The herald., 1897-02-19
The "DeadIy Orange Fungus"
Merely a Local Condition
COM MISSIONER SCOTT SAYS
That There Are Various Causes for
Discol0ration
A Large Slipper Declares That no Complaints
Have Reached His Firm-Pos.
sible Explanations

for Los Angeles county, who is also
citrus fruit grower of many years ex-
perience, in response to an inquiry by
The Herald yesterday concerning the
reported deadly fungus on Southern
California citrus fruits, said:
Il have noticed the articles in the San
Francisco Examiner, including the wise
diagnosis of the professors of the agri-
cultural department of the state uni
versity, and consider that the subject
was given unnecessary prominence. 1t
was not of sufficient Importance to war
rant the same.
Il have observed for several years
past some citrus fruit, notably lemons,
affected in the manner described, but
never thought it more than local con-
dition and of temporary character.
There was no sign of disease. So far
as oranges are concerned / cannot be-
lieve that this fruit has been affected
by the fungus. 1 have never observed
it, and no specimens of fruit thus affected
have been brought to my office. If it
were true that the affection was general
and serious, it would seem most likely
that the matter would have been brought
to my attention. OF course, / have seen
marked oranges, likewise lemons, caus-
ed by chatting against branches or thorns
of trees, which leaves discolored scar.
Hail storms in spring often spot citrus
fruit and to the ignorant observer it
would seem that the fruit was diseased.
II would leave oranges entirely out Of
the fungus question now under discus
sion--In regard to lemons, / would say
that in my opinion the cause of the
affection is due to injury of the fruit pre-
vious to packing and overheating in the
curing house afterward. The oil cells
occupying the skin or rind of the lemon
become damaged either on the tree or
when handled. While sweating in the
curing house decay sets in, then the
fungus spores find proper ground to
propagate and grow. 1t must be under
stood that the fungus does not appear
previous to the injury of the fruit.
Il am firmly convinced that the affec-
tion is purely external and of accidental
cause. 1 have often cut open many sam
pies of the affected fruit and never
found the pulp of any injured in the
slightest degree.
I'm regard to the idea that has been
expressed that fumigation or spraying
has induced the appearance of the fun
gus growth on lemons, it seems singular
to me. 1t is well known that proper
fumigation is an unfailing remedy for
fungus on citrus trees and fruit. If
this is admitted, how can we believe that
the action Of the gas will produce the
fungus? Suppose the tent is not tight.
then more or less gas escapes and the
effect upon the tree and fruit is weak
ened in both cases. Then the action of
the gas upon the fruit, if noticed at all,
dries the skin up, leaves a white spot
and finally causes the fruit to fall before
it is matured.
II am confident no serious results will
follow the great fungus discovery made
by our neighbors in the N. c. b.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
A. j. Hechtman, vice-president and
general manager of the Porter Bros.
Co., extensive fruit packers and ship
pers, was found at his office yesterda.
by a Herald representative and cheer
fully gave additional information relat-
ing 10 the supposed fruit disease.
He said: I'VE have made a thorough
inquiry and investigation the past few
days, through our men in the field, an
the result proves beyond a doubt thal
there has not been and is not now any
cause for alarm. In fact the whole mat
ter was not of sufficient Importance for
public discussion. Several of our in
formants, including S. r. Smith, man
ager OF the Brocton Square Fruit COM
pany. of Riverside, who is excellent au-
thority, claim that the so-called fungus
that appeared on the fruit two weeks
ago has now nearly all disappeared, in
| many cases entirely, leaving the fruit
perfectly clean, and no further trouble
is looked for. This being true, it is an
irrefutable argument against the ex-
pected growth of the fungus or dis
ease.
THE lemon has been more affected
than the orange because the skin of the
fruit is more susceptible to injury and
local affections. 1t is an external dis
affection, and does not affect the pulp
any further serious discussion of the
matter.
I'VE have shipped several hundred
carloads of oranges and lemons. We
have branch houses in all the important
eastern cities and no complaint has
reached us concerning affected fruit as
yet The New York market for our
oranges is now firm with good demand.
We sold seedlings in that city Wednes-
day for $3.50 per box, and we are re-
ceiving new orders daily
II think, perhaps, this whole trouble
about affected fruit may have originated
by an early shipment of oranges from
the Riverside district. Several carloads
of fruit were picked green and ripened
by artificial heat. 1t may be that this
action had some effect on the keeping
quality of the fruit
Another cause for the public alarm
might be the effort of certain brokers
in this state and in the east, who have
made contracts f. o. B. cars in Cali
fornia at ruling prices and wish to bear
the market and obtain the fruit at a
low price. 1t is hard to exactly deter
mine the reason for any such scare as
the Examiner is trying to give us. But
there is no need for us to- be afraid"