18 Why California Trees Rest. 
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 the 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 ex- 
ample, in the Vacaville district, fifty miles inland, and in Berke- 
ley, two miles from the bay shore, trees bloom almost at the 
same date. The difference in ripening is due to the higher tem- 
perature 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 
than from cold. The immense weight of fruit, the vigorous 
growth of wood, and the exhaustion of moisture from the soil 
by the draught of the roots to compass this growth; are the chief 
causes which bring the sere and yellow leaf in California. It 
is not frost, for the petunias may be blooming and the tomato 
vines still green in the fields. But the time has come for a rest. 
The trees sleep; but it is merely as a nap at midday; the early 
rains wake them soon. The roots are active first, then the buds 
swell, and the blossoms burst forth—sometimes as early as Jan- 
uary—the almond first heralding the advent of California spring- 
time. 
Sometimes this season of rest is too short for the good of 
the tree or vine. The early rains, when followed by a spring- 
like temperature, as sometimes happens, induce activity in the 
top as well as the root, and the tree is not in condition to with- 
stand cold weather, which may follow. It is probable that such 
stimulated activity, suddenly checked, is responsible for more 
ills to tree and vine than are usually attributed to it. 
