Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-14
CITRUS GROWERS
OPEN SESSION
Exhaustive Report Presented in
the Supposed Deterioration of
Washington Navel Trees
NEGLECT CAUSE OF FAILURE
HortiCuIturaIiSts at Pomona Hear
Addresses by Many Promi-
nent State Experts
NEGLECT CAUSE OF FAILURE

|
convention to order. The invocation
was given by Rev. c. b. Sumner.
| Greetings from the city were extended
| by Mayor frey and the response was
given by F. Q. Story of Los Angeles.
! The reports of the local committees
followed and the entertainment pro-
| gram for the visitors was announced
The regular order of business was
adopted and State Commissioner JEFF
frey then gave his annual address and
| Secretary P. J. Dreher of the San An
tonic Fruit exchange made response.
Then followed interesting reports on
orchard conditions in the several citrus
counties from the county horticultural
commissioners.
The reports all showed good condi-
tons existing in the citrus belts. The
program included a paper on the "Bo-
| tanic View of the Orange" by S. B.
| Parrish, systematic botanist of San
Bernardino; Factor of Seed Selection"
| by William Wood of Whittier; Reno
vation of Orange Trees by Systematic
| Training" by Charles r. Paine of Red
lands; Relation of Bud Variations to
Decadence in Citrus Trees" Prof. j.
Eliot Colt Southern California path
| illogical laboratory, Whittier.
There are a large number of dele
gates here from Southern California
and some from Arizona and the north
ern citrus belt.
| Following is the report of the re-
searchers of the horticultural commits
sion of Los Angeles:
THE REPORT
an presenting this report for your
consideration 1 have eliminated every
! possible word and term down to such
an epitomized condition of abridgment
that only the pith of the lengthy re-
| ports given to me by the inspectors de-
tailed for the Investigations are en-
bodied herein. This has been done to
avoid taking very much of your valu-
able time and also to comply with a
request of the state commissioner that
abbreviate brevity.
THE subject is the cause OF the
often asserted deterioration in fruit
producing of the Washington navel
orange tree after attaining the age of
16 or more years from time of planting
in the orchard.
"The instructions given to the inspec-
tors included soil conditions, fertiliza-
ton, fumigation, cultivation, irrigation,
pruning and general management of.
the orchard, whether regular and per-
sistent or neglected and spasmodic.
1.-The practical value of an article of
this kind mainly depends upon the
qualifications of the men assigned to the
duty, above outlined. In further eX-
ability to observe judgment in compar-
ison, capability to formulate and make
final deductions-an requirement that
can be attained only for best results
by daily and lengthy experience in
orchard nspection-cannot be surprised
by any like body of men in similar
pursuits in this state.
"I will commence at the east end of
this county and go west-without any
of the disparaging insinuations we are
so familiar with-because 1t is far from
being applicable in this instance.
THREE ORCHARDS
&C. H. Cary, the horticultural in
spector in the Pomona section, has sys-
tematically carried out every side OF
the prescribed research and the con-
clusion by him is no deterioration in
any orchard that has received proper
attention, notably three orchards from
Is to q years of age, owned from
planting to the present time and under
personal supervision by the same in
dividual.
"Many of the other orchards have
changed ownership repeatedly and
naturally have received treatment ac-
cording to the ability, length of time
in possession and character of owner.
All in all, trees are very satisfactory.
"H. S. Walker of San Dimas, in
rather crestfallen manner intimated
that he could not furnish any material
of value, for the reason that their
orchards do not and have not shown
any deterioration. In proof, he sub
mitted as a sample of continued
profitable yielding of fruit the results
from two orchards that are no excep-
ton to the rule each % years old:
another orchard, 10 years old, from
1903 with 4534 boxes increased in 1910
to 4770 boxes. The years missed gave
the same average returns in the three
orchards noted.
u. r. Hodges of Covina had the most
difficult task allotted to him of any
of our force. because of the extensive
field to cover and the varied conditions
existing in his district.
NO FERTILIZER FOR FRUIT
"In summing up the fertilizer side
he says Plenty Of fertilizer plenty of
fruit. some fertilizer some fruit, no
fertilizer no fruit. The results from
four orchards planted twenty-four
wears ago, from the same stock and the
same nursery, are mentioned more par
ticularly from the fact that he has
been personally cognizant of the con-
ditions existing in such during all this
time Three have received the best of |
care and been remuneratve from start
to date, producing slightly over 400
packed boxes of fruit to the acre an
nuallY, since arriving at lull DedIlHS
capacity, with even a better showing
for the coming season. The fourth
orchard was sold about nineteen years
ago to a man who evidently did his
best to learn how much neglect of es-
sentials in the care of trees could be
given and yet retain vitality enough to
produce one-half box to the tree |
About four years ago the present |
owner purchased this orchard and to-
day the indications are that the yield |
will be equal to the other three.
rs. S. Spencer of Irwindale summar
ICES the situation in his district in the |
same manner as Mr.. Hodges, hence it |
would be only recapitulation to say |
more. He mainly confined himself to |
the evident causes of deterioration and |
best methods for rehabilitation.
"W. e. Dougherty of Azusa, whose |
knowledge of the extensive groves in
that section embraces a number of
years. writes that he does not know of |
one orchard that shows the least tndi-
cation of on-productiveness where the
owners have given proper treatment.
1.-THE findings Of the above men are
indorsed by every member of our force.
sIn conclusion, let me say that be-