22 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Francisco, where there is a ready market for early fruits, and at 

 all times for vegetables and berries. The advantage we have in 

 gathering and handling fruit is also important. The rainless 

 summers and great percentage of dewless nights enable us to 

 dry fruit in the open air without protection day or night until 

 late in the season. The fruit does not mould, because the 

 peculiar dryness of the atmosphere is not favourable to fungoid 

 growths. 



The Santa Clara Valley is one of the most extensive districts 

 in the State which is, as a whole, suited to the growth of some 

 valuable product. Nearly every acre in the valley, and the 

 greater portion of the mountain land, is suited to fruit trees, 

 vines, or vegetables. Different localities are suited to different 

 fruits, as there is a variety of soil and climate, the latter being 

 influenced by elevation and topography. 



The largest fruit canneries in the world are in operation in 

 the vicinity of San Jose, and extensive fruit-drying establish- 

 ments are located in every district. This is a feature of great 

 value to the orchardist, as a great deal depends upon the facilities 

 for preparing fruit for market. 



Prune growing is here the most extensive, and usually the 

 most profitable fruit industry. The Prune grows well in nearly 

 any portion of the valley, though it thrives best in soil that is 

 not too heavy. It is easily cultivated and readily handled. As 

 the fruit is dried, it does not have to be marketed immediately, 

 and does not come under the head of " perishable." The trees 

 are as a rule planted 20 feet apart, which means 108 trees to 

 the acre. They commence bearing the fourth year, and some- 

 times in the third, and are in full bearing in the seventh. The 

 yield will average 100 lbs. to the tree, and the fresh fruit fetches 

 from -hd. to fd. a lb. The gross income, therefore, ranges 

 usually from £20 to £10 an acre. Orchards in full bearing 

 occasionally yield from £10 to £60 an acre. 



Next in importance, both as to acreage and profit, is the 

 Apricot. The culture of this favourite fruit is limited exclusively 

 to the Pacific coast, and only reaches perfection in California. 

 This is one instance in which the climate of California does a 

 perfect work ; for while the Apricot will grow elsewhere, it does 

 not thrive ; and while it grows in nearly every section of the 

 State, there is but one district which can compete with the 



