Olives and Figs and Plums

Hatch and Rock's Fruit Train
25 Tons Peaches From
Rio Bonito Orchards

Olives 

In 1893 John Rock had 156 varieties of olives from France, Spain, and Italy. Rock describes some of the varieties in the 1892 catalog. The varieties were planted in Niles and in Biggs, Butte County. 

From the Oroville Register, January 5, 1893
“Mr Rock is one of the most experienced nurserymen in California and he devoted much time to collecting the finest olives in Europe. For this purpose he visited all the noted olive regions of Spain, France, and Italy and has had agents in every locality obtaining the best olives in the world. As a result the Rio Bonito orchard contains 156 varieties of olives, which include all the standard and valuable kinds known to man.”

Oroville Register, January 5, 1893

Olives in Biggs
If you would like to explore where these 156 olives once lived in Biggs, you can make a trip up and report back, using this Google map.

Suggested Field Trip to Mission San Jose
Mission San Jose has some very old and large olive trees. Take a walk behind the mission. Along Olive Avenue is planted a long row of olives. This marks the boundary of the Palmdale estate. At Washington Boulevard and Osgood/Driscoll is the old Gallegos Winery ruins. At Washington Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway - the olives on the corner were located on Professor E.W. Hilgard's winery.

Figs 

There is only one fig tree in the park, probably a caprifig, bird-planted along the Canary Island Date Palms boundary.

In 1901 John Rock had the largest collection of fig varieties collected in one place - about 70 varieties. Where did they go? They were sent all over and some were probably victims of one of our longest resident, the ground squirrel.

Plums

All over the nursery are Myrobalan plum trees (Prunus cerasifera). John Rock had a couple of Myrobalan plum orchards. The seedlings are everywhere - combinations of green, red, spiny, or smooth.