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 Lo- 
reto by Salvatierra, October 19, 1697. The following years 
horses and cattle were brought from Mexico, and from this intro- 
duction came ultimately the vast herds which roamed the hills 
and plains of California. 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 Mex- 
ico 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 gardens 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, brav- 
ing many perils, and undergoing great hardships, establishing 
missions through the coast region of the State. Credit is given 
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