FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 
29 
and some fertilise with it; but the greater proportion of our 
orchardists use no fertilisers of any kind. 
The prices realised this season by our fruit growers have 
been very fair. Apricots have sold for from £5. 10s. to £1 a ton 
for those suitable for canning, and for drying purposes from 
£5 to £6 a ton. Peaches sold for from £4 to £6 for those 
suitable for canning, but lots for drying sold as low as ^1. 12s. 
to £4 a ton. Prunes sold for from £5 to £6. 8s., the average 
price being £6 a ton. The Pear crop was light, and good 
Bartletts sold the season through for £6 a ton. The minimum 
weight for a carload of fruit is 24,000 lbs. The freight rates 
on the Santa Fe and on the Southern Pacific Railroads are 
identical, one company always meeting any reduction made by 
the other. The rate on fresh fruit from San Jose to the London 
markets is 12s. per 100 lbs. 
During the year Santa Clara County orchards and vineyards 
may be depended upon to yield as follows :— 
January .—Oranges, Lemons, Strawberries, and occasionally 
Apples and Raspberries. 
February. —Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, and Strawberries. 
March. —Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, and Strawberries. 
April. —Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, Strawberries, and Loquats. 
May. —Currants, Loquats, Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, Straw¬ 
berries, and occasionally Cherries, Apricots, and Peaches. 
June. —Cherries, Plums, Apricots, Prunes, Peaches, Currants, 
Loquats, Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, Strawberries, Blackberries, 
and Raspberries. 
July. —Figs, Apples, Grapes, Cherries, Nectarines, Plums, 
Prunes, Apricots, Peaches, Currants, and the others mentioned 
in June. 
August. —Pomegranates, Quinces, with those in season in 
July, with the exception of Loquats. 
September. —Same as August. 
October. —Pomegranates, Figs, Quinces, Grapes, Apples, 
Plums, Prunes, Peaches, Lemons, Guavas, Strawberries, and 
Raspberries. 
November. —Persimmons, Pomegranates, Quinces, Grapes, 
Apples, Figs, Plums, Prunes, Peaches, Oranges, Lemons, Guavas, 
Strawberries, and Raspberries. 
December. —Same as November, with the exception of plums. 
