34 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



and irrigation facilities ample in the abundant supplies 

 of snow waters from above, which need however to be 

 moderated in temperature before distribution. In this 

 region gardening seasons and practices are more compar- 

 able with eastern policies and methods and are not charac- 

 teristically Californian as the term is usually understood. 



GENERAL CHARACTERS OF CALIFORNIA CLIMATE. 



The proper conclusion from the foregoing discussion 

 is that each California locality must be separately studied 

 to determine its climatic adaptations for vegetable grow- 

 ing and its season for the best discharge of the various 

 gardening duties. There are, however, some generaliza- 

 tions concerning leading climatic features as related to 

 vegetable growing which may be of assistance to distant 

 readers. 



Relative Occurrences of Cloudiness and Sunshine in Cal- 

 ifornia Regions. Due proportion of sunlight, warmth and 

 moisture is necessary to produce quick and healthy vege- 

 tation. Cloudiness is also an important element, since the 

 presence of clouds screens the earth and diminishes the 

 heat received by vegetation from the direct rays of the 

 sun. So also, acting as a screen, it prevents in a measure 

 the radiation of heat from the earth into space, and this 

 materially tends to modify and reduce the daily range 

 of temperature, so that growing vegetation is not subject 

 to as great cold as would otherwise obtain during the 

 night, nor on the other hand, does it receive the full 

 amount of solar heat by day. 



It should be borne in mind that the weather condi- 

 tions most favorable for vegetable growing are in some 

 respects different from those which minister to the per- 

 gection of fruits. The fruit tree, with its roots deep 

 in a moist soil, welcomes high heat to mature its fruit. 

 The perfection of the esculent falls far short of the. ma- 

 turity of the plant and lies mainly in the measure and 

 tenderness of foliage, stem, immature fruit or fleshy root. 



