ACTIVITY OF FRUIT TREES jy 



There are elevated tracts of large extent among the Sierras 

 where the common wild plum, choke-cherry, gooseberry, and Cali- 

 fornia chestnut are produced abundantly. April frosts have killed 

 the fruit of those same plums, transplanted to lower ground, while 

 those left in their natural situation were quite unharmed. It has 

 been observed that these plum trees, with other fruits and nuts 

 in their original positions, invariably occupy the broad tops of 

 the great ridges instead of the sides and bottoms of ravines pi- 

 narrow, pent-up valleys. Follow nature in the choice of orchard 

 sites (with due regard to a supply of moisture in the soil, either 

 natural or artificial) and little hazard attends the culture of the 

 hardier fruits of our latitude among the highlands of the State 

 than is incident to other seemingly more favored localities. The 

 beauty and quality of these mountain fruits are proverbial.. 



A RULE OF GENERAL APPLICATION 



What has been thus suggested of the great variation of tem- 

 perature conditions within narrow limits should lead to the con- 

 clusion that not only must the kind of fruit to plant be determined 

 by local observation and experience, but often varieties of these 

 fruits must be chosen with reference to adaptation to local 

 environment. For this reason it is impossible to compile tables 

 of varieties suited for wide areas and yet it is true that some 

 varieties have shown themselves hardy and satisfactory under all 

 conditions. These facts will be shown by the discussion which 

 will be given to each of the different fruits. 



REST AND ACTIVITY OF FRUIT TREES 



Indication has already been made of regions adapted to the 

 growth of early and of late fruits. There is, of course, difference 

 in time of rest and of returning activity in blooming. On the 

 mountains under wintry conditions the trees leaf out and bloom 

 late, following more or less, the habit of Eastern trees. In the 

 foot-hills, the valleys, and the coast, there is less difference in 

 time of rest and of leaf and bloom. Even in regions where there 

 may be a month's difference in ripening of fruit, as, for example, 

 in the Vacaville district, fifty miles inland, and in Berkeley, two 

 miles from the bay shore, trees bloom almost at the same date. 

 The difference in ripening is due to the higher temperature and 

 fuller sunshine of the interior situation, which have a forcing 

 effect, while the low temperature and dull skies of the summer on 

 the coast retard maturity. 



The rest of the tree, in all save the mountain district, is not 

 dependent upon the touch of frost. It comes rather from thirst 



