Imperial Valley press., 1944-03-12
Valley Proves
Value for
Growing Seeds


oping into the seed-bed of the ma
ton and the world.
Five or six years ago this highly
fertile valley was not considered
a seed producing area due to its
variable climate, but since that
time it has been proved to be an
exceptionally good locality, and to-
day. meeting new wartime needs,
the valley is finding itself in a new
light.that of supplying the nation
and the world with seed stocks.
One.of the finest proving grounds
and test plots in the country is To-
Gated west Of El Centre on the
Vaughn Thompson ranch where,
since last August, % acres have
been used as a trial ground for
vegetables. herbs and flowers. On
this q acres already more than 300
varieties of garden and field seeds
have been tested by the Dessert
Seed Company, and into these
grounds have gone the 80 years of
seed experience of R. B. Dessert
company owner, who has a back
ground in many states and came to
FL Centro from Toronto. Canada,
four years ago.
TESTING GROUNDS
The purpose of these proving
grounds is not only to test new va
rieties of seeds, seeds brought here
from other parts of the country. but
for the purpose of testing some Of
the Dessert Company's own prod
ucts. The grounds are also used for
the purpose of seed increase and
developing of new strains. The test
plots .are in continuous operation
the gear around with detailed
checks made from the time Of
planting until after the seed is
harvested to provide accurate data.
This dis the second year the COM
pany mas maintaired trial ground
and they have worked under the
recommendations and have provid-
r. data TO . Meloland Expert
u-ertzst station
The main vege Tile tests being
carried on include onions. carrots,
lettuce, beets. turnips, cabbage en-
which several tests OF a number of
varieties are made.
Great Lakes lettuce is being
studied at this time through a new
seleceon released by DR.. T. w.
WhitScre of the u S. Department
of Agriculture at La Jolla. The va
,.,a %vvs- in InrfaQy1d a II
will head in warm weather. The
comnny is attempting to select a
PARTICULAR type that will produce
we'll here as well as for the east
ern Growing conditions. 1t is heavier
than. common varieties, weighing
fromsl5 10 20 pounds more per dry
packscrate. This is the feature that
attracts retailers who sell lettuce
by TIE pound.
Seed production being the main
activity of the firm, now primarily
is i1terested in producing onion,
lettuce. carrot, cantaloupe and
caulHlower seed. Some herbs such
as dEl, annice, summer savory and
fennll also are produced
TIE extent Of seed production
groWkh is witnessed in the large
acre4ges of onions planted in the
VALLEY this year Carrot seed does
well .saccording to tests. The lettuce
seed~roduced in the valley is high
er ~ quality than elsewhere. The
com Tany takes only seed from
heacs that were marketed. In other
areas the seed is taken from looser
head types because the harder
head will not go TO seed.
Ils bulk Of seed business at this
timesis going to the War Food Ad-
immigration under lend-lease con-
tracS the company reported.
Tle company has under contract
300 scres of onicns, l25 acres Of let
tuce- 40 acres Of carrots, 10 acres
OF c2uliilower, 80 acres of onion
plants. some celery. turnips and
beeix other than the 22-acre trial
grounds. Some experiments are be-
inc carried on with peas TO develop
d1ease-free seed. Two acres Of
sinnsas and some nasturtiums. On
10 nted produced from 500 TO 700
pouIsds seed per acre and carrots
Weld 6e0 TO 500 pounds per acre.
accwding TO records of last year
Tise trial grounds are supervised
hS Melvin Zobel and the growing
and field production operations are
-. tt4a a<s,.a.Rtn., Of D.texan AIYao