The herald., 1897-08-27
FARMERS INSTITUTE
FINDS SOME FINE PRODUCTS AT
COVINA
The Gopher Question Solved but the
Ground Squirrels Continue to
Give Trouble
Special Correspondence 10 The Herald.


COVINA. Cal, Aug. 25.-From arid
Palmdale to verdure-clad Covina is a
stupendous change. Palmdale is des-
ert, except for the rich wreath of green
that hugs the circle of foothills that girt
it round, too distant for eye to note; CO.
vina nestled in luxuriant orchards which
almost crowd out the little villages, as if
jealous of any intrusion upon their
wealth of green and vigor. A ride this
morning gave the university represent
atives excellent opportunity to study the
orchards of this favored portion of our
wondrous southland. We are free to say
that Covina need not fear comparison
with Duarte, Redlands or Riverside in
the vigor and fruitfulness of her or
chards. In one respect Covina is like
the Antelope valley orchards. Two of
her most favored orchardists, who have
reaped immense revenue from their Cit
rus groves, have never irrigated the
trees at all. Last winter we visited the
magnificent navel orchard of Mr..
Thompson of Duarte and thought We
never saw greater show of productive
ness. This morning we drove through
the eighty acre orchard of Mr.. S. A.
Overholtzer of Covina. Much of this Or
chard has never known irrigation, and
yet the trees fairly groan under their
immense load of splendid fruit. Mr.
O.'s navels are certainly strangers to
any dropping. Mr.. o. is splendid cui-
tivator, as are most all of the fruit men
about Covina. He plows twice a year
and deeply both times. He always ploWs
up toward the trees but cultivates away
from them. Thus a slight mound sur
rounds each tree. We noticed that Mr..
o. grows no other crop among his trees.
We observed that many at Covina DO.
We noticed fine straw berries in the cit
rus orchards. The old orchardists east
think that orchard land should be
wholly given up to the fruit trees. Mr.
O.s practice would indicate like opin-
ion. Conservative estimates place Mr.
| Overholtzer's net cash income this year
at SIS, 900. Another ten acre orchard
now four years old, belongs to Mr.. VIII
| liam Dewlany. This has never been
watered at all, and yet it is model of
| thrift and beauty and the trees are
| fairly peppered with fruit. Mr.. d. cul-
tivates thoroughly every ten days and
does almost no pruning. These orchards
are on gravel or sandy land. Mesrs. Be
mis-, Eastman and others are on heavier
soils. and their trees look as fine and
are bearing as heavily. There are also
| many fine lemon orchards. These are in
strong contrast to the Chula Vista lemon
groves. The trees are unpruned and
spreading and have none Of the UNI
| at Of no
| Vista trees. The growers tried the cut
ting in and say it was altogether out of
pocket business. Trimming lemons and
oranges is not greatly practiced about
| Covina. One gentleman here cut adrift
| last year from the exchange and sold his
$4,000 boxes of fruit for $1,000. In the ex-
| change he would have received $4,000
and more. The fruit averaged SIPS per
| box. 1t is not strange that the exchange
! is popular about Covina.
| The Covina institute is an exceptional
success. over 100 were present at the
first session and last evening the hall
was crowded, every seat filed and many
were unable to get seats. The music was
exceedingly fine, the beautifully
trimmed hall very inviting and the ex-
hibit of fruits, vegetables, ETC., though
not large like that at Palmdale, was
very fine. The large number of able
men present insured splendid discus
sions. The Covina people are wide
awake There were persons at the insti-
tute who had come from twenty-five to
forty miles to attend.
DR.. A. l.. Keller in his address of well
come struck the keynote in the state
ment that the farmers are longing for
more accurate knowledge. They throng
to the institute to gain it, Mr.. W. K. Bar
bers able and thoughtful paper on ex-
| changes will appear in The Herald. The
| people are awake to the value of eX-
| changes. Soon rs instead of 35 per cent
| of the fruit will be sold through the ex-
| change; then the exchange will be able
| to perfect its work and methods which
| it has so we'll begun. Mr.. F. NJ. Chapman,
who has two very large orchards and
was once leading busines man in Chi
cago, was the only man to speak ad-
versely. He would not do away with this
exchange and wished it success, but
thought he could do better selling his
own fruit. When asked if he thought the
average producer could he did not say
yes. This region is strong for COOP
| Grafton.
| In the discussion on Mr.. Mills paper.
already reported for The Herald, It
was asserted by several that the gopher
could be easily killed by poisoning weeds
or even tender growth of the orange, and
| inserting these in the runs. Raisins
pushed in on the end of long sticks
would often be eaten when they would
not be If simply dropped into the holes.
The people about Covina have evidently
solved the gopher and squirrel problem.
Melon rinds, strychnine and general CO.
operation will do UP the squirrels Prof.
Cook spoke, of the excellent work done
by the clubs. A very arge'wideawake
club is already formed, and will be
heard from. 1t embraces both Covfna
and Azusa.
Miss Helen A. Clapp of Covina gave
bright paper on "Home Reading" The