ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 135 



the margins of the leaves, and, of some young plants, from two 

 to four inches of the extremities of the twigs, but this does not 

 seriously injure the plants. My trees are growing on loam, 

 with gravel subsoil. My neighbors, whose soil is black adobe, 

 with clay subsoil, have suffered more than I. I notice on low 

 black land some young trees that have lost all their foliage ; 

 probably they will die. Mature trees, from five to ten years 

 old, that is, trees with wood well ripened, not irrigated late in 

 the season, suffer least of all ; and none at all on loamy soil 

 with gravel subsoil. It is my opinion that seedlings Carey's 

 seedlings and other good domestic seedlings, for example 

 resist frost better than St. Michael, Mediterranean Sweet, Malta 

 Blood and other imported sorts. 



Fourth I have grown oranges of fine size and flavor on my 

 grounds; but it is my opinion, after careful observation, that 

 oranges will not be a sure crop in the valleys of this county ; 

 but that they may be grown to perfection on the foot-hills on 

 either side of the valley. Trees bearing full crops may be seen 

 at Los Gatos and elsewhere near the foot-hills. Messrs. Rogers 

 and McMurtry, of Los Gatos, have a fine exhibit near the pres- 

 ent terminus of the South Pacific Coast Railroad. 



Stanislaus County Thomas Roberts, Knight's Ferry: 



First The lowest reading of the thermometer, from what I 

 can learn, was twenty-eight degrees. Some nights ice formed 

 from one-quarter to one-half inch in thickness. 



Second The young trees were shriveled a good deal during 

 the freezing weather, but when the weather moderated they re- 

 turned to their usual freshness, with the exception that a few 

 leaves are a little yellowish and that some of the tips of the ten- 

 derest shoots are nipped a little. I think they have received no 

 permanent injury worth mentioning. The trees are from two to 

 eighteen years old, planted on rather low ground from three to 

 six feet above the river bank, with a northern aspect, and shel- 

 tered considerably from all winds. 



Fourth During a residence of eighteen years in this place I 

 do not remember having previously seen so much frosty weather, 

 and for so long a time, but I may have seen as thick ice, if not 

 a little thicker, I have noticed that lemons, in years past, have 



