ABUNDANCE OF FRUITS. 267 



was composed of many of tlic leading well-known sorts ; the 

 trees remarkaljlo for health, vigor of growth and productive- 

 ness. The oldest were about twelve years, and some of these 

 we estimated at thirty feet in height, and a foot in diameter of 

 trunk at the ground. The crop we regarded as too heavy for 

 the future welfare of the trees, and we suggested the thinning 

 of the fruit ; but the owner said the low price of fruit would 

 not justify the expense. We shall speak of prices hereafter. 

 Doyenne d'Ete an(i Madeleine pears were being picked, and 

 compared favorably with those grown at the East ; all other 

 varieties seemed to do well ; many were already, though not 

 half grown, highly colored. The apple orchard was less prom- 

 ising than the pear, we thought, owing to the ground being too 

 wet at a certain period of the year. Newtown Pippin was said 

 to be the most profitable, and next to that. Smith's Cider, White 

 Pearmain and Wine Sop. 



The strawberry here, when irrigated, bears the whole year ; 

 but the principal crops commence in April, and continue into 

 September. The strawberries are grown in rows three and a 

 half feet apart by one and a half feet in the row, and kept in 

 hills. The plants were six years old, the hills fully eighteen 

 inches across, and were bearing ripe and green fruit and blos- 

 soms at the same time. 



This gentleman has three artesian wells on his premises, vary- 

 ing in depth from 320 to 340 feet, giving a constant flow of 

 water during the dry season. The strawberries are irrigated 

 by carrying the water along the headlands in wooden flumes 

 about eighteen inches square ; stoppers are inserted opposite 

 the spaces between the rows, and then the water is distributed 

 and shut off at pleasure. The proprietor informed us that he 

 had on his grounds a mile and a half of these flumes. The 

 Longworth's Prolific strawberry here and elsewhere yielded 

 more profit, and constituted the bulk of this fruit at the market 

 stalls and in the shops. The later cherries were in perfection, 

 and for size and beauty surpassed any we have ever beheld.' in 

 any country. The Black Tartarian and Napoleon Bigarreau, 

 sold under the name of Royal Ann, arc much cultivated. 



On the 28tli of June we visited the plantation of another 

 gentleman at San Lorenzo, who has 125 acres in fruits, planted 

 fifteen years since, and was one of the earliest, most experienced 



