THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCT. 17 



essary for him to study the particular kind he raises in all 

 its forms, not only as to selection of variety, but to ob- 

 tain the very best strain of that variety. He also has to 

 study very closely the most economical methods of plant- 

 ing, cultivation, harvesting, and marketing. Location in 

 many instances determines what he shall raise. The chief 

 point to consider is to raise that vegetable which succeeds 

 best at the right time for shipment and to select land and 

 location which favors that achievement. 



Cajined Vegetables. Another form in which our vege- 

 tables are reaching distant markets in considerable quan- 

 tities is the product of the canneries. The following is a 

 statement of the total pack of vegetables in the years 

 stated : 



California Product of Canned Vegetables. 

 (cases of 24 cans). 



1907. 1908. 1909. 



Asparagus 174,435 238,420 410,965 



Beans 74,040 39,765 12,435 



Peas 51,565 88,510 104,010 



Tomatoes 1,539,310 1,106,875 672,260 



Other kinds 102,405 28,315 43,050 



Drying vegetables has been pursued in a small way for 

 a number of years. The rapid extension of the mining in- 

 terest in remote parts of the Pacific Coast created a quick 

 demand for dried vegetables and it was thought that they 

 would constitute an important item in distant shipments, 

 but whenever transportation is established the superior 

 succulence of fresh and canned vegetables discounts the 

 dried product. 



The volume of California vegetable products includes, 

 of course, dry beans, beet sugar, etc., which are mentioned 

 in the chapters relating thereto. - 



Diversity in Garden Practice in Calif ornia. It is hardly 

 too much to say that our garden practice is an epitome of 

 all ancient and modern cultural arts, for we have both 

 survival of very old methods and subterfuges and wider 



