The San Francisco call., 1906-06-15
FRUIT GROWING
IN CALIFORNIA
E. 7. WickSon Reads an
Interesting Paper at
Dallas.
Tells of Burbank's Con-
tributions TO Hor-
ticulture.
SPECIAL pIspArcn TO THE cALL.

DALLAS, June 14.-An Interesting
paper on The Specific Requirements of
Growing" was read today by E. J.
Wickson, acting director and horticul-
turist of the University of California
Experiment Station, at the annual con-
Vention of the American Association of
Nurserymen. which is now in session in
this city. The paper was, in part, as
follows:
California has an enviable reputa-
ton throughout the world as the home
OF unique novelties through the Won
oerful work Of Luther Burbank. our
most distinguished horuculturist, and
i is only natural that the public should
jump to the conclusion that our chief
COMMERCIAL product must consist OF
these striking achievements. The gen
6rsl reader of the amateur horticultu-
raj literature which nils our popular
periodicals is not Informed that Mr..
burbank is himself the most exacting
Judge of his own productions, NEST
sLrenuously insisting that they shall
stand al tests of culture and trade and
shall survive or perish upon such eX-
acting trial. He realizes that time is
essential TO such trial, and is content
10 wait.
- TELLS OF BURBANK's WORK.
Mr.. Burbanks creations are also con-
tributions TO the worlds horticulture,
and not 10 that Of any State, and no
are can tell when or where their great
particular purposes they viii serve. In
view Of these facts you will not ne sur
prissd that the Burbank varieties DO not
set enter largely into the aggre-
gate commercial fruit production OF
California. Any one acquainted with
commercial fruit growing knows that
established and profitable industry in
less than a decade by the substitution
OF new varieties for the old standards.
II takes not less than half that period
10 0RfHTulInG RpffnF the 4 variety
Is really trustworthy and suitable and
II takes much longer "a get a large
or new paintings, because people are
SLOW and conservative in making
changes. It is little more than ten
wears since Burbank distributed the
first CRAFTS of "Wickson," the first of
his plnms to make a deep impFessian
upon the commercial fruit growing Of
California.
30 Another reason why new varieties do
not figure more largely in California
fruit growing IS the smallness of the
amateur interest. There is. in fact al
thuSieStlc, critical, discriminating,
aIhirst fo< novelties. Even suburban
planters follow the lead of the COM
IRercial orchardists and plant chiefly
that which has shown adaptation TO
local growing conditions, and few are
aVerss TO making what they can by
sale or small surpluses. The result is
that California fruit growing is almost
wholly commercial N spirit, policy and
point Of view, waich is perhaps only
natural in 9 State where the fruit prod
ucts reach an annual aggregate value
OF something like sixty millions of
dollars The effect IS 10 concentrate
achieved fame for profit, and to re-
press amateur devotion and indul
Eences
NEED OF NEW VARIETIES.
Al the same time there is and has
always been quite disposition toward
trial OF novelties among commercial
growers. especially manifested ia
search for specific characters. which
are seen to be desirable, rather than
desire Of newness for its own sake.
which is often a point of pride among
amateurs To this enterprising and dis
eliminating search is due the promi-
which are chance seedlings recognized
as meeting spFotal requirements and
grown great because they really did so.
The California grower is. therefore,
quite certain that he needs not VaEie-
ties new throughout and OF startling
Characters, but improved varieties.
which hold the good points of the old
and add other points. For instance, he
calls for trees resistant 10 disease, for
1mprovement OF the fruit in beauty,
naNor and keeping. qualities, for va
Fieties, similar in kind. which I'll gaps
IN the rfTeninE season, so that he can
employ help continuously, and ship
pers anG Gamers agree with him, SO
they can keep the cars moving and
the cannery plants at work. The
grower says he must be careful not TO
plant something different from what
IS already growing and selling well in
his region, and this is also the advice
Of the trade 20 him He cannot risk
much or varieties of entirely different
types, although most growers are al
ways doing a little experimenting Nor
should he undertake too many varie-
ties. because a profitable orchard is not
"a genealogical museum. There must be
large auentitv Of uniform fruit to
make any district commercially prom
snent.