Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-04
PLANT DISEASES
To Be STUDIED
STATE UNIVERSITY PREPARES
TO ERECT STATION
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SITE
Laboratory to BE Equipped for ln-
Vestlgating Conditions of Or
chard Trees, Fruits and
Vegetables

Special TO The Herald
BERk ]LEY, May "A laboratory
and experiment station for the study
of plant diseases is to be established
at once in Southern California through
financial support furnished by the
state. that the work may be under
taken by the University of California
as a part of the activities of the de-
partment of agriculture.
The state commission for the selec-
tion of location for the pathological
laboratory and experiment station, a
board consisting of George G. Pardee,
governor of California; President Ben
jamin Ide Wheeler of the University of
California, and Prof. E. j. Wickson of
the chair of agricultural practice in
the University of California, is now
ready to receive proposals in regard to
a site. 1t is expressly set forth in the
bill providing for this week that lands
already belonging to the state at Whit
tier or at Patton may be used if the
commission so decides. Should other
communities in Southern California,
however, make offers particularly adj
vantageous in character, the commits
sion will be glad to entertain such
proposals.
Purposes of Laboratory
The appropriation made by the last
legislature provides that the pathologi
cal laboratory shall be equipped with
necessary for the study and determina-
ton of the causes of diseases and the
conditions of orchard trees, fruits and
vegetables. 1t shall provide the means
for a thorough examination of fungus,
bacterial and other maladies, insects,
pests and diseases, and their remedy
or prevention; the conditions of the
soil: cultivation and location that may
tend to imperfect nutrition and all
physiological and other defects that
may affect the economic production
and marketing OF horticultural
products.
The pathological laboratory must be
located in one of the seven southern
counties of the state. The commits
sioners are empowered to select the To-
cation. to perfect title to it, and to
provide for the purchase of lands or
for the receipt of lands as a gift
The state of California is to select a
location, also, which may be on the
same lands as the pathological labora-
tory, or elsewhere if preferred, for
branch agricultural station or stations,
to carry on experimental investigations
in connection with other agricultural
work of the University of California to
ascertain the best methods of agricul-
turaI management; for the investiga-
ton of fertilization, of irrigation, of
improved methods of handling fruits
for market; for the introduction of
new varieties of fruits, and for such
other Investigations as may be deemed
advisable to promote the horticultural
interests of Southern California.
Acquisition of Lands
The commissioners may accept gifts
of lands for these purposes or may Sc
lect lands already owned by the state
in Southern California. 1t is provided
that if the station be located at the
Whittier State school or at Patton, the
site of the Southern California State
hospital, not less than fifty acres of
land shall be devoted to the expert
ment station. Land must be selected
which is supplied with sufficient water
for it's proper irrigation.
In accordance with the terms of the
legislation the commission invites pro-
posals of land, and the regents invite
suggestions as to the work to be under
taken.
Proposals in regard to both these
matters should be filed on or before
July 1 with the secretary of the State
Pathological Station commission, V. II.