134 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



not surprised that they do not pay. It would probably be 

 much better for trees, vegetables and owner if half an 

 acre, if for home use, and larger area, if for market, should 

 be kept free of trees and handled on a more intensive plan 

 for the production of fine vegetables. When fruit prices 

 were higher and orchard improvements the only avenue 

 to high acre-valuation, it is not surprising that people 

 tried to plant fruit trees everywhere on small tract pur- 

 chases even to making clothes-line posts of them, but 

 now as other resources are receiving better proportional 

 esteem, a small, first-class garden spot, worked up to the 

 limits of its possibilities, should receive attention not only 

 for constant money-saving and money-making, but as one 

 of the most valuable improvements on the place. 



There is no particular disadvantage or difficulty in grow- 

 ing vegetables in young orchards or vineyards providing 

 conditions are right for it. Fruits and vegetables have 

 been associated in gardens, probably, ever since Adam 

 failed through giving too much attention to fruit. But the 

 association of fruits and vegetables has been successful 

 upon the garden policy of enrichment, irrigation, and the 

 highest known culture. This is quite different from the 

 proposition as it has arisen in California which is to grow 

 vegetables upon the orchard policy of cultivation for con- 

 servation of moisture and trust to the natural fertility of 

 the land. It is not surprising that the soil often rebels at 

 the double burden as beyond its strength and dictates its 

 terms to the grower by so much as you gain of one by so 

 much you shall lose of the other. 



It may be seen, however, in the chapters on soils and 

 irrigation that California has natural soils and situations 

 which are quite comparable with the best conditions which 

 intensive culture can produce in the gardens of older lands 

 and, this being true, it is possible to draw upon their rich 

 resources in the same way. It is quite possible then to 

 grow good vegetables betAveen young fruit trees and for 

 a certain period it can be done without irreparable injury 

 to the trees, providing the local conditions warrant the 



