2 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Most fruits mentioned in this paper have. been growing under 
observation for eight years. While this period is too short to permit 
definite conclusions in every case, it has seemed best to publish the 
information so far obtained, in order to meet the numerous inquiries . 
received concerning this phase of the work of the San Antonio Field 
Station. 
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF THE REGION. 
While the winters of San Antonio are mild, the occasional low 
temperatures prevent the growing of many of the more tender fruits. 
The severity of the winter climate is not due wholly to the low tem- 
peratures, but in a large measure to the suddenness of the changes, 
which often cause an extremely wide range of temperature in a few 
hours. Many of the northers which bring the temperature down to 
a few degrees below freezing are preceded by periods of warm, sum- 
merlike weather that start the plants into growth and put them in 
the worst possible condition to withstand the cold. The minimum 
temperature does not ordinarily go much below 15° F., as is shown 
in Table I. 
TaBLeE [.—Absolute minimum temperatures at San Antonio, Tex., 1892 to 1913, 
inclusive.' 
| || 
s Temper- = Temper- | = Temper- 
Year. ature Year. ature Year. ature. 
| 
oT. oR | 2d De 
ok oh ae 1971] 2000; 20s eee 19' || 1908: <2 "56 eee 18 
db 8 Se A a 26 190 TS eee are ee 15:3)) 19008222 >. 2250 eee 17 
SOS en ee ee a 16 1902222 232 Se eee 26.1 910-2 eee Uy 
1 bes) ip Abeta ca oat a ce 11 1903) ee eee eee eee 19 LOU 2 ere eee 13 
SOG oes ee es Ay ye 27 1904207. Bas te ee. 22) It A912 2a ee See 16 
NSO Tee es es 18 OOS. Soe tas. ee eee ae 13 19133 see SEL eee 20 
SORE mses. SR ee nS 20 1906322 ees 2 aes 24 ———__—- 
1 fot Pee eas © = ee Ail) 1907s 5c ae 27 Mean minimum. 18 
1 The temperatures for the years 1892 to 1906, inclusive, are taken from the records of the U. S. Weather 
Bureau, and those for the years 1907 to 1913, inclusive, from the records of the San Antonio Experiment 
Farm. 
The annual rainfall at San Antonio has averaged about 26 inches 
for the past 20 years. (Fig. 1.) This, if well distributed, should 
be ample for most fruit trees, and in ordinary seasons should 
mature a fruit crop, particularly if the trees are planted somewhat 
farther apart than is now customary and the orchards given good care. 
and culture. In fact, the writers are convinced that the rainfall is 
not the chief limiting factor in growing such fruits as peaches and 
plums where the orchard receives proper care, although it must be 
expected that seasons will occur when the fruit crop will suffer because 
of insufficient rainfall. 
Table II gives the rainfall at the experiment farm for the years 
1907 to 1913, inclusive. A comparison of these figures with the 
