Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-25
AGRICULTURAL.
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FoR
THE RECORD UNION"
Golden Fruit from Golden soil-orange
Cultivation In the Northern Por-
ton Of the State-Etc.

We have frequently had occasion to note
the fact of The success OF orange culture in
the northern section of California, and es.
pecially in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada
mountains in that section. We have lately
had an excellent opportunity OF seeing one OF
the fullest illustrations of the adsptability of
these foothills to this bran, of horii ;ulture
which fh9 State affords. This opportunity
was aft rled US upon late visit TO the town
of Oroyilie the capital of the county of
Butte. Having, with sone associates, it,
tie leisure 10 that town, we improved it by g
ride through the streets of the town aud
through the surroundings. We had heard of
the richness Of the il there and of the
delightful climate, and especially of
the prevalence of orange trees in
the yards and gardens of the citi,
zens. We had also heard Of the excel.
lence of other fruit, including grape grown
in the orchards and vineyards of this vicinity.
We must confess, however, that the half hsd
not been told us. We had learned something
of the susceptibilities and advantages Of the
locality by observations made on the occasion
of former visit we made to the place some
ten years since, but we must confess that our
imagination had failed to picture the posi-
bilities which the realities have demonstrated,
and which were everywhere to be seen in our
ride through the towa and suburbs few days
since. We would be glad to give names Of
the owners and the localities of the priuci-
pal orange groves We saw, but, having
taken no notes, we cannot do so,
and tho purposes Of this article
do not require it. Indeed, if we were to
name the owners of all the gardens or
door yards in which we saw bearing orange
trees, We believe we would publish the names
of nearly half the permanent residents and
householders in 0roville.
The first grove that attracted our especial
attention was III afrout yard, which from recol-
ton we think was l60 feet square. The place
was occupied with apple trees, orange trees,
pomegranate trees, japanese persimmons,
cactus, lemon trees, and perhaps half a
dozen other kind of fruit trees and
shrubs. 1nterspersed among these trees were
various kinds OF ornamental trees and shrubs,
representatives of various countries and
Chimes, including large assortment of roses
and other Towering bushes, not to mention
large assortment of annual and perennial
Towering plants collected from the eastern
and western continents and from the extreme
of the temperate to the torrid zones. These
trees, shrubs and plants were growing in every
part OF the yard, and we're SO mixed and
mingled together as to give evidence that
they had been planted without any particular
design or plan, except to occupy the
whole place and every part of it. The planter
had evidently not studied TO produce an eff
feet, and yet he had uudesignedly SO planted
and cultivated as to attract the most casual
observer, and produce in him the most pleas
ing and lasting effect. Along the street, and
just outside the sidewalk fronting this yard,
stood row of stately blue gum trees from
thirty to fifty feet high, with their profuse
low green foliage serving as a very effective
wind break to the great variety of hardy and
seml-tropic trees and shrubs within. In the
center OF the yard, on the sits of an old
house that had been torn down, there was
being built q new cottage dwelling about half
completed. The carpenters, masons and
plumbers were busy at work, and the raw
materials collected for each were lying around
Ia heaps In about the same confusion that
characterized toe distribution of the trees and
shruobery. The whole picture was as unique
as 1t was surprising and interesting Nv
companions and myself, having glance Of
the yard, could not pass it without more th, n
a cursory view. We therefore tied our team.
and without bidding, for the proprietor was
not at home, but at his business at the rail.
road depot, we entered the yard, and began
an interesting inspection. By inquiry from
the workmen on the house we learned that
twelve years ago the proprietor, being then,
as now, the agent at the railroad depot, was
presented by some shipper of that fruit with
an orange from one of his consignments. He
divided his present with friend. After each
had eaten of the orange it was remarked by
both the excellencs of the fruit, and what a
luxury it would be to be able to pluck such
fruit from the tree in Oroviile, and eat at
will. The agent having resided in the Sand.
witch Islands, In jssting way said, Sup
pose we plant the seed and zee if they will
grow" be picked up an empty oyster can,
filled it with some of the common red soil of
the street and planted the seed 10 it, and sat
it away in the office and kept it damp with
irrigation from the water pail that stood hy
the side OF it. In the spring he
was surprised to see three tiny orange
sprouts coming above the surface, all
at the same point. When the weather bad
become settled and warm be took the can to
his home, and digging small hole in the
ground by his door, Jared the soil and sprouts
from the can, and placed the lump undis-
turbsd in the hole. He watched and irri-
grated the little trees till fall when they were
about three feet high. He then pulled M
two Of them and planted them short dis
tsnce from the original location and from
each other. This was the accidental begin
ming of the most wonderful and prolific orange
grove in the State. The largest of these
trees, the one in the original location, stands
there now, and is about twenty feet high. and
has stem or body about six inches in diane
ter, and beautiful and symmetrical head be-
ginning about four feet from the ground and
rounded up like cone. We Judge it has one
thousand oranges upon it, which at this
time are deep GOLDEN color,
of good size, and having a fine ripd
and pulp of excellent texture and flavor.
The other two trees trsnsplanted seem about
year behind the other in growth, but both
are equally well filed with golden fruit. ap-
parently of the same variety and quality.
There are from 100 to $50 orange trees in the
ysrd-from the size of the largest of these
three to hall that sizs-sll heavily laden with
golden-colored fruit, from medium to very
large in size !; and there are trees all the way
down to mere spring seedlings, Just set out |
The lemon trees are fewer in number, but not
less wonderful in the fruit they bear, In some
instances the limbs of both orange and lemon
trees were actually lying on the ground. so
weighted down were they with the luscious
bright colored fruit Here we slso saw mock
orange trees loaded with big yellow fruit, as
big as large mans fist and intermixed with
green fruit from this size down TO the sizs of
a small hens egg. In some cases both orange
and lemon trees were completely covered and
snaueu py oVernsnSlng branches OF larger
trees, and yet these shaded trees were loaded
and bent down with good.sized and well-col-
ored fruit. At several points we suddenly
came upon trees of the Japanese persimmon
OF different varieties, having she'd every leaf,
hut holding cut on their otherwise naked arms
the bright yellow, pink and purple fruit in a
most tempting manner. Here and there we
also came upon pomegranate trees filed with
their red-cheeked fruit, and were told by one
of the workmen that from one of these latter
trees in yesrs past the proprietor had real.
lied as high as SIS in single season.
We have thus given detailed description
OF some of the fruit we found in this ward, |
and how it came to be there. This accidental
beginning, and its early promise of success,
attracted the attention Of other owners of |
homes In this beautiful little footbill town,
and as q result, as We before remarked. we |
now found orange trees in frAl bearing in |
many of the door wards and uar6a1s