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 \d. to 6d. 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 Royal Anne, Napoleon, Bigarreau, and Black Tartarian. 
The price ranges from 3d. to 10^. a lb., with the average about 
Id. a lb. The yield per acre ranges from £10 to €200, and the 
average is about €60 gross. 
The Pear adapts itself to a diversity of soil and climate more 
