The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-28

necessary An exception 10 tn1S may Dc
made in reference to citrus fruits and, of
course, to berries and other small fruits.
In the great Enclosed valley the adj
vantages are somewhat different. The
temperature is not so equable, the rainfall
not so great, or does the valley proper
afford the same opportunity for selecting
the exposure. The soil is abundanty
fertile and responds generously to culture;
the rainfall in most places is sufficient and.
where not. water is easily obtained either
from artesian wells or mountain streams.
Nowhere on the valley. nor on the western
hills-not until the upper Sierra is reached
is it ever cold enough to kill peach or
apricot trees. The orange and other citrus
fruits thrive as far north as Butte County,
and are grown in protected places even in
Tehama and Shasta. In this valley, and
the lower foothills on either side, peaches,
nectarneS and apricOts are more produc-
tive than upon the Coast Range, and the
fruit, in most cases, of better quality. The
apple does bot do so we'll, the fruit lacking
flavor and consistency, but pears reach
great perfection. Here is the home of the
ra ism and all the fiuer varieties of grapes
make luXuriant growths.
The second marked advantage possessed
by California is that our trees and vines
begin bearing at an earlier age and bear
uniformly more abundant crops than do
trees and vines elsewhere.
The third advantage is the quality of our
fruit. Well grown, well and naturally
ripened California fruit is of a better
qualty-making quality dependent upon
texture and fiavor-than that raised upon
the Atlantic slope. Our mountain apples
those from HUMBOLDT. Lassen, Modoc.
Del Norte and Siskiyou countles-are not
| to be eXceled.
Scientific research has developed and
/ abundanty confirmed the fact that the
highest degree of perfection il ripening
most fruits is reached only in abundance
of sunlight The long period of continu-
Gus sunny days during the ripening time
gives TO California peculiar advantage
probably possessed by no other place.
| And if the sugar secretion and luscious
| flavor are induced. as they probably are.
by the action of the actinc or chemical
rays of the sun, then the clearness of the
atmosphere and its freeness from mois-
ture contribute largely to the same result.
The same reasons which enable our pho
tograrhers to make such superior pictures
are in the same way giving us superior
fruit.
The peculiar hot-bed nature OF cur coast
Is another advantage we possess. Grave
cuttings stuck into the ground, with any
kind of care. root readily; many kinds Of
pears, some of prunes and, in short, any
thing that will strike" in an ordinary
pTouagating house will root here in the
outer air. It is again shown in the
effects of frost-for frosts do occur here.
4 frost that ION the other side OF the
Rockies" would Kill all the tender vegeta-
ton is here harmless, its effect being in
| whole or in part neutralized by the radi-
! ant heat Nothing surprises the Eastern
visitor more than this.
Tie great advantage we have in gather
ing and handling our product is very pro
nounced. The rainless season, the dew
less nights and the dryness of the all
make it possible 10 leave our fruit outside
without protection and with little or any
fear of noldng. For drying our climate
is unsurpassed. During much Of the dry
ing season. in favored localities, fru!
spread upon trays and leftupon the ground
dries every hour of the twenty-four. A;
from the amount of our crop much of oul
fruit must necessarily be dried, this ad
vantage can hardly be overestimated
The advantages of California in the line
of grape culture are even more marked
With every adaptation of soil and exposure
there are probably no varieties that may
not be grown at home here. There il
reason to believe that in the line Of wine
grapes California can produce grapes t5t
wine from which will equal if not exec
hot 0f no tod vi r6s n
France or Spain. Our climate allows thu
grape to hang uninjured on the vine unit
it is fully ripe, and this period may be ex
tended to weeks after if desirable. IL
fact grapes are better preserved hanging
on the vine than in any other way. TIT
ripening and even partial drying out ate
ripening has a marked effect upon TIT
qualities of the wine produced. The fielt
of viticulture is exceedingly broad, and
has as yet been but fairly entered.
The fact that raisins can be and ar
cured in the open air and among the vine
makes it possible for us 10 produce then
at a moderate cost. and the quality ba
already spoken for itself. The raisin in
dustry can be extended to an almost un
limited degree, as almost all the valley
portions of the State, with the surrounding
foothills, are well adapted to it, In this
as in viticulture, there is much yet t
learn. but our growers are becoming ap
pupils.
Table grapes grow to great perfection
The fact that they may be left to grow oil
the vines almost indefinitely gives an ex
tended period in which to gather and mar
ket our crop. 1t rarely happens that tn
grape-grower cannot gather luscious grape
from his vines to grace his Christmas din
ner. More rapid means of Transportation
and improved methods of packing ant
handling the crop will widely extend tn
market of our table grapes.
With ali of the advantages which hav
been named. and none of them are over
stated. it is no source of wonder that on
horticultural interests are advancing wit
majestic strides. The present output vii
be doubled in five years. and new areas al
continually being planted. As has bee
remarked, there is much of the State We
undeveloped. When this shall have bee
fully developed. and when intelligent oil
seryation shall have determined what va
rieties of fruit will succeed best under a
the varying conditions of soil, climate an