182 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



largely used are of California origin. The peach 

 is chiefly grown in the great interior valleys, the San 

 Joaquin and the Sacramento and the foothills,, though 

 coast valleys participate in production. 



The nectarine is a smooth-skinned peach, but it 

 bears no comparison in product nor popularity. Cali- 

 fornia produces an excellent nectarine, and better 

 demand for the fruit may at some time justify in- 

 creased producing effort. 



The pear resembles the peach in its wide range 

 over coast valley, interior valley and foothill situa- 

 tions, but it extends beyond the peach, for it goes 

 to an altitude of 5000 feet and descends to the low- 

 est places in the valleys, for neither frost nor oc- 

 casional standing water can avail against it. It es- 

 capes frost by its slow start in the spring and it en- 

 dures water and even a degree of alkali in the soil 

 by the hardy character of its root. In ripening also 

 it is not injured by a degree and duration of heat 

 which ruins the quality of a winter apple. Until 

 about two decades ago, the pear was free from the 

 blight in California and there seemed no limit to 

 the possibilities in pear-growing. Since then the 

 disease has wrought havoc and many growers have 

 abandoned it, but those who wage successful warfare 

 are greatly profited. The varieties grown are com- 

 paratively few and the Bartlett is chief, because 

 there are fully two months between the first to ma- 

 ture in early districts and the last in late regions, 

 and during all this time supplies are ready for 

 shipping and canning of this one exceedingly ac- 



