58 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DEPARTMENT. 



SHORTAGE OF CYANIDE FOR FUMIGATING CITRUS 



TREES. 



By B. R. Jones. Deputy County Horticultural Commissioner, Los Angeles, 



California. 



It is deplorable that all the sodium cyanide obtainable for fumigation 

 of citrus trees must be procured from one concern. This fact has been 

 brought very forcibly to the minds of citrus growers this fall by the 

 failure of the cyanide supply and the excuses which have been put 

 forward to account for it. It is, therefore, to be very fervently hoped 

 that other firms may engage in the manufacturing of this material, 

 which must be quit'' profitable, and still better, that a factory might 

 be established near the Pacific coast where practically all the cyanide 

 in America is nsed, either for mining or fumigating purposes. How- 

 ever, for these desirable things, we must trust the future. At present 

 we are short of cyanide, and our treas need fumigation very much. 

 What shall we do? Spraying seems to be the only recourse, and its 

 effectiveness depends very largely on how the work is done, although 

 good authorities go so far as to say that no fair sized citrus tree thickly 

 covered with its foliage, as it must be if thrifty, was ever wet in every 

 part in the process of spraying, and of course the scale insect pests on 

 any portion of a tree not touched by the spray are unaffected. 



Prunes in San Joaquin County. 



Word comes from H. H. Ladd, horticultural commissioner of San 

 Joaquin County, that there are more prunes being planted in his county 

 this season than any other orchard trees. San Joaquin County is said 

 by Mr. Ladd to possess some very fine prune lands which are attracting 

 the attention of people from other sections. The absence thus far of 

 pear thrips is in favor of this section. The varieties being planted 

 are French, Sugar, Imperial and Robe de Sergent. 



Crop Report and Acreage Statistics. 



A determined effort is being made in certain counties to obtain 

 figures on acreage and production that are reliable. In this connection 

 the most excellent reports from Riverside, San Bernardino and Kings 

 counties should be mentioned. In the latter named county. Horticul- 

 tural Commissioner Howard is so sure of his figures that he is giving 

 them publicity by distribution in printed form on a small card the 

 size of a postcard. Gradually the difficulties attendant upon getting 

 accurate crop statistics are being eliminated and it is hoped that the 

 reports from every county in the state may soon be as complete as 

 those from the counties mentioned. The demand for these statistics 

 is urgent and a county horticultural commissioner can do a great 

 service for his county and the state by spending considerable time in 

 perfecting a system whereby the attainment of accurate figures on 

 area and production of orchards may be brought about. 



