Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-01
THE GAS SCALE REMEDY.
THE SIX SOUTHERN, COUNTIES TO
BUY THE PATENT.
Meeting of the horticultural Commission
ers Yesterday-County Appropriations
to be Asked for the Purchase.

The Southern California association ol
horticultural commissioners met yester-
day morning in the chamber of COM
merce rooms. Those present were:
From Los Angeles county-Commis-
sioners A. f. Kercheval. Jno. Burr and
Geo. J. Mitchell and Supervisors Perry,
Davis, Cook and Hubbard,
San Bernardino Commission
ers A. H. Clafin and Collins with Su-
pervisor Victor. ~
San Diego county-Commissioner j
P. Jones and Supervisor Buck.
Orange county Commissioners Ham
ilton, Perry and Rafferty,.
Ventura county-Supervisor Foster.
The meeting was given up to the dis
cussion of the merits of.the hydrocyanic
gas treatment for sale. After informal
remarks by several members the secre-
tary read an agreement from persons
holding the patent for the application of
hvdrocyanic gas, offering to sell the pat
ent for $4,000, on or before August
18th.
The chairman remarked that it was
necessary either to buy the patent or
fight it. Representatives from Orange
county reported that their people will
not generally approve the purchase of
the patent unless the legal authorities
give written opinion in favor OF such
purchase. Commissioner Kercheval
gave favorable report concerning
prominent taxpayers in Los Angeles,
who would not oppose reasonable ap-
preparation for the purchase OF the
patent. Commissioner Collins showed
that there had been change of senti-
ment, the purchase of the patent not
being considered advisable.
The chairman thought the patentees
were entitled to some consideration. In
reply to a question by Commissioner
Foster of Ventura, Secretary Claflin
stated that the gas treatment
has been wonderfully success
full at Riverside. The treatment
has been tried on thousands of trees
when continued for 40 minutes, not a
single live scale escaped. The expert
ments have been tried chiefly On the
red scale; also to some extent on the
brown scale and the San Jose scale.
G. M. Heintz, publisher of the Rural
Californian, also gave very encourag-
ing account of the gas treatment. Com
missioner Foster remarked that Ventura
would be ready to assist in purchasing
the patent.
The secretary read proposition from
the owners of the patent, offering to
deed the right to use the process to sep
arate counties for certain amounts.
Commissioner Collins urged the raising
of the sum required from six southern
counties before August 10Th. The pro-
portion for Los Angeles county is $4,000.
The chairman stated that Orange
county will doubtless do it's share.
Several gentlemen were of the opinion
that the counties may hereafter be re-
imbursed by the state. Commissioner
Foster thought the matter might be
safely left to the chairman OF the super
visors.
The following resolution was carried
unanimously on joint vote of the COM
missioners and supervisors:
Whereas, The counties of Los Angeles,
Ventura and San Bernardino, Orange
and San Diego have agreed upon the ad-
visibility of purchasing the gas treat
ment patent; therefore,
Resolved, That the six southern coun-
ties be requested to join in making ap-
preparation therefor.
1t was ordered that the patent be in
vested in the chairman of the supervis-
ors ef the counties above mentioned, in
trust for said counties.
The meeting voted that in case any
county fails to make it's appropriation,
the supervisors of the remaining south
On counties may make up the deficiency
pro rata.
An afternoon session was devoted to
the discussion of various matters OF in
terest to horticulturists generally.