Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-07-18
California as Fruit Growing State.

yored by nature, which produce the fruits o
earth by artificial culture. Where fruits as spon'
taneous, and little or no labor is required, the
natural and universal result is idleness aud al
most total indifference to intellectual improve
ment Thus we see in those tropical climates
where the bread fruit, the plantain, the banana,
and the cocoa grow an inert and idle population,
content to swing in hammocks, sleeping through
a sultry day, to spend in tritlng pleasures the
shades of evening, Nature provides food without
labor, and the climate requires no elaborate clo-
thing to protect them from its rigors the same
influences which thus enervate the body destroy
the mind and the result is bad government, u
lack of individual enterprise, and total apathy
in everything which pertains to moral, ply ysical
or intellectual progress -.
There is, perhaps no other place in this round
world OF ours, whore so great q variety OF fruits
may be successfully cultivated as In that region
of country bordering upon the Pacific, embraced
in California and Oregon. The same degrees of
latitude are more mild and agreeable in their
temperature, upon the Pacific than upon the At
lantic shore aud such the adaptability of our
soil and climate to the culture of fruits, that we
are, with proper care, enabled to produce those
fruits peculiar to both temperate and tropical eli
mates and it Is quite remarkable that they all
flourish side by side in the same soil, with the
same care, and each particular fruit reaches n
perfection heretofore regarded as unattainable
except in its own peculiar soil. The great staple
fruit of our northern States, the apple described
by Downing as the " world renowned fruit Of
temperate climates" trausplanted to the soil oi
Cuba. degenerates until it loses its character.
In Oregon aud California the apple attalns u
size, flavor and perfection eXcellng the most Ia
vored places Of culture in our eastern States.
Upou this coast we produce the apple, peach,
pear plum, ounce apricot, cherry, strawberry,
grape with all the kindred fruits, in their utmost
perfection.
The rapidity of the growth of our fruit or
Guards, and the rapidly increasing supply of fruits
in our State is evidenced by the increasing guam
titles and reduced prices in our market In 1851
we paid readily for apples aud peaches one dollar
each and they were regarded as curlositles.
Each succeeding year has increased the supply
and cheaponed the price. This year we will re-
ceive from Oregon so 600 bushels of apples, while
our own State Will yield crop of peaches fur
exceeding that of last year. As and evidence Of
the rapid increase, peach growers arc Offering to
contract t. deliver ut S3 per basket
The ounce, plum and cherry being of slower
growth longer time is required to reduce their
prices but they are making their appearance In
our markets now, increasing their quantities each
year with size and fruity flavor most noticeable
to the fruit grower
The pear attains q great perfection In this
State and owing TO the fact OF its early intro
ducton into the State by the Missions, II ranks
now rs our cheapest fruit, and the Old Mission
pear orchards are being generally grated by
choice and more modern varieties, Oregon also
sends us some OF our best pear fruits.
Strawberries are destined to rank ~ our cheap
est and most desirable fruit the great size which
they attain, without losing their pine apple fla
vor has been the theme of frequent comment by
the hOrticulturst. A variety has now been in
troduced from Chile bearing fruit OF most ex-
quiste flavor, and of an average size OF hens
egg But it is not only the fruits Of temperate
climates that we may produce many OF the tro-
pical productions also flourish here The orange
will grow in many parts OF our state, with but
little care The lemon tree can hardly be re
garded as a hothouse plant. In the open air it
reaches great perfection as an ornamental shrub,
although it may not be cultivated for fruit, with
success. The almond tree grows and bears fruit,
with slight protection. The olive and fig flourish
in the southern part of our State
OF the grape, we need only say it is one Of
the staples - of our production and destined
in very short time to rank our State as one of
the leading wine producing countries Of the
world The Reports of 1856 show the existence
of 53l ,224 vines in cultivation and IL Is a well
known fact that since that time large amount
OF capital has been directed to vine growing, and
already the yield Of our vineyards has become
noticeable article Of expectation. Our wines, by
reason of their purity, flavor and fruity oiiness
of taste are, for our own consumption rapidly
taking the place OF foreign wines and alcoholic
importations. Brandy is manufactured from the
pure juice Of the grape. Champagne, rivalling
the more famous brands Of the south OF France,
is now attracting the attention of European mer-
chants, and time will enable us to return upon
Europe WINE, for their medic ated and vilanous-
ly drugged compounds, which We have swallow
ed under the endorsement of some famous trad-
tionary label-a source Of wealth ranking next
to gold, cattle, grain and wool,
Every farmer should plant large fruit or
chard. Our State demands a large supply, and
it will not be many years before We may export
to New York preserved fruits, which are now
so great an article of import.
Fruit is an article Of luxury within the reach
Of all and when it becomes abundant, our State
will have reached another point in the step OF its
progress and prosperity which no temporary EN-
barrassments may Affect
Let our valleys, now sweltering in the sun, be
shaded with the orchard and the vine, and the
cottage covered with the clambering grape. LET
the pomegranatc the olive and the fg, fiourn
within the protecting shelter Of the apple, plum
and cherry Let our hill sides rejoice in the mer-
ry music Of the rustling grain, aud our mountain
tops re-echo the melody Of lowing herds Then,
and never till then, will our people be blessed
with that prosperity which brings content.
Then we may note the difference between that
restless and unsatisfactory thrift resulting from
the search of gold and the ventures OF commerce,
and the soul satisfying enjoyment OF an agrIcul-
tural people, blessed with health and plenty
Aita California