FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



29 



and some fertilise with it ; but the greater proportion of our 

 orchardists use no fertilisers of any kind. 



The prices realised this season by our fruit growers have 

 been very fair. Apricots have sold for from £5. 10s. to £1 a ton 

 for those suitable for canning, and for drying purposes from 

 £5 to £6 a ton. Peaches sold for from £4 to £G for those 

 suitable for canning, but lots for drying sold as 1ow t as £1. 12s. 

 to £4 a ton. Prunes sold for from £5 to £6. 8s., the average 

 price being £6 a ton. The Pear crop was light, and good 

 Bartletts sold the season through for £6 a ton. The minimum 

 w r eight for a carload of fruit is 24,000 lbs. The freight rates 

 on the Santa Fe and on the Southern Pacific Eailroads are 

 identical, one company always meeting any reduction made by 

 the other. The rate on fresh fruit from San Jose to the London 

 markets is 12s. per 100 lbs. 



During the year Santa Clara County orchards and vineyards 

 may be depended upon to yield as follows : — 



January. — Oranges, Lemons, Strawberries, and occasionally 

 Apples and Easpberries. 



February.— Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, and Strawberries. 



March. — Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, and Strawberries. 



April. — Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, Strawberries, and Loquats. 



May. — Currants, Loquats, Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, Straw- 

 berries, and occasionally Cherries, Apricots, and Peaches. 



June.— Cherries, Plums, Apricots, Prunes, Peaches, Currants, 

 Loquats, Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, Strawberries, Blackberries, 

 and Raspberries. 



July.— Figs, Apples, Grapes, Cherries, Nectarines, Plums, 

 Prunes, Apricots, Peaches, Currants, and the others mentioned 

 in June. 



August. — Pomegranates, Quinces, with those in season in 

 July, with the exception of Loquats. 

 September. — Same as August. 



October. — Pomegranates, Figs, Quinces, Grapes, Apples, 

 Plums, Prunes, Peaches, Lemons, Guavas, Strawberries, and 

 Raspberries. 



November. — Persimmons, Pomegranates, Quinces, Grapes, 

 Apples, Figs, Plums, Prunes, Peaches, Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, 

 Strawberries, and Raspberries. 



December. — Same as November, with the exception of plums. 



