The morning call., 1890-07-26
CALIFORNIA FRUIT
Discussed by the State HOrticul.
tural Society.
A Census of the Fruit Interests to Be Taken.
Talk About Oranges, Grapes, Prunes,
Figs and Pests.

A meeting Il the State Horticultural So
ciety was called to order at half-past u
O'Clock yesterday at the rooms of the State
Board of Trade. j. A. Wilcox presided in
the absence of Professor Lelong
The Chairman called attention to the
death of one of the leading ponologists OF
the country, Patrick Barry of Rochester,
n. Y. He expressed desire to see suitable
action taken on this sad event by the mem-
bers during the meeting
A communication was read by the Secre-
tary from NJ. Whitehead, Chief Special
Agricultural Agent of the census, assuring
the society that the horticultural interests
of California would not be overlooked by
his department Great care was being
given to this important feature OF the cen
sus Investigations, and reports would be
made on viticulture, nurseries, florists,
seed farms, tropic and semi-tropic fruits,
etc. j. Fl. bale of Connecticut has charge
of this matter, aud in this connection will
visit the State the coming fall or winter
Mr.. Sadler of Saratoga reported fair
crop of peaches and prunes and good crop
OF apricots and apples in his locality.
The Chairman stated that the fruit crop
in Santa Clara Valley was very fine this
lands were as good as any he had seen any
where. The trees were loaded down with
fruit. Prunes were quoted now at $50 to
$50 per ton.
PEACHES AND PRUNES.
Mr.. Perkins Of Alameda reported that the
peach crop was very fine this year, and
pruaes as well.
Mr.. Oyeracker of Centerville reported a
small crop of peaches this season. The
rest of the fruits would give fair average
yield.
Mr.. Bancroft said he had been in the
southern part Of the State lately and was
not able to speak of Contra Costa.
Mr.. Parkinson reported the peach crop in
Contra Costa as fair. There will be only
light crop of pears. There is a worm there
that eats down into the peaches. 1t is
little brown worm, about One-half to three
quarters of an inch in length, with fiat
lead. Where it attacks the peach the truit
is spoiled. There are considerable OF them.
They were never seen before Almonds
were ripening now. They are ten days
later than two years before.
The Chairman stated that he had found a
worm answering the above description in
his prunes this season for the first time.
Mir. Miles of Eureka reported the greatest
crop OF cherries ever known. Peaches were
scarce. Pears were Welding good, as they
always do. The almond crop was small,
scarcely any.
The general opinion was that the fruit
crop was from ten TO fifteen days later this
year than usual, but was very hardy, and
the extra prices obtained more then COM
pensated for tile backward season.
On motion of Secretary +. j. Wlckson,
Messrs. Smith and WlcksOn were appointed
committee to draw up resolutions Of COZ.
dolence on the death OF Patrick Barry OF
New York.
RAIaIN INUSTRY.
The Chairman called on Mr.. West to give
his views on the raiSin industry. The lat
ter stated that he had recently received
letter from a friend III Spain, containing
the information that the raVageS of the
phylloXera still continued IN that country.
On this account many of the proprietors
of vineyards were selling out, and the in
dustry generally speaking was in very
bad condition. In regard to this State Mr.
West had made no investigation, and was
not prepared to talk on the subject. The
red spider was found in some of the raiSn
districts, but was doing little damage. The
phyloXera will not touch American vines,
and for this reason they are being adopted
in France extensively. The Secretary said
that the orchards IN Santa ROSA had
sickly appearance. The fruit looked well
enough, but the trees appeared as if they
were going to die. Peach trees seemed
most affected.
b. n. Rowley made report on the Bulle-
Il0 US SldLInS Llldt III lluu NV Ntt pcoH az
clmated. During the present year he
would make thorough examination of
both the green and dried fig. and would re-
port very fully at the end Of the season.
ABOUT FIGS.
The Chair was asked TO appoint COM
miltee OF three to name the varieties pre-
sented with the report, and that it report
on any peculiaritieS discovered at this
meeting. Mr.. Lel0ng of the committee re-
ported the specimens as belonging to the
white Adratic and Bulletin Smyrna varie-
ties He pronounced the former as well
fortified and full of bloom. The latter
had dropped prematurely and did not
bloom. Both came from Fresno County.
The Bulletin ig of the types presented had
never fruied in California.
The Chairman asked for information con-
corning the Rhoe d 5 Irgens prune; wheth-
er such prune existed, if SO its character
istics and value This matter will be dis
cussed at length at the next meeting.
Mr. Lelong spoke of an improved fruit
tray, which he thought superior article.
Complaints had been heard that fruits
shipped in zinc trays tasted of the metal
This invention does away with these diff
culties and as far as tested is a success.
w. III. Webster had on exhibition a model
of an improved apple-parer, which pares
slices and cores at one turn.
The meeting adjourned to the last Friday
in August, when "Fruit-drying and Preser-
yatiou" will be the topic for discussion,