The record-union., 1897-07-01
CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURE.
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES SET
FORTH BY PROF. WICKSON.
Difficult for People From Other
Chimes to Understand the
Conditions here.

of Trade is the following from the pen
OF E. J. Wickson, Professor Of Agri-
cultureal Practice in the University OF
California:
The unfqueness of California is strik-
ing from every point of view of his
tory, geography, china Biography, sociol-
ogy and industry. In all these phases
Of nature and development there are
peculiar local requirements, conditions,
and adaptations, which affect the
thought, behavior, and industrial meth
DDS Of the people.
1t is not strange that persons who
are literally dropped from the clouds
into this peculiar country for the first
time should find it difficult to under
stand and to appreciate the significance
of all the unaccustomed things they see
in the life and activities of Califor-
mans. It is hard fer them to realize
that things so unusual should be true
and consistent. If they reflect, how
ever, that what they see Of mental at
titude and manual method, in industrial
affairs at least, is the accomplishment
Of the American mind, with all its re-
sources of insight, acumen, and inge-
nuity brought to bear upon new ma
terials and under novel natural con-
ditions, they should at least have re-
spect for results, though they may not
at first understand them.
IT is an interesting fact, that it was In
California first of all that the Ameri-
can mind came into contact with arid
semi tropical conditions. 1t is surpris-
ing with what rapidity American in
sight reversed the Spanish conception
of the value and adaptations of the
country, and American energy and in
genuity made practical and profitable
use of them. 1t is interesting, also,
that the results thus accomplished are
SO widely significant that all the civil
1zed. semi-tropical countries of the
world are seeking to sit at the feet of
Californian demonstrators of principle
and method to catch hints for the high
er development of their own lands.
Although these reflections are true of
all our agricultural achievements to an
extent not generally known, 1T is es-
pecially the horticultural resources and
practices Of California that attract
worldwide attention. They afford the
sharpest contrasts when compared with
the natural endowments and traditional
methods of northern countries, and they
furnish the most direct and practical
suggestions for successful operation in
all countries of similar climates in all
parts of the world. For these reasons,
during the last decade, California has
been officially inspected by expert COM
missioners accredited from all the Gov
ernments having possessions in arid,
semi-tropical climates on all the con-
tinents of the Eastern Hemisphere,
while the pomological and horticultural
societies of the States east of the
Rocky Mountains have brought their
membership en- masse to inspect and
investigate Californian conditions and
procedure. The result is that Califor-
MIA is at the present time the most en-
inent fruit region of the world. Cali
fornian methods are initiated every
where to a greater or less degree as
local conditions admit them, and fruit
varieties of Californian origin have
been disseminated to the uttermost
parts of the earth.
1t is hopeless to expect to satisfac-
torily dismiss in a few paragraphs a
subject of such breadth and with such
4 wealth of interesting details. The
discussion must be resolutely restricted
TO few of the most conspicuous
phases, selected because they embody
striking differences between Californian
adaptations and methods, and those of
nearly the whole country outside of
our own State lines; for though the
more northerly portions of our own
coast have some characters resembling
ours, the points of difference are great
er than the resemblances, and there are
unavoidable limitations to their enjoy
ment of our breadth of resources, and
adaptations, and prohibitions, to the
use of much of our most valuable ma
terial. Nor will it be possible to men,
ton the converse of the propositions
which will be made. The reader must
be trusted to know the conditions OF
his own locality, and to measure them
for himself by means of the Califor-
nian standards which will be set up.
In climatic conditions affecting nor
tculture, California is almost an cpl
tome of the whole United States. We
have high mountain valleys with Win
try temperature conditions, where only
hardy northern fruits can be grown
but even there we have no need OF
'ironclad" varieties, because the tenn
perature never falls to the point OF
tree-killing, On the other hand, we
have hot valleys where the date palm
confidently lifts it's head to the fiery
sunshine, while it's feet are deeply
plantd IN moist subStrata beneath the
sandy surface; but we cannot claim
tropical conditions, because our dry air
denies US many strictly tropical
growths
intermediate between the cold and
snow of the mountains and the heat
and sand of the desert, we have every
describable modification and grada-
tion, and, naturally, it is between these
extremes that our richest inheritance
of horticultural adaptation lies. 1t is
this infinite variety which gives us
true title to the term semi tropical.
When this breadth and scope of our
horticultural adaptations is realized il
becomes apparent that any enumera-
tion Of the fruits we can grow sue
cessfully would fill pages. and be. in
TACT catalogue of the known fruits
OF the world, except those whoch are
strictly tropical Wherever there is a
northern or southern departure from
the equator sufficient to bring energy to
mankind. or where the same is accom-
phshed by elevation upon tropical
mouGTain side or plateau, there also are
1ruIts which find a welcoming home in
California, and are improved by the
intelligent cultivation and selection
which here prevail. On the other hand
1t has been abundantly demonstrated
during recent years, by official awards
UM0eY emu.