PF.AR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



301 



The red granitic soils, such as those in the foothill sections of El 

 Dorado, Placer and Nevada counties, are found to be quite well adapted 

 to the growing of pears. While the trees do not as a rule make as 

 satisfactory a growth as they do in the valley, the fruit is highly colored 

 and of excellent quality. Pears grown in these sections are not ready 

 to market until those from the lower elevations of the Sacramento and 

 other valleys are practically gone. This late maturity practically 

 insures a good market and prices obtained are generally well above the 

 average for the state. The depth of the soil very largely determines the 

 size that the trees attain, and on hillsides where it is shallow they are 

 always smaller than in low lands where there is a greater depth. Cover 

 crops and heavy fertilization with barnyard manure, and occasionally 

 commercial fertilizers, improve the size of the trees on the type of soil 

 found in the mountainous sections. In Lake County there is quite a 

 variety of soils adapted to pear growing, and some very large trees are 

 produced in Scotts Valley and Big Valley close to the lake, the quality 

 and color of pears being similar to those of the foothill sections along the 

 Sierras. This soil varies from a fairly light sandy loam along the 

 streams to a rather heavy clay, which has a tendency to bake and become 

 very dry. The same may be said of Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa 

 counties. 





, ' FIG. 112. Large Bartlett pear trees in Lake County. 



Many excellent pears may be found growing in the Santa Clara Valley 

 on a great variety of soils varying from light clay loam to heavy black, 

 sticky clay. In contrast to this latter type of soil we find the light, 

 gravelly soil of the Mojave Desert in Los Angeles and San Bernardino 

 counties growing good pear trees. 



While the pear will thrive under some conditions that other fruit trees 

 will not stand, and will grow fairly well wherever deciduous trees of any 

 kind will grow, it should not be planted on very shallow soil which is 

 better adapted to peaches and plums. If the soil has a depth of 3 feet 

 or over they may be expected to thrive, and other conditions being 

 favorable will bring the owner good returns. Quite frequently the man 

 who is contemplating setting out pear or other trees bases his judgment 

 as to what they will do under his conditions, on an analysis of the soil. 



