386 Various Shrubs and Trees. : 
taking the fruit into account, has caused it to be planted in 
many gardens. Exposed to the raw sea winds it does not 
bloom wel! nor set with fruit, and is best adapted to the warmer 
regions of the interior, where it is an early and abundant bearer. 
The variety chiefly cultivated is a bright orange color, but there 
is found a large variety ot them, varying from almost pure white 
with a faint blush, to dark red. A very striking variety, with 
deep red pulp, is grown by Mr. J. T. Bearss, of Porterville. The 
fruit ripens in the warmer parts of the State, north and south, 
in October. 
THE STRAWBERRY TREE. 
The Spanish madrofio (Arbutus unedo) is now quite widely 
grown, chiefly as an ornamental shrub or tree. Plants have 
‘been distributed from the propagating grounds of the State 
University at Berkeley, where the tree has been in bearing for 
the last ten years. Two large trees in the garden of J. L. 
Mosher, at San Jose, are perhaps the oldest in the State. The 
growth is exceedingly beautiful if kept free from scale insects, 
the fruit ranging as it ripens through shades of yellow, orange, 
and deep red, and contrasting beautifully with the glossy ever- 
green foliage. The fruit is of pleasant flavor. 
MELON SHRUB. 
This plant (Solanum Guatamalense) is a small, half-herba- 
ceous shrub from the table-land of Guatemala. The fruit is yel- 
low, splashed with violet, somewhat of the shape of the egg- 
plant, but is usually seedless, and is readily propagated from 
cuttings. Plants grown at Berkeley have not succeeded well. 
There are thriving plants in many protected places in the State, 
and some fruit reaches the market, but few seem to like the 
flavor, which is something like a tomato and melon mixed. 
THE MELON TREE. 
The melon pawpaw (Carica papaya) has been widely intro- 
duced experimentally in this State. and many situations are 
found unfitted for its growth, but satisfactory fruiting has been 
secured at several places in southern California, especially if 
protected the first year it will stand light frosts afterwards. 
With Mr. Cammack, at Whittier, Los Angeles County, it ripens 
fruit the third year from the seed—the fruit being pleasant to 
eat as one would a muskmelon. The large fig-like leaves and 
the peculiar markings of the trunk make the tree a very strik- 
ing object. 
THE PRICKLY PEAR, 
The tufia, or fruit of the cactus (Opuntia vulgaris), is pro- 
duced in nearly all parts of the State except on the mountains. 
