SITUATIONS FOR THE PEACH 273 



of these districts, with the foot-hill district on the east side of the 

 Sacramento Valley and special locations in the upper San Joaquin 

 Valley, has been quite close- 

 in the coast valleys, opening upon San Francisco Bay and the 

 Pacific .Ocean, the peach is also a leading fruit. Its success is great- 

 est, however, where good shelter is had from direct coast influences. 

 Even where open to these influences, good peaches can be grown 

 by choosing the smaller range of varieties, which do well by pro- 

 tecting the trees from harsh winds, and by seeking elevation above 

 depressed valleys, whose frosts are frequent. The occurrence of 

 curl-leaf is a factor of much importance, which will be considered 

 presently. In the coast counties north of the Russian River Valley 

 the danger to the peach from unfavorable atmospheric conditions 

 increases as one goes northward, and situations must be chosen 

 with greater care. And yet by such exercise of care, peaches for 

 home use and local markets can be successfully grown. 



South of San Francisco Bay the coast influences soften as you 

 proceed southward, and the peach draws nearer to the ocean, 

 choosing, however, elevations, and avoiding broad, wind-swept 

 areas and narrow denies where drafts and fogs are frequent. At 

 considerable elevations, as on the Santa Cruz Mountains, some 

 varieties of peaches are notably excellent. The general rule holds 

 with the peach, as with other fruits, that coast influences retard 

 ripening and the season of the fruit is late. 



In some valleys and at elevations in southern California the 

 peach is largely grown and high excellence attained while on the 

 mesas and plains there is often too high a temperature which starts 

 growth out of season and follows with dormancy and die-back 

 when the tree. ought to be most active. It has recently been demon- 

 strated that varieties like Luken's Honey, descended from the 

 Peen-to or flat peach of China, resist such irregularities better than 

 the common sorts which are largely of Persian origin. 



SOILS AND EXPOSURES FOR THE PEACH 



Though the suitability of soils for the peach can be somewhat 

 extended by the choice of stock for budding upon, as will be con- 

 sidered presently, its range of soils is narrower than that of the 

 apricot. The best peach soils are light, deep, sandy loams, rather 

 dry than moist, but under all circumstances well drained. It will 

 thrive on land with a considerable mixture of coarse sand or gravel, 

 providing it contains also needed elements of fertility ; for the rapid 

 growth and heavy fruitage of the "peach requires abundant nutri- 

 tion. Though it accepts coarse materials both in soil and subsoil, 

 it relishes fine sediment and perhaps finds no more congenial loca- 

 tion than in the deep, sandy loam, or sedimentary deposit border- 



