330 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 

 IN CALIFORNIA. 



By F. W. Popenoe, F.R.H.S., Altadena, California, U.S.A. 



California has been known for many years for its oranges and lemons, 

 its prunes and apricots, and many other fruits which it grows on an 

 extensive scale. The last quarter of a century, however, has witnessed 

 a great increase of interest in the cultivation of other exotic fruits, 

 especially those of a tropical or subtropical nature. Several of com- 

 paratively recent introduction are already taking a position among 

 the commercial products of the State ; others, while perhaps marketed 

 in a small way, are grown more for the interest they possess, and to 

 increase the variety of fruits placed upon the home table. 



One of the most remarkable features of California is its wide diver- 

 sity of climatic conditions, embracing comparatively humid, frost- 

 free localities near the sea-coast, arid but frost-free locations in the 

 foothill regions several miles back from the ocean, and interior valleys 

 whose climatic conditions are little different from those of the Sahara, 

 as well as the cooler portions of the State where the temperate fruits 

 are grown to perfection, and mountain slopes where Conifers flourish 

 up to the point of perpetual snow. Obviously, such a range permits 

 the cultivation of nearly all fruits except the most delicate of the 

 equatorial belt, the absence of uniformly high temperatures through- 

 out the year prohibiting the successful cultivation of such species as 

 the durian, mangosteen, and rambutan. And while our horticulturists 

 have been somewhat slow in following up their advantage, they are 

 at last awakening to a realization of their strategic position, and push- 

 ing forward in all directions. 



Every quarter of the globe has been laid under contribution to 

 furnish its most interesting and valuable fruits to California. Many 

 of these introductions have not yet passed beyond the experimental 

 stage, having been too recently imported to have produced fruit yet 

 or to have fully proved their adaptability to our climate and soil, but 

 they, nevertheless, show promise of eventually becoming valuable 

 additions to our economic flora. The following species, for many of 

 which we are indebted to Dr. F. Franceschi of Santa Barbara, whose 

 twenty years' work of introduction and acclimatization has added many 

 beautiful and valuable plants to Californian gardens, are some of the 

 most interesting of this class : 



Achras Sapota Linn., Antidesma Bunius Spreng., Britoa acida 

 Berg, Byrsonima crassifolia H. B. & K., C alodendrum capensis Thunb., 

 Caslanospermum auslrale A. Cunn. & Fraser, Clausena Wampi Oliver, 

 Coccoloba caracasana Meissn., Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sesse, 

 Cupania sapida Voigt (properly Blighia sapida Kon.), Eugenia alba 



