Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-09
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
THE RECORD UNION"
Locality and Quality of Fruit-How Ma
nure Affects the Potato-Industrja1
Societies = Lily Culture.


Societies = Lily Culture.
It is remarkable what difference there is
in the quality of different varieties of fruit
grown in different localities in this State. In
accounting for this difference many imagine
that the soil has much to do with it. We
think this generally mistake, except, per-
baps. where the soil contains an excess OF
some Objectionable salt, as of alkal. The
apples grown in the Santa Clara valley, for
instance whether on stiff adobe soil or on
the lighter and more pliable mold mixed with
sand from the river beds, are of uniform
quality. The same is true Of those grown IN
the Sonoma, Napa, San Joaquin and Sacra-
mento valleys. or in the valleys Of the south
ern coast counties. But when we compare
the apples of Santa Clara with those of So
mona, Napa, San joaquin, Sacramento or
other localities we find difference in quail
ity, and this difference is greater or less IN
proportion as the difference in climate is
greater or less. We therefore conclude that
the climate has greater influence in fixing
the quality of fruit than has the soil. We do
not DENY that the soil has an influence, but
claim that the great and prepoDderatlng in
fuence on the quality is in the climate. 1t
is true that the mechanical condition OF the
soil has an influence upon trees, and con-
sequently on the fruit grown upon them that
cannot be ignored or lost sight of. No good
trees or fruit can be produced on soil lacking
drainage, or when stagnant water remains
on the roots during the spring and summer
apI I-aS b,,F liAtla Ii4Taranoa
whether the soil be heavy clay or light loan.
Stagnant water or Indifferent drainage is
fatal to healthy trees and good fruit.
These defects in the mechanical condition OF
the soil are fatal to successful horticulture,
whether in a cold New England climate or
the balmy and even climate of California or
Florida. But these facts do not change or
tend in the least tolessen the influence of the
climate on the quality of fruit. This infiu-
ence is so striking and universal that fruit
dealers are able to determine very accurately
the locality in which fruit has been grown by
comparing its general characteristics and
qualities. The dealer is able to distinguish
between apples and pears grown in Santa
Clara and Stockton and their vicinities-a
difference which corresponds with the differ
ence between the climates of the two places.
Sacramento apples and pears, again, are still
different in quality from those of Stockton.
Those of Sacramento are little finer in
texture, little higher favored, and a little
more juicy and crisp than those grown at
Stockton, and those of Stockton bear the
same relation to those of San Jose that the
Sacramento fruit does to the Stockton fruit.
AS we go north or east or west of Sacra-
mento, outside Of the open valley, the improve
ment in quality is still more noticeable. As
a rule, the moment we begin to rise
from the broad valleys of the State and enter
the foothills the quality OF all kinds of fruit
begins to improve, and the higher you ascend
these foothills, till you go beyond the fruit
region in the mountains, this improvement
continues. The apples grown about Folsom
are an improvement on those of Sacramento.
Those of Single Springs, Diamond Springs
and Placerville still continue to take better
than those of the next locality below, and
when you reach the altitude of Grizzly Flat,
some twenty miles east of Placerville, apples
and pears seem to have attained perfection
beyond which improvement seems to be i'm
possible. The old Rhode Island greening
and the Spitzenburg grown and kept at Griz-
Fly Flat are at this date more juicy, better
favored and more delicious than the same
varieties, grown in any localities below that
plsce t)wai DIS the valley, ever attain What
we have said of the eff, CT of climate
on the quality of apples and pears
will apply with the same force
to all other fruits-especially is this notice
able in what we generally call small fruits
as cherries and the various kinds of berries.
The same variety of strawberries grown in
San Jose and Placerville, for instance, are
so different in texture, general appearance,
more especially il flavor, that it seems i'm
possible almost to consumers generally that
they are the same variety. So of the various
kinds Of blackberries, raspberries and other
small fruits. A compensating circumstance
in favor of the lower valley counties is found
in their nearness to market and in the greater
ease with which the land is cultivated On
the other hand land in the foothills costs
comparatively much less, and the climate and
scenery of the foothill regions is much
healthy. The changes of time, how
ever, will be in favor of the foot.
hills for fruit-growing, as compared to the
valleys. AS the facilities of transportation
increase and become less expensive, the foot
hills will be brought nearer to the markets.
As people who consume fresh fruits become
better acquainted with the better qualities of
the foothill fruits, they will demand these
fruits even at higher prices, and in time, as
these fruits become more plentiful
their consumption will increase, while
those grown in the valleys will
be driven from the market for consumption
in fresh state, and will have to find sale at
the canneries. Even canneries will soon find
that the higher favored fruits will be most
sought for, and will command higher prices,
and for the purpose of keeping up the repu-
tation for the quality of their particular
brand or trademark, they will finally be COM
PEELED to buy fruits from the foothills to mix
with those of the valleys, SIS the wine-makers
buy wine from some particular vintage to
give bouquet to the general product. In |
whatever light we NAV view this question |
we cannot avoid the conclusion that the great |
fruit. growing districts of the State will |
eventually be located near to and in the foot
hills, and not in the great valleys The To- |
calities that produce the best fruit viii be !
sought out and occupied for this industry, |
and other less favorable localities will be de- |
voted to other industries better adapted to |