12 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



of the north growing side by side with the orange of the south, 

 while the pear and the lemon thrive together. The varieties 

 of fruit grown in the missions of Lower California whence the 

 Franciscans derived their stock, were few in number and con- 

 sisted of figs, citrons, oranges, pomegranates, plantains, olives, 

 and dates. There were no fruits of the north temperate zone, 

 unless it were a few peaches of very indifferent quality, which 

 did not thrive well and were not regarded as worth much con- 

 sideration. 



As elsewhere related, the Franciscans made their first estab- 

 lishment at San Diego in 1769, and proceeded from that point 

 northward, establishing altogether twenty-one missions; the 

 last one being at Sonoma in 1823. Here they found the Rus- 

 sian settlements, and the horticultural products of the north 

 and the south met and have grown together since. At each of 

 their missions the Fathers established orchards. 



Vancouver, in his memoir of the Pacific Coast, in 1792, 

 describes an orchard which he found at Santa Clara in which 

 were growing apples, peaches, pears, apricots, and figs, the 

 trees all being thrifty and promising. He further details 

 finding at the mission of San Buenaventura apples, pears, 

 plums, figs, oranges, grapes, peaches, and pomegranates. The 

 orchards connected with the Mission San Gabriel were among 

 the most extensive of that early period, having, among other 

 fruits growing, oranges, citrons, limes, apples, pears, peaches, 

 pomegranates, and figs; grapes also grew in abundance. 



No statistical accounts are extant recording the number of 

 trees or the amount of fruit produced by the missions at the 

 period of their greatest prosperity. Inventories of the mission 

 properties were made at the time of their secularization in 

 1834. That of the Santa Ynez Mission recorded 987 fruit 

 trees, valued at $1 each. San Fernando returned 1,600 fruit 

 trees, valued at $1.50 each; San Gabriel, 2,333 fruit trees, upon 

 which no valuation was placed; and San Diego returned 517 

 olive trees. Outside of the missions there were a few attempts 

 ( at horticulture, which might be called the " prehistoric " 

 orchards of the State. 



From the period of the secularization of the missions the 

 early fruit industry began to decline. In a few instances the 

 orchards were kept up to their original standard of excellence, 

 but these were exceptional cases, and when General Fremont 



