242 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



Blooming takes place in the valley sections of California shortly 

 after the middle of March, the date varying with seasons. In 1915 

 the writer's notes show that on March 25 Bartletts were in full bloom 

 on the Sacramento River at Hood and Courtland, and also in the 

 Santa Clara Valley in the vicinity of San Jose. During the same 

 season trees of this variety were in full bloom near Placerville, El 

 Dorado County, on April 9. 



Picking begins in the earlier sections about the last week of June 

 or first week of July, continuing in these sections until the middle 

 of August or later. The first pears picked are packed and shipped 

 fresh to outside markets, while much of the later picked fruit is 

 handled by the canneries. In the mountain counties where fruit is 

 grown at an elevation of 1,500 feet or more, picking begins about the 

 middle of August, lasting well into September. This is also true of 

 the Palmdale and Lancaster sections of Los Angeles County and the 

 Tehachapi section of Kern County, where despite desert conditions 

 the fruit is late in maturing. This later picked fruit will keep in cold 

 storage until December 1 or later, while the earlier picked valley 

 Bartletts are practically all consumed by November 1. 



Bloodgood (New York). 



Tree short, jointed, deep reddish-brown wood. Fruit medium tur- 

 binate, inclining to obovate, thickening abruptly into stalk. Yel- 

 low, sprinkled with russet dots. Calyx strong, open almost with- 

 out depression. Stalk obliquely inserted, without depression, short 

 fleshy at its base. Flesh yellowish white, melting, sugary, aromatic, 

 core small. (Description by Wickson.)* 



Bordeaux. 



Origin France. Size large. Color light yellow with light blush. 

 Skin covered with small brown dots. Shape irregular obtuse pyriform. 

 Calyx open. Basin medium to large size and slightly corrugated. 

 Stem H inch long or more and very heavy. Cavity small and incon- 

 spicuous. Quality medium. Grown only experimentally in the state. 

 Season very late. 



Bosc. 



Origin Belgium. Fruit large. Shape acute pyriform, very long and 

 narrow. Skin yellow, somewhat rough and covered almost entirely 

 with a heavy brown or cinnamon russet. Calyx open and set in a very 

 shallow smooth basin. Stem averages about H inches and is somewhat 

 slender. Cavity small or absent. Quality best. Flesh white, very 

 buttery, possessing a fine flavor, aromatic. At the present time the 

 Bosc is not extensively grown in California. It does exceptionally 

 well in the Santa Clara Valley and is considered by some of the leading 

 pear growers to be one of the very best varieties for that section. In 

 the Rogue River Valley of Oregon,' just beyond the northern California 

 boundary, it reaches its prime. The trees bear evenly, heavily and 



* "California Fruits," seventh edition. 



