Sugar peas are handled extensively under what is known as the " viner system," the vines being mown at the harvest time and hauled in hayricks to the cannery, which is located close to the field where the peas are grown. The vines are put into viners or threshers, as indicated in Fig. 234. This method is in general use throughout the country and is not peculiar to California.
Tomatoes are contracted for delivery in early September after the rush of the fruit season. They are usually safe from frost until the middle of November. Frequent crops of fifteen tons to the acre are secured. Fig. 235 shows tomato vines during the month of July. These vines were planted in May. Fig. :36 shows the tomato field at the time of harvesting, when the vines cover the apples, figs, lemons, loganberries and oranges are also used in the preparation of jams, jellies and preserves.
ground. As no rains are expected in California until the very end of September, there is no necessity for the use of trellises.
The beginning of the canning industry in Cali fornia was made in 1860. In 1863 the total pack was about 7,000 cases. It has increased as follows: 1870 36,000 cases 1875 61,000 cases 1880 221,000 cases 1885 615,000 cases 1890 1,495,000 cases 1895 1,639,000 cases 1900 2,775,000 cases 1905 3,800,000 cases By reason of the diversity of soil and climate, the canneries are scattered throughout the state, specializing more and more so as to handle prod ucts where they are grown to the best advant age.
The above table gives the duration of the can ning season by varieties. The heavy black line indicates when the season is at its height. This table also gives a list of the more important varieties used in canning, although it is to be noted that artichokes, baked beans, lima beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, sprouts, squash and turnips are packed in consider able quantities. In addition to the varieties of
fruits mentioned, it should be noted that crab It is safe to say that the canneries in California are using the product of 15,000 acres bearing fruit and 10,000 acres bearing vegetables. The canned asparagus, apricots, peaches, pears and plums are shipped to all the open markets in the world and are regarded as superior. The cheaper staples, as peas and tomatoes, are marketed usually on the Pacific coast, as the cost of transportation limits the sale of such products as are generally produced throughout the country. With berries and apples, California enjoys no advantage over other localities, and for a like reason these products are, under normal conditions, sold in Pacific coast territory. Other vegetables, such as potatoes and cauliflower, are distributed largely in logging, mining and construction camps, and in cold and remote regions where fresh supplies cannot be secured.
It is generally thought that the industry will not show the rapid growth in the future that it has in the past, for the reason that communities formerly dependent on canned goods for their supplies of fruits and vegetables, are now in many cases growing, and even can ning, their own products. In other cases, with the im proved ship ping facilities and extension of railway lines, compara tively remote communities are now able to receive apples, citrons fruits and vegetables in safety throughout the winter. The constant improvement in the quality of dried fruits and their relative cheapness has had the tendency to reduce the volume of business on the cheaper grades of canned fruits. On the other hand, the demand for the better grades shows gratifying increase, and the development of new markets offsets the falling off of others.