The herald., 1897-02-16
The Duarte Belt
Special to the Herald.

0peCldl " luo 11oA oAos
AZUSA, Feb. 15-Charles H. Edwards,
the manager of the Crocker-Sperryle lem
on orchards here. was interviewed by
your correspondent this afternoon. Mr.
Edwards allows that the letter to Prof.
L. w. Hilgard, as published in today's
Herald, is authentic, but af1irms that
he is neither responsible for, nor does he
agree with the comments that follow
He says:
1.-THE only effect so far noticed on the
fruit has been purely external"
Samples Of lemons that have been four
months in the house were shown to
your correspondent. They were cut up
and carefully examined under the micro
scope. The malady is on the epidermis
only and does not affect the pulp of the
fruit at all. The samples are as sound
internally as those of the Sancy lemon
(the highest grade).
Mr.. Edwards says: There has been
no complaint from eastern shippers, as
stated in the San Francisco Examiner
of the 18th inst, the only trouble benig
that the lemons which have graded
'Sancy,' l have been compelled to grade
as choice on account of the slight dis
,coloration to the fruit"
Mr.. Edwards also says that since the
advent Of cold weather, the fruit deliv-
cred at his house is almost entirely clear
of discoloration.
Mr.. Trench, resident manager Of the
Earl Fruit Packing company here, says
that he had noticed the discoloration on
some of the oranges early in the sea-
son, but only on that which was picked
green. He lays the discoloration to the
fact that the fruit had been bruised be-
fore the Oil cells in the epidermis were
fairly developed. Mr.. Trench's opinion
Is of the utmost value, as his territory
includes Azusa, Glendora, Covina AMI
Duarte.
Mr.. Platt Of the Mauby ranch says that
he noticed the discoloration on the fruit
while still on the trees. Thi s would
seem to refute Mr.. Trench's theory.
Bentley q Son, who have curing houses
ct both Glendora and Duarte, were seen
this afternoon.
Mr.. Bentley, ST., says: II have noticed
this disooloratdon during the last
three years. sometimes more, some
times less. 1t has been my experience
that white gnat is always to be found
around the trees producing the disfig-
ured fruit"
Mr.. Bentley sent some samples of this
fruit to the agricultural department at
washington two years ago, but has
never had any report from the depart
ment at al! MI. Bentley says he has no.
ticed the discoloratiOn ON the fruit while
on the rtees.
Mr.. Bentley, jr., who has charge of
the Duarte packing house. declares that
he has no knowledge Of the maIady's
being In existence in his district.
No Anxiety at Pomona
Special to The Herald.
POMONA, Feb. 15.-The blight is un-
known here to the extent described. Tho
fungus, 1t is claimed. is only what has
been known to our growers and ship
pers for years past, appearing on the
fruit at times under unfavorable con-
ditions, perhaps during the process Of
curing. and more or less injuring the
fruit. p. J. Dreher. secretary Of the
San Antonio fruit exchange, when ap-
preached upon the subject, vouchsafed
the information that he had only heard
Of two orchardists who complained of
the alleged disease, and then only of
the fungus appearing a{tsr the fruits 4
having been backed for GornA length ~