CHAPTER XXXV. 

 VEGETABLE SUNDRIES. 



It is not intended to make this volume a complete treatise upon 

 the esculent plants which may be grown in California, nor to claim 

 that it contains a complete enumeration of those which are actually 

 grown at the present time. Such a task would be appalling in 

 view of the wide adaptability of the climate and the fact that our 

 population includes natives of every country under the sun who 

 have brought hither the plants which have delighted them in their 

 old homes. Conspicuous among such contributions to our culti- 

 vated flora are the acquisitions from China and Japan, which alone 

 would require much time to identify and characterize. Our acqui- 

 sitions of minor vegetables from Europe are hardly less interesting. 

 It must be left for some future student to properly arrange all these 

 for public information. In the present work it has been rather the 

 intention of the writer to treat the more conspicuous and widely 

 useful vegetables, because in that line the present demand for in- 

 formation lies. An attempt will, however, be made in this chapter 

 to briefly mention a few plants concerning which inquiry may arise 

 in the minds of readers, and to offer suggestions on their culture. 



CAPERS. Capparis spinosa. 



The production of "capers" on a commercial scale has fre- 

 quently been mooted in California, and so far as the local adoption 

 of the plant goes, anticipations of success seem to be well placed. 

 The plant thrives with moderate moisture enough could be con- 

 served by cultivation on any fairly retentive soil. It has been grow- 

 ing thriftily for years on adobe soil in the University garden in 

 Berkeley, and has produced prolifically the flower-buds which are 

 used in pickling. The labor of frequently hand-picking the buds 

 must, however, be considered in connection with any projected en- 

 terprise. A few plants for the home garden can be strongly com- 

 mended. They can be grown in corners or in borders and are 

 decidedly handsome in leaf and blossom. Plants may be easily 

 grown from seed in a seed-box or can be multiplied by stem cut- 

 tings in a sand-box over mild bottom heat. 



CHAYOTE. Sechium edule. 



This squash-like vegetable was introduced to California by the 

 late Kinton Stevens, of Santa Barbara, previous to 1890 and was 

 first called "choco" and classed as a fruit.* It belongs, however, 

 among the vegetables and in southern California has become of 



*California Fruits; 2nd Edition, p. 480; 1891. 



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