CHAPTER V 

 CALIFORNIA MISSION FRUITS 



Cultivated fruits were first brought into California from the 

 south. Mission work among the Indians of Lower California was 

 actually begun by the establishment of the mission at Loreto by 

 Salvatierra, October 19, 1697. The following years horses and 

 cattle were brought from Mexico, and from this introduction came 

 ultimately the vast herds which roamed the hills and plains of Cali- 

 fornia. Probably the first seeds and plants of cultivated vegetables 

 and fruits came about the same time, for there was a small garden 

 and a few fruit trees at Loreto in 1701. But Loreto was not fitted 

 for horticulture, and in the same year an expedition in charge of 

 Father Ugarte, who is called the founder of agriculture in Lower 

 California, crossed over the mountain to a more suitable location 

 at the mission of Vigge Biaundo, which had been destroyed some 

 time before by hostile Indians. Ugarte restored the mission, made 

 irrigating ditches, and planted fruit trees and vines. This effort 

 was successful from a horticultural point of view, for in 1707 

 Ugarte made more wine than would suffice for mission use, and 

 sent some to Mexico in exchange for other goods. Thus began the 

 export trade in California wine. 



The Jesuits continued their establishment of missions in Lower 

 California until there were fifteen missions, at five of which there 

 were vineyards, and presumably as many or more which had gar- 

 dens with fruit trees. 



The variety of fruits grown in Lower California was small. 

 They had figs, oranges, citrons, pomegranates, plantains, and some 

 olives and dates. There were no North European fruits, with the 

 exception of a few peaches, which, however, did not appear to 

 thrive. 



The Jesuits were supplanted in Lower California, in 1768, by 

 the Franciscans. The Franciscans, led by Junipero Serra, at once 

 pressed northward, and entered the territory which is now the State 

 of California. Their first establishment was at San Diego, in 1769. 

 Thence they proceeded northward, braving many perils, and under- 

 going great hardships, establishing missions through the coast 

 region of the State. Credit is given to the secular head of the 

 expedition to San Diego, Don Joseph de Galvez, representing the 

 king of Spain, for ordering the carrying of seeds of fruits, grains, 

 vegetables, and flowers into the new territory, and from the plant- 

 ing at San Diego the same varieties were taken to the twenty mis- 

 sions afterwards established. 

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