36 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



the growth of summer vegetables is promoted by cloud-screen from 

 excessive sun heat, and it is clearly refreshed by a summer fog. 

 Herein, in part at least, lies the explanation why the earliest vege- 

 tables come from moderately elevated interior regions (except as 

 already noted for interior irrigated desert valleys) and. the main 

 crop of midseason and late vegetables is to be sought in regions 

 whose climate is modified by cool coast winds, which sometimes 

 carry fogs and always temper sun action by their content of insensi- 

 ble aqueous vapor. Some plants are especially responsive to this 

 action of coast breezes. Lima beans on the Ventura coast are some- 

 times rescued from failure through deficient rainfall, by days of 

 cool, misty breezes from the adjacent ocean. The same is true in 

 varying degrees of all vegetation and the fact is often of very great 

 economic importance to California. 



Distribution of Rainfall. The local rainfall throughout the 

 state has of course about the same relation to local gardening as it 

 has to other farm work, but it seems hardly necessary to discuss it 

 in this place, because it is possible now to secure the data from 

 different sources. Local observers almost everywhere can furnish 

 the facts. It is however pertinent to present a general compilation 

 which fixes approximately the date at which effective rains may be 

 expected in e~ach main division of the state and thus impart a some- 

 what definite notion of when the natural season of growth will be- 

 gin. All should be in readiness beforehand to seize upon this oppor- 

 tunity for soil working, if one is to proceed without irrigation, and 

 for the planting of seeds of hardy vegetables which will withstand 

 the local winter temperature and give the earliest readiness for use 

 under the circumstances. 



When the First Rains May Be Expected. The rainfall at San 

 Francisco is very close to the mean between the heavy and light 

 rainfall of the state; hence it represents very largely the whole 

 state. Considering the record of the United States Weather Ob- 

 server, it is found by Mr. Page that during a twenty-five year period 

 ending in 1895, the average date of first 0.05 of an inch of rainfall 

 occurs by September 17. Considering June 30 as the official end of 

 one season and July 1 the commencement of the next season, the 

 earliest date of 0.05 of an inch of rain is July 8, 1885, and the latest 

 October 27, 1875 that is, from July 1 to October 27, 1875, onlv 

 0.05 of an inch of rain fell. As 0.05 of an inch of rain is such a 

 small amount, it has been deemed best to consider that when one- 



