FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



23 



Santa Clara Valley. Apricots grow best in the sedimentary 

 soils. In this valley they commence to bear the third year, and 

 the fourth year the crop pays a little more than the expenses. 

 Thereafter the crops are usually large.' This fruit is always in 

 demand, and the demand is increasing as the delicious flavour 

 of the fruit is becoming better known. Either dried or canned, 

 it is beyond comparison as a table fruit. It is dried in the sun, 

 and when dried brings from 2^cZ. to 6c?. a pound. The fourth 

 year from planting an orchard will generally produce five tons 

 per acre, and the fresh fruit sells for from £3 to £6 a ton. 

 The average price last year was five-eighths of a penny per lb., 

 or £5 a ton. This year the price was £6 per ton, the income 

 ranging from £15 to £70 an acre. 



Peaches may be grown in nearly every State in the Union, 

 but they prefer a warm climate, and only reach perfection in 

 California. All the favourite varieties of this delicious fruit 

 ripen here in the full perfection of sweetness and flavour, but 

 the Early Crawford is the prime favourite. Three years after 

 planting the trees yield a good crop, and thereafter the crop is 

 usually so heavy that props must be used to keep the trees from 

 breaking down. Generally the fruit must be thinned, and it 

 pays to do this, as then it is larger and has a better flavour. 

 Peaches thrive better in the lighter and warmer soils. They 

 are as a rule nearly as profitable as Apricots, and occasionally 

 net even more. The earliest ripen in May, and find a ready 

 sale at high figures. One variety succeeds another throughout 

 the summer, and Peaches may be had as late as November. 

 The returns are between £15 and £60 an acre. 



Californian Cherries, like all other products of the State, are 

 remarkable for their size, flavour, and beauty of appearance. 

 The Cherry tree likes a rich, arable, silty soil. Cherries do not 

 come into bearing before the seventh year, but after that will 

 yield largely, and choice Cherries always command a good price. 

 The first ripe Cherries appear in May, and the later varieties in 

 June, July, and August. The principal varieties cultivated here 

 are the Koyal Anne, Napoleon, Bigarreau, and Black Tartarian. 

 The price ranges from 3d. to lOd. a lb., with the average about 

 4cZ. a lb. The yield per acre ranges from £40 to £200, and the 

 average is about £60 gross. 



The Pear adapts itself to a diversity of soil and climate more 



