2 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



Another species, A. sparsifolium, with narrow, scattered leaves, is 

 sometimes abundant on the mountains east of San Diego. 



By chaparral is generally meant shrubs of several species of 

 Ccanothus, forming dense thickets and giving its name to certain 

 soils on which it most abounds, both in the Sierra foot-hills and 

 the hillsides of the Coast Range, where it is known as California 

 lilac. The genus includes the "flat brushes," as they are called, 

 from their trailing on the ground, or low x horizontal shoots. 



Other Small Growths. Shrubs of frequent occurrence also are 

 the poison oak (Rhus diversiloba} , chiefly on the north sides of hills 

 in all parts of the State, but most abundant in the Coast Ranges, 

 and other species of Rhus which are not poisonous ; the hazel nut 

 (Corylus rostrata), which has been mentioned in the chapter on wild 

 fruits ; the buckthorns, several species of rhammus, well distributed on 

 the hillsides and mountains of the State. 



In some parts of the State there are also large areas of sage- 

 brush or wormwood made up of several species of Artemisia, sage 

 or chia, two species of Salvia, and the famous white and black sages 

 of the bee-keepers, which are species of Audibertia, occurring 

 chiefly on the mountains of Southern California. Add to these the 

 spireas, the azaleas, the rhododendrons, the sweet-scented shrubs 

 (Calycanthus), etc., and include nearly all the wild fruit trees, 

 bushes and vines mentioned in a previous chapter, and one will 

 gain the idea that though California is widely considered a bare 

 State, the land clearer has a host of plants confronting him and 

 disputing his right to the soil. 



Cost of Clearing. The cost of clearing on the foot-hill slopes 

 of the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges is too variable to admit 

 of estimates except such as may be made on the spot by experi- 

 enced persons. The cost varies, of course, according to the density 

 of the growth of trees and underbrush, and the rate of wages to 

 be paid. Though in some cases higher cost is reached, probably 

 as a rule the expense of clearing will be from $5.00 to $30.00 per 

 acre, less whatever the firewood might be worth. In exceptional 

 cases, where there is a large growth and a good wood market near 

 by, the wood may pay the expense or more ; even the roots of 

 chaparral sometimes sell in our cities at $3.00 or $4.00 per cord. 

 It sometimes happens that charcoal can be produced to advantage; 

 in fact, there are now orchards upon land which was secured in 

 the first instance for the charcoal to be made upon it. Usually, 

 however, the clearing is an item of expense and must be reduced 

 as much as possible by working in the most economical and ef- 

 fective way. 



Though in most cases of clearing by the actual settler himself 

 the problem is merely one of muscle and persistence, some few 

 hints may be given from the experience of others which may be 



