CHAPTER III. 



CALIFORNIA CLIMATE AS RELATED TO VEGETABLE 



GROWING. 



It is not necessary to attempt an elaborate exposition of the 

 characters of the California climate. Such characterization has 

 been made by different authorities from various points of view. 

 It may be claimed in a general way that our climates are as kindly 

 disposed toward vegetable growth as they are towards the devel- 

 opment of fruits or the early maturity, thrift and comfort of 

 animals. The ordinary exemption from ground-freezing at any 

 time of the year; the absence of very rare and localized occur- 

 rence of soil-shifting winds or even of winds to prostrate tall 

 growths; freedom from wide extremes in temperature; and only 

 occasionally great changes in atmospheric humidity; adequate heat 

 for rapid growth with a dry, but seldom desiccating air, which 

 prevents much of the fungous growth of hot, humid climates and 

 consequently insures a grand and healthy leaf-action to the plant ; 

 abundant sunshine, but seldom, and then only in few localities, 

 rising to leaf burning; ample moisture either by rainfall or irriga- 

 tion, or one supplementing the other all these characters and 

 others like them, constitute a climate of exceptional advantage 

 to the vegetable grower. They reduce provisions for protection 

 to a minimum; a cloud of smoke for the frost; a high fence or a 

 line of trees for the wind, a lath or slight brush covering or the 

 neighborly shadow of a taller growth for the most tender foliage; 

 frequent cultivation to retain moisture in the soil after rain or irri- 

 gation, and the garden will go through the year with ample pro- 

 tection at its weakest points. And all these are not needed in the 

 same locality; in fact some localities need none of them except the 

 moisture retention which is universal. 



Autumnal and Vernal Springtimes. Spring is defined as "the 

 one of the four seasons when plants begin to grow," and California 

 is fortunate in doubling the blessings of springtime which most 



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