Arizona republican., 1922-01-10
DISCUSS PROBLEMS
Of CITRUS GROWERS
IN ANNUAL MEETING
Citrus School Attracts
Orchardists From All
Parts of Valley; Many
Speakers On Program

The third annual citrus school,
series of meetings for the discussion
of citrus problems. was held at the
Madison Improvement club on Fri
day and Saturday of last week. An
especially strong program was pre-
sented and the meetings were attend
ed by practically every orange grow
er in the valley.
The first speaker on the list was
Mr.. Broderson, one Of the leading
nurserymen of the valley who spoke
on the fundamentals of the nursery
business, and the most enlightened
methods now in use.
The second speaker was Prof.
Pomeroy of the Riveside experiment
station of the University of Cali
fornia.
Prof. Pomeroy gave a convincing
talk on the value of bud selection
and the results of experience in that
work during the last ten years of his
ssociation with it. BY the use of
charts he showed the tremendous
difference between the production of
trees &C proven bearing qualities and
those of poor bud stock. He assured
the growers that bud wood of ten
years observation was now obtain
able, which would be of the greatest
value in improving the orchards of
this valley.
Mr.. Allen Break of Riverside juno
ton, Calf, a grower of long expe-
rience next spoke on the successful
results he had had in improving the
run down groves. Mr.. Break said in
part:
/ come to YOU as an ordinary, ev-
cry day citrus grower. citrus grow
er Who has made a reasonable sue
cess in the industry, and who has
deduced certain fundamental rules
after years Of experience. | am
grower, not an orator and it is in
that spirit and with the hearty de-
sire to be of service that venture
to appear before you today.
Unless grower is in a position to
give the trees personal attention or
TO employ efficient help to accom-
plish this task, he should not en-
deavor to bring back a deteriorated
run down citrus grove. Citrus trees
respond rapidly to care and atten-
ton. They stand more abuse than
the average fruit tree and produce
better results with less expenditure
of labor and money. Despite these
1acts, however. the fundamental Sc
cret OF bringing back a run down
grove, to my mind, is that of the
personal equation. You must dag
nose the complaint, not of the grove
as a whole but of each separate tree.
Each tree is definite unit and pos
sesses certain characteristics and
tendencies that must be carefully
noted and their demands satisfied.
Once hn0nnan "a,
trees requirements the rest is sim
pie and can be accomplished in a
practical, ever yday manner.
In determining the needs of such
a grove and Its trees l have not been
guided by scientific theories and fads
Good solid seven days in the week
common horse sense is the best guide
I have found. Many growers feel
that they must listen with rant at
tention TO the latest scientific meth
DDS of fertilizing, pest control and
similar matters to be successful cit
rus growers. Don't misunderstood me.
I believe in scientific research and
investigation. and know that it is
good policy tor the average grower
to let the man who can afford to
take a chance" try out the expert
ments. After he has tried il con the
dog" so to speak then we practical
growers can adopt those methods
which are proven to be successful. We
can assist in this work through the
Farm bureau centers and similar
bodies. Until we know that there is
definite reason why some proposed
scheme should be used. and that it
is a necessity, it is wisest to cling
TO the proven ways and methods of
production ana culture of citrus
trees.
Suppose a grower has purchased a
citrus grove that through age or
neglect and improper care has be-