14 CITRUS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



Mr. William Saunders, of the Department of Agriculture at 

 Washington. There were twelve trees in this importation. It 

 was sent out by the Department under the name of Bahia, but 

 was changed to Washington Navel, to distinguish it from a 

 variety introduced from Australia and grown to a limited ex- 

 tent in California. 



Two of the first trees to bear, aside from the orange house 

 of the Department, were at Riverside, and as the buds were 

 taken from those trees it got the name of Riverside Navel. 



The late Mr. Wells (Wells, Fargo & Co.) spent the winter of 

 1873-4 in San Diego, and in conversation with Alexander 

 Craw, then foreman for J. M. Asher, nurseryman, San Diego, 

 told him about the Bahia in glowing terms; Mr. Craw sug- 

 gested that it would be a desirable variety to have in Cali- 

 fornia. He said he would send for trees, and did so, but the 

 trees above mentioned were the first to fruit. 



This variety is claimed to be a shy bearer in Florida and 

 other States, but in this State, after having fruited for several 

 years, it has proved itself to be a prolific bearer, although 

 oranges in common in this State will not bear large crops 

 every year, every other year being an off year, more particu- 

 larly so with seedlings, producing more fruit one year than 

 another. 



VALENCIA LATE. (Valencia August, Loretto, Rivers' Late.) 



This variety has in the last six years fruited in this State, 

 and is one of the best varieties grown. (Figure No. I.) The 

 fruit resembles the Paper Rind St. Michael in color and firm- 

 ness, but oblong, and being larger in size. Trees of this 

 variety do not commence to bear young; so much in its favor, 

 as most of budded foreign varieties commence to bear when 

 entirely too young, thus checking the growth of the tree. 

 It is a very good keeper, and a prolific bearer. 



Fruit ripens very late, when all others are out of market. 



Through mistake, this variety was budded into several hun- 

 dred trees in the orchard of Col. J. R. Dobbins, at San Gabriel. 

 They were supposed to be the Navel. These buds were put 

 into trees in a corner of the orchard, separate from the Wash- 



