256 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



ed drinker. California chicory growers have for years 

 contested the American markets with German chicory, 

 and a very capacious factory has been in operation near 

 Stockton for the last 35 years, and formerly there was 

 another near Sacramento. The vicissitudes of tariff legis- 

 lation during this period have made the business uncer- 

 tain, sometimes very profitable, sometimes not, according 

 as the German product entered free or paid duty. If the 

 tariff would maintain a favorable attitude, California 

 could furnish cheap coffee for the whole country and beet- 

 sugar for its sweetening besides. During the last few 

 years, however, the business has been reduced in Califor- 

 nia by the overflow of the lands used but may be expected 

 to reassert itself. For the home-grower of coffee counter- 

 feits, the chicory plant offers a better material than the 

 "coffee bean" and other substitutes which are offered. 

 The growth of the plant and its preparation for the break- 

 fast table are quite simple. 



Chicory grows to perfection on light sedimentary soils 

 which afford the root opportunity for expansion, and re- 

 tain moisture enough for its thrift during the long, dry 

 summer. The plant is hardy and the seed is usually sown 

 in February. The preparation of the soil, sowing, thin- 

 ning, weeding and cultivation, are identical with the same 

 operations for the sugar beet already described. The ex- 

 pense with chicory is, at present at least, considerably 

 greater than with the beet, because the moist land which 

 is used gives more persistent weed growth and occasions 

 an amount of hard work which is appalling to an observer. 

 The crop partly compensates for this outlay, because the 

 value per ton is twice as great as the sugar beet, and the 

 crop is not enough less in weight tp equalize things. The 

 average crop on Roberts island, near Stockton, in favor- 

 able years is about ten tons to the acre, though some years 

 the average will go to 12 and the best crops to 15 tons per 

 acre. The factory price for the fresh root has usually been 

 $10 per ton. The cost of growing, including rent, ranges 

 from $50 to $80 per acre. The soil^on Roberts island is a 



