THE RELATION OF CLIMATE TO POMOLOGY 233 



over no insignificant portion of tiie Southwest it is even be- 

 low 5 inches. 



204. The Pacific province. — Over the narrow Pacific 

 coastal belt climati(; conditions are quite unlike those else- 

 where in the country, and in many respects resemble those 

 of northwestern and western Europe, including the Medi- 

 terranean area. The wide range of latitude between north 

 and south, together with the vaiying topographic controls 

 and the differences of exposure to the ocean influences, ex- 

 plain the great variety of climate in this province. These 

 range from those of the rainy and densely forested slopes of 

 Washington to those of semi-arid southern California; from 

 those of the lowlands to the snow-covered mountain tops; 

 from the cool sununer of the coast to the hot summers of 

 the Great Valley. The climate, in general, is mild and equa- 

 ble, with slight diurnal and seasonal ranges. 



The following table summarizes, in a very general way, 

 the essential temperature characteristics of the Pacific prov- 

 ince: 



Table LXXIII 



The rainfall is heavy (over 100 inches) on the northwest- 

 em coast of Washington, and decreases rapidly to the south, 

 to about 10 inches in the San Joaquin Valley. 



205. Natural guides to horticultural practices.— From 

 earliest times the grower of crops has made use of certain 

 natural guides to determine when he would plant and har- 

 vest his crops as well as for other activities about the farm. 

 Such an expression as "it is time to plant com when white 



