24 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



It is true that air free from humidity allows rapid escape of 

 heat by radiation as well as free access of it, and in dry air frost 

 is more severe, but at the time of the greatest fruit growth, from 

 June to October, radiation down to a frost point is prevented by 

 other natural agencies. In the early spring and late autumn the 

 humidity percentage rises again and checks radiation just at the 

 time of the year when it is most desirable to have it checked. 



The acccompanying table, compiled from the records of the 

 United States Weather Bureau, shows the prevailing relative 

 humidity in the East and South and in California. 



THE THREE POINTS COMBINED 



The three great advantages of the California climate abundant 

 heat, continuous sunshine, and dry air taken in connection with 

 the fitness of the soil and the great length of the growing season, 

 insure the characteristic excellence of California fruit, and the early 

 maturity, great growth, and abundant fruitage of our trees and 

 vines. Heat, sunshine, dry air, and a rainless summer also min- 

 ister directly to the curing of fruits in the open air. All things 

 considered, it is doubtful whether any area in the world excels 

 California in possession of natural adaptation to fruit production 

 and preservation. 



A RECAPITULATION OF CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATIC 



ENDOWMENT 



Through the multitude of local observations, which seem per- 

 plexing and almost contradictory, it is possible to clearly discern 

 certain general conditions of both nature and culture, which may 

 be briefly advanced as characteristically and distinctively Cali- 

 fornian. Of these, perhaps the most striking is the length of the 

 growing season. 



Take, for instance, the peach in a good peach region. The 

 bloom may appear in February, followed by the grand foliage 

 expanding to a leaf-size, marvelous to one unused to such peach 

 leaves. The shoots of new growth rush out with vigor promised 

 by such a leaf, and yet the fruit below expands as though it would 

 burst its skin in rapid enlargement and still it grows. The new 

 shoot, apparently weary of its several feet of extension, stops for 

 a rest, and then, reviving, starts out its laterals while still below 

 the peach is growing. The laterals push out a foot or more all 

 carrying large, fresh leaves. While these are in full vigor, the fruit 

 ripens, after having a full year's joint work of root and foliage, if 

 it is a late variety. Is it any wonder is weighs a pound? But still 

 the tree is active. It forms its terminal buds, and then all along 

 the new main shoots and their laterals are formed the leaf and 



