They are of the "Wonderful" variety and are 

 shipped in four grades, the largest of nearly 4-inch caliper and of gor- 

 geous coloring, and the New York market absorbs the fruit readily at 

 remunerative prices. 



A careful study of the pomegranate in California has recently 

 been made, and a very satisfactory special publication is now 

 available.* 



THE STRAWBERRY TREE 



The Spanish madrono (Arbutus unedo) is now quite widely 

 grown, chiefly as an ornamental shrub or tree. The growth is ex- 

 ceedingly beautiful if kept free from scale insects, the fruit ranging 

 as it ripens through shades of yellow, orange, and deep red, and 

 contrasting beautifully with the glossy evergreen foliage. The 

 fruit is of pleasant flavor. 



MELON SHRUB 



This plant (Solanum Guatemalense) is a small, half-herbaceous 

 shrub from the table-land of Guatemala. The fruit is yellow, 

 splashed with violet, somewhat of the shape of the eggplant, but 



17t h St P r meg! i? n l tC i'" by R u W ' Hodgson: Bulletin 276, University of California Ex- 

 periment Station. Berkeley: to be had free on application. 



