CALIFORNIA SEED INDUSTRY. 117 



quently plant growth receives no check in developing. The warm, 

 incessant sunshine is also one of the factors in the perfecting of all 

 plants. The soil of California is all that could be desired. The moist 

 peat bottoms of the Sacramento Elver, the rich alluvial deposits of the 

 coast valleys, the warm, light soils of southern California, give such a 

 variety of rich soils that all plants, no matter what their requirements, 

 can in some location find a congenial growing place. The rich alluvial 

 deposit of the valleys is classed as the richest of soils. It is easy to 

 work, and produces an enormous growth. 



While an average season will produce enough rainfall to carry mos 

 seed crops to maturity, still there are some seasons in which the proper 

 amount of moisture is lacking. Irrigation plants have been installed 

 by all the large growers, so that nature is not entirely depended upon to 

 carry a crop to maturity. Rainfall coming in the winter and spring 

 months develops an enormous root growth, so that crops can withstand 

 the usual summer drought. But dry as it is in summer, the westerly 

 winds always carry a great amount of moisture, which is beneficial. 

 The entire lack of rainfall in summer is one of the principal features 

 that go to make the superiority of California seed. All seed can lr 

 harvested without danger of loss by rain, and consequently all Califor- 

 nia seed is bright and of high vitality. 



In comparing the seeds produced in other parts of the United 

 States and in foreign countries, we find the California article is better 

 cleaned, heavier, and plumper. This is not always so with other seed; 

 a dry summer or a rain during harvesting will cause the seed to be light 

 or discolored, often injuring the vitality. 



While nearly all varieties of seed are grown in the state, onion seed 

 is one of the most important. Onion seed is now grown by the hundreds 

 of acres; over 100,000 sacks of bulbs are used annually for the produc- 

 tion of seed. California onion seed is heavier and larger than that 

 grown in the east, and retains its vitality for a greater length of time. 

 This climate is especially adapted for its production. It is estimated 

 that ninety per cent of all the onion seed now used in the United States 

 is California grown. Annual crops amounted to over 400,000 pounds, 

 having a value of $200,000. The cheapness of the bulbs, heavy yield, 

 and entire absence of rain during harvesting season have made this crop 

 one of great profit to seed-growers. Over ninety-five per cent of the 

 lettuce seed used in this country is grown in this state. California 

 climate is especially well suited for this industry. A slow-growing 

 climate and a long season for developing produce strains that have a 

 heavy leaf development and are slow in running to seed. 



All the Lima beans and nearly all the pole beans used for seed pur- 

 poses in this country are grown in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. 



