Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-30
DREAD WHITE FLY IS
NEARLY EXTERMINATED
0NCE-RAvAGlNG PLAGUE OF
0RCHARDlSTS GONE
Fruit Growers Convention at Riverside
Hears Most Favorable Report.
Orange Handling Is SUBJ
Iect of Session
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
RIVERSIDE. Cal, April 2e.--Encour-
aging report was made at today S
meeting of the state fruit growers con-
vention that the white fly is practical
ly exterminated In the northern dis
tricts. Not an indication of the pest
has been found for some time at Bak-
ersfield, and only few grubs at Oro-
vile. This announcement was made
by state Commissioner Jeffrey.
The discussion of better packing
house methods and more careful
handling of oranges was the feature
of the forenoon session.
J. II. Reed, city tree warden of Riv-
erside, presented the first paper, be-
ing followed by q. Harold Powell, the
government expert, whose work has
done so much looking to the causes of
fruit decay.
Mr.. Powell said. in part:
"It appears to be quite generally ac-
cepted by leading growers and ship
pers that the decay OF oranges can be
prevented by handling the fruit with
enough care from the tree to the car
to preserve the natural resistance
which the orange has when 1t la sew
cred from the tree; and by shipping
the fruit quickly after picking and
packing.
at is probably not overstating the
facts in saying that the methods of
handling the orange in the field and
packing house have been radically
modified since 1904 with these ends in
view. More effective progress has been
made in this direction in 1908 than In
the years preceding.
Changes In Handling
'The changes of 1908 that have had
a far-reaching effect on the industry
have been "a an effort to harvest the
fruit by labor controlled by associa-
tions in order to avoid the uneven
physical condition that formerly char
acterized the fruit when harvested by
the growers; (2) the more careful
handling of the fruit by growers and
shippers not belonging to associations;
CD the substitution of day-paid labor
under competent supervision for box
paid labor, especially in the field; "a
the construction and remodeling OF
packing houses with machinery that
handles the fruit carefully; (5) the
cleaner condition of packing houses
with special reference to decayed or
anges; (6) the quick shipment OF
fruit after picking and packing; and
Cd the adoption of better methods OF
grading and packing by a number .oi
individuals.
"In the market holding tests of 1905
the fruit has been handled in different
ways in California and the decay has
been determined on the arrival OF the
fruit in New York, and at the end OF
each succeeding week after being
stored at a temperature varying from
so to 20 degrees. The decay Is In
variably least in the carefully handled
fruit and greatest in the fruit that is
more or less mechanically injured"
Citrus Protective League
The CITRUS Protective league" work
was presented by its secretary. A. G
Kendall, w. B. Lyon of Redlands anC
c. c. Chapman of Fullerton.
It was stated that the citrus cror
this season would reach $4,000 for the
10000 cars.
1t cost but 10 cents a car to main.
tain the league, which had been in
strumental in getting q reduction ol
10 cents q box on the freight of or.
anges east and also secured much bet.
ter time from the railroads.
The heads of the great transconti-
mental lines had shown willingness tC
treat with the league officials and g
mutual understanding had resulted.
At the afternoon session Prof. Ralph
e. Smith of the pathological station a
Whittier spoke on Health and Disease
in the Citrus Tree" The fungus oil
parasitic diseases common to deciduous
trees do not affect citrus trees. Tive
forms OF gum diseases are quite com
mon and no absolute causes or cures
for these are known.
Several Joined in the discussion oi
this subject. Too much water allowed
to stand about the trees was giver
as a cause of the gum disease, and
treatments of carbolic, tar and meats.
foot oil were suggested.
The Woman's club this evening gave
a reception to the delegates to the
convention in Leighton hall, when g
musical program was presented.