The San Francisco call., 1898-01-05
TOPICS OF
 THE RANCH
 DISCUSSED Institute of Farmers Clubs Opens at Los
 Angeles. Every Southern California County Represented
 by Delegates. Men of Science Give the Gath erinq the Benefit of Their
 Experience. LECTURES AND PAPERS. Success of the Movement Instituted by Professor Cook of
 Michigan.
Men of Science Give the Gath ering the Benefit of Their
 Experience.
LECTURES AND PAPERS.
Success of the Movement Instituted by Professor Cook of
 Michigan.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4.-The first meeting of the University Farmers Clubs Institute held in the State of California is now in session in this city. Many of the best known and most prominent agriculturists in Southern California are present. Southern California Is the birthplace of the Farmers Institute in Califor- nia. The first Farmers Institute on the Pacific Coast was organized at Compton. Los Angeles County in 1890. At first the movement was really To- cal in its character, but with the ad- vent of Professor A. J. Cook of Mich igan. the scope and character of the farmers institutes broadened and be- came more general. until finally the whole State of California was included. The meeting now in session Is really q convention of farmers clubs, assem- bled as an institute. In the future it is 10 be an annual feature. Every county and agricultural locality in Southern California is represented. from Santa Barbara on the north to San Diego on the south.
 Among the prominent agriculturists present are; Professor J. c. Kyle of Riverside, James Boyd, the pioneer, who laid out the beautiful Magnolia avenue at Riverside: William Penn Rogers of Highlands A C. Moore of Zealand, Edwin Squires of Claremont. Dr- John Needham of Glendora, L. A Taylor of Pomona, J. ". Mills, in charge of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Pomona; pr. S NJ Wood bridge of South Pasadena. John w. Morgan of Montecito, G. w. McTear of Santa Barbara, Robert Dunn of Fill more, H. Austin of Fanhrook, secretary of the San Diego Board of Horticul- tural Commissioners; A. D. Bishop of Orange, H. 4. Cargin of Anaheim, X. Scott Chapman, M. Haigof San Gabriel. Charles Chamberlain of La Canyada: ]: Professor \. R. Sprague of Antelope Valley, the organizer of the Deciduous Fruit Growers Association: O. |. Livesey of Fairmount; c. L. Sessions of Los Angeles, president of the southern California Dairymen's Asso- ciation-
 The present successful meeting was the result of the direct labor of the following gentlemen. who made up the committee having the meeting iY charse: Decoration. Frank Wiggins; exhibit, A R. Sprague; programme C. H. A. Goodwin; publicity, C. H SesSionsi finance, A. J. Cook: music C. r. EdsOnson; railroads-Abb bbot- Kinney, C. H. Sessions. A. P Griffith The first session was called to order
 
 bly-room of the Chamber of Com merce- c. H. A. Goodwin. the editor or the Cultivator, acted as secretary General Charles Forman. president oi the Los Angeles Chamber of Com merce, was introduced and delivered 2 cordial address of welcome Professor A. J. Cook read a paper or Farmers Institute Clubs" Professo, Cook enumerated a number of subjects which in his opinion the thirty-twc clubs now organized could discuss with interest and profit. A committee. con- sisting of Messrs- Dunn. Sessions Boyd. Mcguire and Sprague. was named to consider and report on the - suggestions.
 Hon. Elwood Cooper was to have read a paper on Food Adulteration. Q but as he was unavoidabIy absent q paper written by Mir. Cooper upon the subject was read by Secretary Good. win.
 Robert Dunn of Fillmore discussed the subject of Diversified Crops" He took the position that 10 keep lands healthy there should be rotation ot crops
 One of the best papers of the entire session was by Professor 4. !. Spragus or Feirmount, who discussed Almond Culture" Professor Sprague said that the growers should endeaVor to produc,
 
 profiiebly take, instead of competins in lines that were already crowded.
 So far the history of almond growins in California had been one of disap- pointment, because the trees had beer planted in localities where the tree. flourished, but did not bear well. A. California was the only State in tn. Union which produced almonds. it wa. to inquire what conditions favor al. mond growth.
 In certain districts the wild almond was growing. l. is found in hicl attitudes, where the air is rarer. th, rainfall Scanty, the soil of a permea bl, character. where there was scarcel, any fog, where the winters were colC and there was snow to the depth o twelve to fifteen inches in Fehruar, and the first of March. IT had beer found that almonds in the highel attitudes were handler. standing { temperature of 24 degrees, when q those lower in the valley 8 tenpe-a ture Of sS degrees was fatal
 As to culture" said he, it is wis. to do as little pruning as consistent During the summer Of the second sea son it is not desirable to prure al sIl The second winter il Is better 70 GU back only 10 thin out and trim up tn trees to make them shapely- and thi same method should be followed there after. This method has been provel the best by experience
 The almond is not for irrigation an, should be grown where irrigation is no necessary. In harvesting almonds the, can he handled much better and nor cheaply in large quantities. as th large machines for shucking are mucl more efficient.
 The soft-shelled almonds most com monly planted are Norpareil, \ Ne Plus Ultra and paper-shen. Drakes Spailinr though graded fa < cent cheaper than the above varieties. is heavy producer and consequently pro fitable."
 As closing word. Mr. Sprague sai that almonds should never be grown i region where they had 10 be sul phured. Almonds that have to be sul nhured suffer from two disadvantage