195. How the industries have changed.— The industries of the California valleys have changed from time to time since gold was discovered in 1848. Then, in a single year, thousands of men rushed to San Francisco from the eastern states and from many foreign countries. For a time gold was almost the only product of the state. Later it was found that wheat, winter wheat (Sec. 89), grew well during the season of rain. After the reaper was invented, vast fields of wheat were planted in the level lands of the val leys, and vessels loaded with wheat sailed to England by way of Cape Horn.
196. Fruit is is now the king of California crops. This new industry began to develop when the first railroad from San Francisco to Omaha was completed, in 1869. Within a few years the people of California were sending packages of excellent fruit from their gardens to eastern markets. The fruit sold well and the people of the California Valleys planted more orchards, until, finally, the fruit trade was established. The chief wealth of the state is now neither in flocks and herds, nor in the gold and wheat of former days; but in oranges, lem ons, raisins, plums, prunes, pears, apricots, peaches, cherries and other fruits, and nuts.
California sends out enough oranges to make twelve big trainloads a day, for four months of the year, each train having thirty cars. In addition, many thousands of tons of canned fruit, vegetables, and dried fruit are shipped annually from California.
Not long ago the people of our eastern cities were buying prunes, raisins, oranges, and lemons from Spain, Italy, and Greece. Now we get what is needed from California, and sometimes there is some left to be export ed to Europe. The trees and vines to start these crops were brought from southern Europe, where the climate is mild and the summers are dry like those of California.
197. New crops are constantly being estab lished. A few old trees of olives, almonds, figs, and English walnuts did so well that many more such trees are being planted. The English walnut industry of California has grown very rapidly, and the almond industry is steadily increasing.
198. Blossom time.—Nothing can be more beautiful than these valleys in the spring of the year. (Fig. 1.) The valley is then green with fields of alfalfa, wheat, and barley. On the lower slopes of the mountains the orchards are covered with pink and white blossoms. Their perfume fills the air, and bees and insects buzz and hum as they fly from flower to flower. On the higher slopes,
flocks of sheep and cattle graze on green, flower-decked pastures. Still higher on the mountains is the darker color of the ever green forest, reaching upward toward the snow that glistens on the mountaintop. Many travelers visit the Valleys of Central California to enjoy their beauties, and to es cape the harsher winters of their home states.
199. Cooperative methods.—It is a help to the fruit grower if his neighbors grow the same kind of fruit that he grows. One advantage is that everyone in the neighbor hood will then know how to do that kind of work. The stores will keep the needed tools and supplies. Full carloads of fruit can be shipped out because neighbors can send their fruit together. Another great advantage is gained when many growers join in building packing and storage houses for the use of all.
To secure the advantages derived from cooperation, California fruit-growing is cen tered in spots, to an unusual degree. For instance, nearly all of the plums and prunes, and many of the cherries and pears are grown in the Santa Clara Valley. There is a long belt of orange orchards on the sloping alluvial fans that spread out from the foot of the Sierra, southeast of Lake Tulare. North of Lake Tulare, around Fresno, nearly every one raises grapes to be shipped fresh to eastern markets, or to be dried as raisins. In 1920, Fresno County alone grew over two pounds of raisins for each person in the United States. A little farther north,_ one peach orchard joins another for miles and miles. Along the cool shores of Monterey Bay are more than a million apple trees. In two small valleys north of San Francisco Bay, the Santa Rosa and the Napa valleys, there are many orchards of apples and pears, and also many vineyards. Cooperation has helped to make the fruit industry succeed and grow so large.
200. Working together at harvest time.— Fresh fruit that is sent to market is first taken to one of the cooperative packing houses.. Through these community enter prises or associations, thousands of farmers work together as one company or organiza tion. The association buys its supplies wholesale, packs its fruit in uniform packages, sends it in carload lots to distant markets, sells it, and returns the money to the grower. The associations even advertise California fruit in other states, so that people will know about it and buy it.