The herald., 1897-11-13
Much Interesting Discus
sion at Pomona
VARIOUS VALUABLE PAPERS
DELIVERED BY SPECIALISTS ON
THEIR SUBJECTS
Vwsnty-one New Members Join the
Pomological Society-Citizens
Of Pomona Interested

fOMONA, Nov. 12.-(Special COrre-
spondence to The Herald.) When yes
terday's evening session opened 1t was
evident that the people of Pomona had
begun to realize that they had a good
thing and were determined, II attend
ance would do 1t. to "push 1t along
The visitors had been informed that a
great treat lay in store for them in the
musical part Of the program, but were
hardly prepared for the magnificent rem
dering Of the chorus. "Oh. Italia, Be-
loved" and were not whit disappointed
when the chairman OF the committee
on arrangements stated that another
number would be rendered STARS of the
Summer Night
~H FERTILIZATION
DR.. s. M. Woodbridge of Los Angeles
then presented a paper entitled 'The
Relative Agronomic Value Of Bone Meal
and Other Phosphates." The speaker
said that the erroneous views in regard
to the agricultural value Of phosphoric
acid In bone meal, that had been given
out from what should be the highest
authority in the state, were not founded
upon any experiments conducted within
the state or even the county or, for that
matter, even in the field; burt simply in
pots and in a far away foreign country.
He DECLARED that such petty experiments
could not discredit the numerous field
tests that have been carried on in vari-
GUS parts of the United States and other
countries. In substantiating his posi-
tion he quoted. among numerous other
authorities, from the Pennsylvania
state agricultural experiment station,
where for over a series OF three years,
on wheat, grass, corn and oats, phos
phoric acid from bone meal, untreated
with sulphuric acid. had been first over
all other forms OF phosphates. The
speaker also cited instances In Southern
California of orchards that had been
brought to paying condition in which
no other form of phOsphOric acid had
been used than untreated bone phos-
phate. The chemical structure Of miner
al and bone phosphates was also ex-
planned and contrasted. the speaker
maintaining that the mineral phos-
pilates were of q solid homogeneous
mass. the bone phosphates were COM
posed OF two distinct substances which
interpenetrate one another. There Is.
as 1t were, a skeleton of earthly matter
which is; called phosphate of lime or
bone phosphate and a flesh or organic
matter called ossein," which latter sub
stances make phosphate porous and
enables the roots to more readily take
It up or the phosphate to remain in the
soil unchanged until such time as the
roots could reach it.
Quite a discussion followed, and there
seemed a great deal of interest taken by
all present on the subject of fertiliza-
ton.
SOIL ANALYSIS
Next on the program was lengthy
paper entitled Status of Soil Analysis"
by M. L. Wade Of Los Angeles. Mr..
Wade took the ground that chemical
analysis Of the soil is failure and cited
opinions from numerous chemists of
national reputation to support his be-
LIEF. Among other counts which he
brought against soil analysis were that
1t Is long, tedious process; that the best
exponents varied greatly as to results
obtained, these being as great as 1872 per
cent In one instance: that soil analysis
does not disclose plant needs and that
1t does not distinguish between soluble
anu luSOIuOLG BIcUlcuLSs I-Iuut lOOQS
can exist In soil and yet be unavailable.
He also quoted Prof. Wylie, who stig
matized the process as "too costly" and
stated at even the low price Of S. per
analysis to analyze one acre of land one
foot deep would cost $22,500.
QUESTION BOX
Pasteur virus Is of little use in killing
squirrels. A lady present spoke of poi
soning squirrels by q preparation of
prune juice, strychnine and cyanide Of
potassium mixed with bran, spread
around the holes. 1t is a sure poison.
Gum disease in orange trees is, ac-
cording to Mr.. Kyle Of Riverside, caused
by too much stagnant water around the
trees. He has cleaned away all diseased
wood and had applied boiling hot graft
ing wax with excellent results DR..
Woodbridge stated, If applied In time a
solution of so per cent of commercial
carbolic acid and water, put on with
paint brush would cure 1t.
Much disappointment was evinced at
the non-appearance of the horticultural
commissioners who were to have en-
tered into a discussion as to best ways
and means Of destroying insect pests,
and their non-appearance was the cause
for much comment.
',.@ OLIVE PICKLING
At the morning session today Rev.
D. H. Gillian of Pomona offered prayer.
after which A. d.. Thatcher Of Pomona
presented paper on "Ollve Pickling."
To pickle olives for immediate use can
be successfully done by almost any one
but to cure and pickle olives for the
market, in a commercial sense, Is quite
another thing. 1t il a well known fact
that an olive having once suffered for
water to such degree that 1t becomes
shriveled. cannot make perfect picked
olive, even although 1t be made plump
by receiving water thereafter. 1t may
deceive the eye Of the expert, yet cam
not be made good pickle. The import
ant question is, then, at what degree Of
maturity should the olive be plucked
from the tree? The majority Of people
do not know that the green, unmaturei
olive Is easy to pickle. sure to keep, but
very unwholesome. II am sorry to say"
remarked Mr. Thatcher too many peo-
pie select fruit by appearance; hence the
ready sale Of the green Queen olive Of
Italy; also the woody tasteless green
olive Of California. ask: Are there any
fruits healthful to the consumsr Ipluclkod
from ~ tree in green. unlnat tured
.1tats 1f not, then we have arrived 1t