The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-04
CALIFORNIA PEACHES.

from the San Francisco Examiner
Down in Santa Barbara county there IS
peach crop that Is six months out of
season-that IS to say, six months ahead
OF time Due TO climate, soil or any other
enon VIII undoubtedly make the eye Of
the east open wider than usual at the
wonders this state is capable of IN the
way Of fruit raising
California. is always amazing the rest
OF the world with prOdigies in the form
~. HistllEe pEoductions- both human and
vegetable She electrified the world in
the mineral line a long while age. The
size OF her oranges and grapes and prunes
and berries of all kinds to saw nothing
of their peculiarly famous California.
favor. has been a 5yword in eastern and
European markets for a decade The
athletic superiority of her native sons and
daughters has become aIrn0st a joke The
Intellectual prlmacy which she has gained
through ner own literary artistic, must
cal and dramatic children has made her
second only 10 New YORK AL this she
mas ATTAINED py clear excellence along
plainly marked, legitimate lines Of COM
petition
Never before has she ATTEMPTED to ele-
vate herself by doing things out OF sea
SON a peach crop in the dead of winter
is purely a freak extravagauce even in
California 1t is reasonable to have flow
ers, and even straw berries, out here all
the year round because our Incompatible
soil and climate make it q regular possi-
pIllJy-1ut peaches IN February are new
To CdI11OrnIaus as well TO Fasteners,
and there Is quite as much anazemeut
aIQ0E IN santa Barbara county today over
this MID winter peach crop as there viii
be outside the state when news of it
goes abroad
This unique growth has taken place
on the Park ranch in the M0ntecitO VAL
ley Only one tree in the orchard has
been attacked by the maIady of prema-
turIty. 1t is loaded with peaches just
turning ripe 1t is really very healthy
mala6y since the fruit is apparently IN
q me state OF Development and bears
every indication that it viii reach pertec-
ton within a few weeks Its rate Of
growth has been about normal, the only
extraordinary feature OF II being the ear
Iuess at which it began
When Mr. Park saw blooms on this tree
shortly after the last heavy rains. he was
not a little astoEfshed- The tree was
not in the habit OF acting like that It
belonged to a variety that usually bloom
ed in June. It's sister trees still stood de-
plainly discountenancing the too hasty
DOMINIC of sumner piumage by the lone
freak tree. Yet the latter blossOmed
gaily on and in due time shed its white
petals for the budding fruit People came
and looked at lC in wonder and the Park
place became famous as the home Of the
winter peach crop Predictions were made
that the fruit would not develop. and
neighbors set themselves IutenLly to
watching for the end of IL But it kept
right on growing. just as though it were
ia the dead of sumner with the orchard
fun of peaches And at the present writ
ing it is as promising a bunch Of three
quarter grown peaches as a Californian
v 0uld ever want to see IN the month OF
II by good luck box of these phe-
uonaenaI peaches could be landed fresh at
the Paris Exposition it would cause some
thing of a sensation which would do Cali
f0rnIa no harm 1t would be a capital
this. and the suggestion is worth his con-
sfdera ton