The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-15
CALIFORNIA; BEAN RANCHES.
Where Limas Are Grown in Prodi-
giOuE Quantities.
California Letter in St. Louis Globe


California Letter in st. Louis Globe
Democrat
The singular adaptability of our native
soil to the cultivation of foreign products
was never more vividly demonstrated
than in the growth of the lima bean. 1t
was in the spring of 1867 that this nutri-
tious commodity was first introduced from
Peru 20 the pioneer farmers of California
Prior to that time the only varities grown
in this section were the small white navy
bean and the Mexican frejole, the great
hma having been regarded as a luxury
distinctly peculiar TO the region indicated
by its name. Hence it's Introduction
was altogether in the nature Of an expert
ment.
But whatever the theory that prompt
ed the venture, its soundness was speed
lily manifested. Within five years from
the time the first beans were planted in
California the worlds outpuS of the prod
uet was Increased from 100000 to more
tnan 100000 pounds annually. The ex-
pertinent proved to be the foundation OF
an industry of more substantial and per-
manent value to California than the rich
est OF her gold mines The district of
Carpenterla, an exceptionally fertile sea-
coast valley near the south boundary of
santa Barbara, was for a number of
years the center of che lima bean indus
try. This locality seemed specially suit
ed to the requirements of the new prod
uct. and the annual yield increased to an
enormous figure.
Notwithstanding the immense gain In
the total production, however the sup
ply was Inadequate to meet the demand,
which resulted in the extension of the in
dustry into the neighborlng counties of.
ventura and Los Angeles Here conditions
developed that were quite as favorable
as those obtaining in the Carpenteria dis
trlqt, and thenceforth the annual output
OF lima beans rapidly increased, until to-
day the average Weld in Southern Califor-
MA aggregates some 10000 pounds. or
more than three-fourths the total produc-
ton throughout the world.
In Calofirnia, the recognized realm of
the lima bean is confined to a succession
OF valleys situated within the limits of
100 miles along the southern seacoast The
principal reason for this lies in the fire.
quent fogs prevalent in the districts re-
Ierred 10, which constitute one of the
principal requisites in lima bean culture.
The most extensive of these favored
wales is situated In the county of Ventura.
ana contains many bean ranches of i'm
nense acreage. The largest covers an
area Of l,5O0 acres. representing the most
extensive bean field in the world II re-
CURES 40 tons of seed beans each season
OF 100000 pounds. While the revenue
from such yield is immense, the ex-
pense or cultivating and harvesting 1.5OO
acres OF beans is proportionately large
AS an instance the planting and filling
OF the Held In question requires the SER
vices of 100 men with horses.
originally the lima bean, like numerous
kindred varieties, grew in the form Of a
vine and was trained to entwine itself
about pole after the method commonly
pursued throughout the East In course
of time, however. through propagation.
this vine was reduced to a small densely
constituted bush, after which the beanpole
no longer entered into it's cultivation.
For many years the harvesting Of the
crop was accomplished by means of cres-
cent-shaped knives attached to long slen-
der handles, with which the root of the
plant was severed. After remaining In
the field until thoroughly dried, the
bushes were gathered into wagons and
hauled to the thrashing floor, where the
product was beaten out with the time
honored fail
AS the cultivation increased. the latter
process was found to be Inadequate, and
was succeeded by the treading -out meth
Cd This consisted Of throwing the har-
vested plants into a circular pen, the
ground floor of which had been packed
this inc,osure a band of half-tamed horses
were driven and made to race about over
the crisp leaves and pods, until the whole
was thoroughly puiverized. After this the
waste was carefully raked from the sur
face, and the dust and chaff beneath gath
cred up and run through a tanning MILL
whereby the separation of the beans was
effected. But such original IL somewhat
plebeian, methods were eventually aband-
oned in favor of the more practical con-
trivances necessitated by the subsequent
colossal development of the lima bean in
dustry.
The latest process in harvesting is to
cut the plants, three rows at a time. by
means of machine tltted with knives,
which pass horizontally over the surface
of the ground, the implement being drawn
by team Of horses. In lieu of the erst-
while threshing floor, the plants are run
through steam grain separator, which
method not only economies in time but
obviates all waste or damage to the pro-
duct
Not the least interesting feature of the
lima bean industry is the extensive team
ing necessary to transfer the product
from the great ranches to the seaport and
railway shipping stations. The wagons
employed are ponderous affairs. some
what resembling the prairie schooner OF
early days, and SO immense are the loads
carried that frequently teams of dozen
draft animals are required to haul them
The common valuation of land suited
to the cultivation Of lima beans is neces-
sarily high, from the fact that almost
every acre of land available to the indus
try is being utilized. and is, therefore
difficult to purchase. When occasionally.
transfers are effected, the bare land
brings in the neighborhood of 500 an
acre. And when IL Is considered that the
average acre OF the lima bean country
yields its owner upward OF 500 each sea-
son, such an investment might well be
regarded as a bonanza.
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Raf-EntfnU Franoh.