142 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



dry, warm soil, with its verdure always freshened by the breezes of 

 the Pacific, which lies in plain sight of most fields. Thousands of 

 acres are thus laid out green and level as a meadow to the distant 

 viewer the scene unmarred by fence or other obstruction, for the 

 fields are usually subject to no unwelcome intrusion except hot blasts 

 of air which rarely beat back the ocean breeze and harm the plant. 

 In most years without a drop of summer rain and held in heart by 

 the insensible ocean vapor and occasionally by fog and mist, the Lima 

 bean often yields the growers an average of a ton to the acre of 

 good land, and sometimes does more than fifty per cent better than 

 that. On large, uneven tracts, the average would, of course, be less. 

 In 1911 in Los Angeles county 1,364 acres yielded 22,000 sacks 

 about 1,300 Ibs. to the acre. During recent years, preceding the 

 European war, the price of Lima beans had been reduced, but there 

 still remained a narrow margin, because production was accom- 

 plished at less cost through improved methods and machinery. 

 There is also an association of Lima bean growers which is assist- 

 ing producers to secure all that the market will warrant. Lima 

 bean straw is an important by-product, as it sells readily to stock- 

 feeders at $4 to $5 per ton, according to the demand in different 

 years and in a time of scarce fodder has sold as high as $15 per 

 ton as a substitute for hay. 



The Small White Bean. This is the accepted local name for 

 the variety which is called the Navy bean at the East. The seed 

 was brought from the state of New York as far back as 1852. The 

 Small White has a polished or varnished surface which prevents 

 rapid absorption of moisture. This not only especially fits it for 

 shipping by sea and gives it great keeping quality, but it enables the 

 bean to hold its form through cooking processes. Large quantities 

 are shipped to Boston, where they are used in preparing "Boston 

 canned beans," which are sold all over the United States. The 

 Small White Bean is chiefly grown in Monterey, San Luis Obispo 

 and Santa Barbara counties. 



The Pea Bean. This is another Small White bean which was 

 introduced into California early in the fifties. The variety has a 

 very thin transparent skin which admits moisture readily and is apt 

 to disintegrate in cooking. The Pea bean is grown along the Sac- 

 ramento river and in Ventura county, but not in large amounts. 



The Large White Bean. This variety is also known as the 

 Lady Washington. At the East it is rated in the trade as a medium 

 bean; it is a little larger than the Small White. The seed was in- 

 troduced from the East in early times. The variety is chiefly grown 

 in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river country and in the central 

 coast counties. 



The Bayo Bean. There are two varieties grown, the Bayo 

 Grande and Bayo Chico. The former is large, the latter small; 

 both are brown. The seed came from Chile in 1849. The Bayo is 

 chiefly grown in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river region. 



