IMPORTANCE OF CLEAR SUNLIGHT 



25 



blossom buds for the following year. Still the foliage holds green 

 and active, if the moisture below be adequate, and the leaves seem 

 loth to fall in the ninth month from the time of blooming. Is it 

 any wonder California peaches are large and the trees require 

 pruning and thinning to enable them to carry the weight produced 

 in such a season of growth? And what has been said of the peach 

 is true of other trees, according to their nature and habits. The 

 trees themselves are more eloquent of California's conditions for 

 growth than descriptions or statistical tables can be made. 



But the quality of the light and heat, if the term is admissable, 

 is a factor as well as their duration. The air, free, not alone from 

 clouds, but from the insensible aqueous vapor which weakens 

 sunshine in its effort to serve vegetation in a humid climate, has a 

 clearness and brilliance from its aridity which makes each day of 

 the long, growing season more than a day in other climates, and 

 thus adds to the calendar length of the growing season. The 

 surplus light and heat also act directly in the chemistry which 

 proceeds in the tissues of the plant, and we have not only size, 

 but quality, color, aroma everything which makes the perfect fruit 

 precious and beautiful beyond words. 



It is true that for commercial purposes it is not possible to 

 allow this process to go too far, for its later effects are higher 

 sweetness, accompanied by such juiciness that the fruit can not 

 endure transportation. But go to the tree to apply the only test 

 which can fairly be put to a juicy fruit, and the demonstration of 

 the service of clear, unobstructed sunshine through an adequate 

 period is complete. But if this can not be done, place the judgment 

 upon the ma.ture peach carefully sun-dried and intelligently cooked, 

 or upon the ripe peach skilfully canned, and the distinctive adapta- 

 tions of California for fruit production will display themselves. 



But there are other agencies involved in the perfection of fruit 

 than intensity and duration of light and heat. Without adequate 

 moisture in the soil, the air which we have credited with such 

 benign power in carrying heat and light for perfection of fruit 

 would transmit the same as agencies for the destruction of the tree 

 which bears it. If this moisture comes from rainfall, it descends 

 at the time of the year when the tree is least active, consequently 

 is least retarded by a clouded sky and moisture-laden air, and least 

 affected by atmospheric disturbances. Strong storm winds find 

 the tree with reefed sails, and able to endure pressure which would 

 tear it to pieces if they came upon its grand spread of foliage on 

 branches heavy with fruit. It is a priceless horticultural endow- 

 ment that no tornado can pierce our protecting mountain-barriers, 

 and that it is exceedingly rare that our local winds disturb the 

 confident swaying of the branches and leaf movement beyond the' 

 activity which ministers to the sap flow. And if the adequate 



