THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 435 



jars compared with that kept dry. The oil on fruit kept in moist air 

 produced a much greater effect than that on fruit kept dry. It is also 

 likely that certain variations in moisture, in temperature, or in the 

 growth of the fruit, may account for variations in the amount of green 

 spotting of fruit handled in a similar manner. The oil is probably 

 liberated much more easily from fruits from certain groves than from 

 others, due to difference in the fruit itself. 



This discovery that small amounts of oil liberated on the rind may 

 cause this injury gives an added reason for extreme care in handling 

 the fruit, especially at times when the oil is most easily liberated or 

 during cool, moist w^eather when it volatilizes less rapidly and there- 

 fore is most apt to cause spotting. The fact that spotting is most apt to 

 occur on fruit picked after a rain or when covered with dew, makes it 

 advisable that picking be discontinued, if possible, at those times. 



H. S. Fawcett. 



Citrus Experiment Station, University of California. 



Forty-sixth State Fruit Growers' Convention. — I am grateful to 

 our readers for the many kindly and generous comments regarding 

 the last fruit growers' convention. One of our able fruit growers 

 remarked regarding the Santa Barbara convention that the lectures of 

 Doctor C. G. Hopkins alone were worth to the State many times the 

 cost of the entire convention. 



The time of the meeting at Stanford Universit.y was unfortunate, as 

 the fruit harvest kept many from attendance, but we could not get 

 the able speakers from abroad at any other time and therefore any 

 unprejudiced person would not question the fact that our gain was far 

 greater than the loss. At best only a few comparatively will hear the 

 addresses, while thousands will read and study the same. 



The two addresses by Professor Reimer of Oregon, indeed almost all 

 from scientists from other States, were of very great value. 



I w^ish to call attention to another feature of the convention. I have 

 alwaj's contended that at any agricultural convention, institute, grange 

 or club meeting at least half of the addresses should be from practical 

 men, those directly from the orchard or farm. Were I to change this 

 proportion, I would add to those directly from the field. In my twelve 

 years as manager of institutes in California for the University of Cali- 

 fornia, I always adhered to this rule. At Stanford the practical men 

 had much more time given them. Of the fifty-four addresses thirty- 

 two were from men in actual practice on the farm or in the orchard, 

 and only twenty-two from the academic side. I believe the greatest 

 mistake made b}^ our institute directors is in giving so much time on 

 the program to college professors. Often no others appear. A live 

 successful farmer will attract, will give an address of proved value, 

 and will please the audience. To place only professors on the program, 

 or even a majority of the same, I feel sure is a mistake. 



In the above I have not referred to the meeting of the County Com- 

 missioners. The program in that case was suggested solely by the 

 commissioners and was intended exclusively for them. However, I 

 heard only words of greatest praise for these meetings. — A. J. C. 



