The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-11-14
TIE PoMoLoG1CAL SOCIETY

The Pathological society of Southern
California met al Glendora on Thursday
ard Friday with a large number pres
ent, many coming from long distances.
On Thursday afternoon Mr.. N. W.
blanchard OF Santa Paula presided. A
very instructive talk was given by Mr..
A. Il. Smith on California Lemons From
the Eastern Standpoint. Mr.. Smith Is
president, or manager. of the A. c. G.
Lemon association. He had written to
many eastern merchants. who had
dealt in California lemons, in order to
get their views on our lemons. An eX-
tract from one of the letters is herewith
reproduced:
have certainly had an opportunity to
observe and compare lemons, from hav-
ing had charge Of the famous Belair
grove at Sanford. Fla. which contained
fifty acres of lemons of a number of va
rieties. Florida for a number of years,
had very poor success in marketing and
handling the lemon crop, which was new
err very extensive, and no rule nor sys-
tenn being used until short time before
the freeze. Then it was that the pack
ers and growers fell in with the Sicily
style OF handling and packing This
caused a marked Improvement in the
sale. l am satisfied that California can
and will produce a much better lemon
than was ever grown in Florida Your
lemon especially has every appearance
the trade in quality While in .Califor-
MIA visited the North Ontario Lemon
association and found that they were
further advanced i'll the lemon industry
than any other section that came under
my observation
There are just few suggestions I
should like to make about the packing.
First-The Sicily style of box should be
used. ] believe in the matter Of size, YOU
have already partially complied with
this suggestion. but I do not think the
material used in the California boxes Is
the exact thing The wood is too stiff
and is not sufficiently pliable The Sicily
pox IS or thin beech or birch material,
which has plenty of spring Again the
center head of the Sicily box is about
half-inch higher than the two end
heads, or on curve. This, you will
readily see. allows the fruit to be packed
nigner, and the cover being Of this DUAL.
ny OF material. readily bends and fits
20 the fruit. The advantage in this Is
felt when the fruit is opened up in the
market. 1t opens up firm and rounded
notice IN the past shipments of lemons
from California they have been In the
sicily style box. without the raised CEN
Ter mead. and when they are allowed to
remain In the eastern climate anv
length OF time. they open up fully an
men lower which gives the fruit the an
pearance OF decay and excites the sus
picion OF the buyer at once. OF course
the matter Of packing will always he
governed largely by the condition Of the
Fruit at the time Of packing " The
fruit Is green, 1t should be packed higher
TO allow for the necessary shrinkage
II 1T is fully cured. the packer Will he
1Eoyerned accordingly The onlv sizes
that should be PLACED in eastern markets.
.AEas200's and 360is. All other sizes sbo,,id
beslworked off in your western terr;tor,,
- insist that a packer should never he
AFRAID to put up his stock in fancy stv,e
-using fancy papers, topped Off wifi
small but tasty pictures. crimped naner
.Eilded paper and stringers This nav
.seenl Insignificant in the eyes NJ sor,a
aseopier hut It invaria bly, pleases the evs
soIgthf buyer. and he will generalIy no =,
a h,sher rate for this fancy work. and II
Is always monev well invested
nave known seasons where Florida
lemons We're fine keepers. and also times
aWnen California lemons were likewise
AZ such times as the stock IS of moor
Keeping quality we Invariably attribut
en II TO continued wet weather coming
about the time Of picking-which IN
Florida was during the months OF Aug
ust and September We had ruIe IN
florida N regard to picking. and II wa 8
sthfs iivariAbly nick lemons when two
anu a quarter inches In circumference
even ~ green: then place them in the
house FOR few dayr to go through the
process Of sweating" Then pack and
ship Immediately. II too greer when ar
rived in the eastern market thev were
secedF ma coloring house. and inside of