The record-union., 1894-04-05

The commercial importance of fruit
growing in California has attracted wide
2Ltenuon. not only among the most in
teIli2ent agronomists in this country. but
III all Europe. The excellence of our
wines and our fruits. and the favorable
conditions surrounding their production,
nave turned the minds of all lovers OF
what may be Justly termed the esthetIcs
OF agriculture to this very large and In
viting field. The ideal life to most peo-
pie unqueStlOnably is one where the en-
ployment is both congenial and proflta-
bic, and where there is least Of drudgery
and unrequited toll, and the most Of
physical comfort in the natural sur
roundings. This ideal condition is
more nearly found in California than
elsewhere IN America. This is now a
recognized truth, and may be set down
as no longer eXaggeration. 1t is climate
that makes this true, because 1t IS the
climate that makes the great range OF our
fruits possible, and gives an immunity
from extremes OF heat and cold. Climate
is the basic factor. and out OF this every
thing else is resolved.
We grow oranges, lemons, figs, olives,
prunes, and every known variety OF
grapes. pears, peaches, almonds. cherries.
apples, nectarines. apricOts, Walnuts, fill
berts, small fruits of all kinds, vegeta-
{
same soil, in the same orchard, and under
the same conditions. We assert that
there is no other one place in all Europe
or America where this Is possible.
FRUIT-GRowING LOCALITIES.
1t has come to be generally known that
California is largely engaged in fruit
growing, but there is little accurate
knowledge as to the distribution of our
fruits, or Of the localities where grown.
Il ~ ? ha
zines and most OF the readable books con-
cerning the State have served to create
| a vague impression as TO the merits OF the
northern portion of the State, but have
given d very vivid conception Of its
southern portion.
1t was unfortunate that a sectional
designation OF the two regions should
have become necessary. We ought to
/ have been content TO invite people to Cal
ifornia, and not to any one portion OF il.
But the people OF the south were first to
attract the attention of the East by their
wonderful enterprise and highly COM
mendable local effort, as we'll as by the
| intrinsic merit of the region, and natur
/ ally they wished to reap the reward.
Having spread the feast, they directed the
guests where 10 find it, ana Southern
California became necessary as a descrip
ton. All the finger boards nailed up at
| the Eastern crossroads were inscribed,
''To Southern California"
Necessarily and inevitably all the rest
OF tie State became Northern California.
/ Mucn as this nomenclature may be de-
plofed, it Is now fixed upon and insep
arabic from the respective regions. And
with correct knowledge of the climate
and productions OF the two portions OF
the State, it is matter of Indifference
what they are called.
The counties that constituted them
selves Southern California were Los An
geles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa
Barbara and Ventura. Two counties
have since been carved out of these
Orange and Riverside-but the general
territory continues the same. The re-
manning fOrty-nine counties constitute
Northern California.
In point OF area these southern counties
contain 20 per cent. of the area OF the
State; i'll population log per cent. Census
! 1690.)
| As to the products of the soil, it is un-
necessary to pursue the comparison eX-
cept as TO the products of the orchard,
more especially the subject of this report;
! and as TO these the accompanying tables
clearly show the relative Importance of
the two divisions 1t will be there seen
that as early as 1890 the value OF the ship
ments out of the State from Nortern Cali
| fornIa was double that from the south. A
and accurate idea of the fruit products of
the two regions.
NUMBER OF ACRES OF TREES PLANTED.
TO the intending settler who desires to
engage in fruit planting a definite idea OF
the adaptablity OF the various counties of
the State to growing specific varieties of
fruit may be obtained from the actual
tree planting. The State Board of Horti-
culture in 1892 gathered this information
as the paintings then showed. This
table gives the facts in way to enable
the reader to locate the counties, and
kinds and quantities Of trees planted in
each, and it may be taken as substantially
correct.
The paintings of wine grapes are not
shown, Of which there were then about
10000 acres in the State, mostly in
Northern California.
In connection with the tables of fruit
shipments, which give general points of
shipment from regions round about
them, this information Will enable the in-
tending settlers to 20 at once to fruit
growing county without any further
guide.
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