136 ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



been affected by frost, where they have been exposed ; ^but 

 scarcely any this season, and the oranges none at all. Neither 

 bearing orange trees nor the fruit has ever been damaged by 

 cold weather in this place that I am aware of. 



Tuolumne County John Taylor, Chinese Camp : 



First Lowest, twenty-six degrees in the shade. I do not 

 know what it was among the trees. Solid ice formed from one- 

 fourth to three-fourths of an inch thick. The salvation of the 

 trees seemed to depend on protection by shade and the absence 

 of wind. 



Second It is with pleasure that I answer number two, hav- 

 ing orange trees in my own garden, and having noticed those of 

 my neighbors. Only a few leaves, and those most exposed, show 

 a blight. My few trees are from two to six years old. They are 

 all green and apparently uninjured. A few days ago I saw 

 trees with golden yellow fruit, with only a few leaves injured. 



Third The trees I speak of are planted in small valleys, 

 sheltered in a measure by surrounding hills. Some trees must 

 be from twelve to sixteen years old. 



Fourth Some trees have been protected by a thin cloth, 

 others received no protection. The past frost has been the 

 severest in thirty years, the extent of my observations but I 

 do say I have great faith in these foot-hills for the future of 

 oranges, lemons and limes. A range of twenty-five miles from 

 the plains toward the Sierra, and commonly known as the 

 "Foot-hills," will, owing to the natural protection and facilities 

 for irrigation, ultimately be more successful than the plains, 

 over which the wind has a strong, cutting sweep that will de- 

 stroy young and tender trees. Our not being subject to such 

 winds makes the frosts almost harmless. I have on the south 

 side of the house a small seedling, about a foot high, that was 

 exposed, unhurt. I am fully satisfied that the foot-hills will give 

 the best showing for orange culture. Capital and capability 

 have hitherto sought the sunny south ;. but we have advantages 

 not possessed by very high or very low latitudes. The quality 

 of all fruit raised in the foot-hills is superior to all other fruit in 

 California a fact which will in time commend itself to horti- 

 culturists. 



