FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



25 



average as much as from Strawberries, but range from £80 to 

 £100 an acre gross. 



Raspberries are more easily gathered than Blackberries, and 

 command a higher price, as the area of greatest production is 

 not so extensive. They return from £40 to £100 an acre 

 gross. 



Oranges thrive in the foot-hills at elevations ranging from 

 GOO to 1,800 feet. They are gross feeders, and require a rich, 

 fertile soil containing plenty of moisture. The red lands of 

 the foot-hills give good, perhaps the best, results. The oranges 

 grown here are large, sweet, and free from scale. They only 

 reach perfection in localities most free from frost, cold winds, 

 and sudden changes of temperature. The choicest variety is the 

 Washington Navel, which ripens here nearly a month earlier 

 than in the choicest Orange-growing districts in the South, and 

 early fruit commands fancy prices. Profits range from £35 to 

 £75 an acre. 



Apples grown in the valley reach a very large size, especially 

 in the silty soils along the Los Gatos creek, Coyote, and 

 Guadalupe. They lack the flavour and keeping qualities, how- 

 ever, which characterise the Apples grown in the mountains, 

 and are not usually as profitable as the stone fruits, though 

 they have been grown very profitably near Alviso. 



There are various other fruits and berries which are grown to 

 some extent, usually for private home consumption, though occa- 

 sionally for profit. Of these Quinces, Plums, Figs, Crab-apples, 

 Almonds, Walnuts, Currants, and Gooseberries may be mentioned. 

 Almost anything that will grow anywhere in the temperate or 

 semi-tropical zones will grow here, and many trees and plants 

 only here reach their highest development. We have treated 

 of those which are the most profitable. 



Fkom Growing to Consuming. 



The main feature of the fruit-growing industry in Santa 

 Clara County may be outlined as follows. 



In preparing the land for planting it is, when practicable, 

 ploughed thoroughly and deeply in the fall of the year, and the 

 surface left unharrowed and exposed to the desiccating influences 

 of the air during the winter. This adds to the fertility of the 



