218 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



tion as the price per ctl. in San Francisco for each month for the 

 decade 1907 to 1916 shows, as follows: 



Average Average Actual Actual 



Month Low High Low High 



January $1.14 $1.37 $0.40 $2.60 



February 1.64 1.93 .50 3.50 



March 1.73 2.02 .50 3.40 



April 2.03 2.80 .50 4.00 



May 2.00 2.83 .50 5.00 



June 1.22 1.90 .60 3.75 



July 1.24 1.65 .25 4.25 



August 98 1.14 .35 2.60 



September 84 .97 .40 2.50 



October 84 .98 .40 2.00 



November 1.08 1.19 .40 3.00 



December 1.19 1.42 .25 3.25 



Though wide fluctuations and producing dangers are thus 

 shown, well planned enterprise to produce early onions to fill out 

 the eastern spring supply is warranted in places where the crop 

 comes early. About 1000 carloads of the Bermuda type of onions 

 are annually shipped to interstate markets, principally from Coa- 

 chella and Imperial valleys. These onions move from April to 

 July. The total onion product of the state for the last few years 

 has been about 3,500,000 bushels from about 8000 acres. 



Though local conditions are favorable, and almost incredible 

 returns are sometimes secured, onion growing is exacting in its re- 

 quirements in California, as everywhere, and the crop is one which 

 no one should undertake without adequate resources of energy, 

 patience, promptness and elasticity either in his back or in his 

 pocketbook. No matter how well suited his soil, or how good his 

 stand of young plants upon it, a few days' neglect may put them out 

 of sight in a forest of weeds, from which they cannot be profitably 

 rescued. Still, to the diligent grower who can command suitable 

 soil and the labor needed at a certain time, and is prompt and per- 

 sistent in the use of it, there is always the promise of as fair a crop 

 as man needs to see, for the climate not only favors growth, ma- 

 turing and harvesting, but it gives the plant freedom from many 

 pests and diseases, which are grievous in other countries. 



Situations and Soils. The onion is profited by a long growing 

 season. It grows most luxuriantly and its bulb expands most freely 

 in a moderate temperature and with a good moisture supply. It 

 endures heat well, if moisture is ample; it is easily forced into 

 maturity by drought, and though it is fortunate in some respects, 

 that the bulb has the power to renew its growth and reach full size 

 with the renewal of moisture, this is little consolation to the grower 

 who aimed at a crop of marketable onions, not of onion sets. It is 

 important, then, that the growth of the plant be not arrested in this 

 way, and, to assure this, moisture must be adequate until satis- 

 factory size is attained. Land naturally moist, or in which a good 



