FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



13 



The varieties that are the most satisfactory for this purpose here 

 are the Verdel, Muscat, and Cornichon, and, as a rule, those ex- 

 hibiting the best keeping qualities come from that portion of the 

 county known as the Santa Cruz mountain district. Some of 

 the Cornichons grown in the valley keep well enough for Eastern 

 shipment, and all of the best varieties of table grapes may be 

 profitably grown for the San Francisco market. As a rule, the 

 fruits that may be most profitably shipped East, green, are 

 cherries, grapes, plums, and pears. The profits realised, of 

 course, depend upon the quality of the fruit, the condition of 

 the market, and the care exercised in properly supplying the 

 demand. If the grower deals with some well-known agent, he 

 gets all that the fruit will bring in the Eastern market, after the 

 freight is paid, less 7 or 8 per cent, commission. Freight rates 

 on green fruit from San Jose to Eastern cities are usually quoted 

 per car load. With a view of securing greater detail the rate 

 here is given per box. Cherries are always shipped in 10-lb. 

 boxes ; pears in 40-lb. boxes ; and plums, peaches, and grapes 

 in 20-lb. boxes. From San Jose to Kansas City or Omaha the 

 freight charges are : for cherries, per 10-lb. box, 9\d. ; pears, per 

 40-lb. box, 3s. 6|-cZ.; plums and grapes, per 20-lb. box, Is. 8Jd.; 

 peaches, per 20-lb. box, Is. 4\d. From San Jose to Chicago, 

 St. Paul, or Minneapolis: Cherries, per box, 9hd. ; pears, per 

 box, 3s. Gd. ; plums and grapes, per box, Is. 9d. ; peaches, per 

 box, Is. i\d. From San Jose to St. Louis : Cherries, 9\d. ; 

 pears, 3s. ld.\ plums and grapes, Is. 9\d.\ peaches, Is. 5\d. 

 From San Jose to New York or Philadelphia : Cherries, Is. ; 

 pears, 4s. 3}>d.; plums and grapes, 2s. 2^d. ; peaches, Is. 9d. 



At present the most successful and satisfactory method of 

 shipping green fruit to great distances is in refrigerators. The 

 price of freight will not be higher, and will probably be lower 

 within the next few years. The freight to San Francisco is 

 low. It sometimes pays better, however, to ship East. 



Months, Seasons, and What They Bring. 



In most countries the year is divided into four seasons, the 

 lines between which are so definitely defined, that not only may 

 spring, summer, autumn, and winter be distinguished, but may 

 be outlined by months in the almanack. In California the 



