The herald., 1893-11-23
.LELONG SQUARES HIMSELF,
He Never Decried the Advant-
ages of Olive Culture.
Proceedings Yesterday of Fruit
Growers Convention.
A Lively Discussion on tho Tariff Quos-
tion-A Lobbyist Needed at wash
ington-A Good Paper on
Figs-Other Matters.

The fruit growers convention held an
uneventful session yesterday morning,
bat one paper being read. All OF the
players were on hand, but Hamlet and
Laertes, in the persons OF Mr.. Kells and
Mr.. Ford, did not materialize with
their essays, SO the convention content
ed itself with firing cross-questions at
Mr.. George A. Raymond about his ex-
cellent paper on curing white Asiatic
figs. Nearly every question put to him
had been previously treated in his essay,
bat he Was in kindly mood, and lean
ing against one Of the boxes told all
that he knew.
The crowd occupied and amused itself
in this manner for about one hour, but
sc neither Mr.. Ford nor Mr.. K6ls came
to toe the footiights they very reluctant
ly let Mr.. Raymond rest his weary self.
Then the Pomona people took hand.
Mr.. Rowland arose with blood in his
eye and inqnired if Mr.. Lelong had
written an article detrimental to the
olive industry. Secretary Lelong had
received the tip the evening before,
however, and so was prepared, and
bqudIou nlubcll W tuo dpphlcAb dhtin
faction OF the Pomonaites.
Mr.. Maslin also took hand in liven-
ing up the proceedings, and spoke upon
certain action taken year ago by the
growers in regard to the revision OF the
tariff upon fruits. The matter was gem
orally discussed, but resulted in moth
ing.
Mr.. Berwick also asked Mr.. Lelong
what he had done in regard to resolu-
tious regarding the Nicaragua canal
passed at the San Jose convention.
Mr.. Lelong again squared himself,
and stated that 1t had been sent to con-
grees, but everybody knew what that
; meant. 1t would probably go no fur
ther.
The two derelicts were also brought
up with round turn by Mr.. Sprague,
but the meeting WAS happily adjourned
by everybody taking trip to Port Los
Angeles to view the ocean and the big
wharf from both citrus and decidu-
Gus point OF view.
THE MORNING SESSION.
At seven minutes to 10 O'Clock yester-
day morning Mr.. Elwood Cooper arose
and rapping upon the deck with stick
called the convention to order.
He first drew attention to the death
OF the former secretary of agriculture,
Jerry M. Rusk, and stated that he had
been the friend OF the fruit growers and
suggested that the first work OF the con-
vention be the adoption of suitable reso-
lutions.
The following resolutions were re-
ported:
Whereas, The sad news OF the death
OF the late secretary OF agriculture, j.
M. Rusk, has come to ue, and
Whereas, Secretary Rusk proved his
friendship to the fruit interests OF Cal
ifornia and assisted US in many ways,
therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the fruit growers
OF California. in convention assembled,
at Los Angeles, this, the 22d day of No
vember, 1898, tender to the bereaved
family OF our late and lamented secre.
tary our sympathy and coincidence in
their great bereavement.
On motion OF Mr.. Berwick the resolu-
tior was adopted by rising vote and
ordered telegraphed to the family of the
deceased.
The chair announced several essays,
but as their authors did not respond Mr..
Geo. A. Raymond of Kern county read
u COuClbo fdpcl upOu tnd Vi I0G
White Asiatic Fig. Mr.. Raymond stated
that he treated only OF the white Aaiatic
fig, and that grown upon his own place.
Hs first briefly told of the process of
picking and curing. He said that the
proper curing Of the fig began with the
picking. The stem must be taken out,
the skin must not be bruised nor the
fruit spoilt. Pick when the fruit is fully
ripe, but do not use those that have
dropped off OF the tree. | differ here
from other growers, but L find that a
sound fig will not drop but will dry on
the. tree. The figs that drop are deiec-
tive. The figs are to be picked in small
wire baskets and should be placed care
fully on the trays with none touching.
The fruit should be rolled in from two
to three days.
The defects are mainly black mold
and white and eouring. After the bad
hgs are the largest and handsomest but
until you have learned the trick |
would advise you to break open and ex-
anime any fig that is in the least suspi-
cicious. Let no one 20 into this busi-
ness unless he can and Will follow it out
thoroughly. Moreover, first ascertain
whether your locality is adapted to the
6g. As to packing do it to suit your
own fancy, only do it we'll and it attrac-
tive form. Something original and
novel, if neat and pretty, or handsome,
will prove of great importance in selling
the goods. Do not initiate anything or
any person, either foreign or domestic,
as then you can never establish your
brand and maintain your market. 1"
At the conclusion OF his essay the
discussion of the topic was held. The
matter was thoroughly gone over. Mr..
Raymond answering the many ques-
tions put to him.
Mr.. Ford of Santa Ana was to have
read an essay upon Walnuts and Mr..
Kelly upon the Thinning of Fruit. The
gentlemen were called for several times,
but did not respond, so their papers
were postponed.
Mr.. Howland of Pomona arose and
asked Secretary Lelong if it was true, as
alleged, that he had written certain ar
ticles in the California Fruit Grower to
the effect that there was no profit in
olives, and that no one person without
wealth should attempt their cultiva-
tion?
Mr.. Lelong replied that he had never
made such any such statement or writ
ten any such article against the produc-
tion OF olives. At the convention last
year he had been asked to address the
meeting and to write an essay concern
ing the olive industry. He wrote to
many OF the growers and caused their
answers to be read before the conven.