122 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



to other matters, and it remained for others to actually 

 work the mine of which he was only the prospector. 

 Theirs have been the labors and the burdens, and it is 

 gratifying to add that, through carrying them intelli- 

 gently and devotedly, they have attained reward and have, 

 in part at least, realized for the State the prominence 

 which was prophesied by the pioneers. 



In 1875 Mr. R. W. Wilson, previously a seed grower at 

 Rochester, New York, began seed growing near Santa 

 Clara, and is regarded as the pioneer of the present era of 

 California seed growing. He began on about fifty acres 

 of land, growing principally onion, lettuce, carrot, and 

 beet seed. Two years later he was succeeded by Kellogg 

 & Morse, who continued together, increasing the dimen- 

 tions of their business until 1889, when Mr. Kellogg re- 

 tired and C. C. Morse & Co. became the successors to the 

 business. They have extended and developed their enter- 

 prise to dimensions which few Californians realize, and 

 now are not only leaders in seed growing, but in the seed 

 trade also. Aside from this large firm there are other 

 producers who have achieved most creditable results, both 

 in the general product and in the development of spe- 

 cialties which have given them wide reputation and con- 

 tributed to the fame of the State in advanced horticul- 

 ture. 



What is usually meant by seed growing, as popularly 

 understood in California, is the production of lettuce, 

 onion, carrot, celery, etc. ; also sweet peas and other flower 

 seeds. While quite a large acreage is devoted to seed 

 beans and garden peas, the things peculiarly Californian 

 are the small vegetable and flower seeds, and the three 

 pre-eminent specialties are onions, lettuce and sweet peas. 

 We lead the world in the production of these three items, 

 and California annually sets the price for all the American 

 trade in them, and also largely influences the European 

 seed trade. California is also a large producer of other 

 vegetable seeds, and to give one some idea of about what 



