THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA. 217 



invention. Derricks and tents are used in this gas treatment, and 

 it solves many difficulties in the way of using washes and the spray 

 system on the citrus fruit trees. The city of Riverside owns sev- 

 eral complete sets of the necessary apparatus, and rents at a nom- 

 inal rate to fruit-growers, who hire operators and furnish the neces- 

 sary chemicals. Since this is not a technical treatise, however, I 

 must refer students of the perpetual struggle going on in Cali- 

 fornia between the orchardist and his insect enemies to the pub- 

 lications of the Agricultural Department of the State University 

 and of the State Board of Horticulture. Here, in thousands of 

 pages, the story is told in every detail. There is not only an active 

 warfare going on against insect foes, but various predaceous and 

 parasitic insects that destroy dangerous species have been called 

 to the aid of the horticulturist. 



In conclusion, one must ask, " How goes the fight ? " The sta- 

 tistics of the fruit industry answer this question. The cost of 

 destroying insect pests has become a permanent item of expense, 

 the results of which are increased profits. Care and manage- 

 ment of orchards now include preparation of the soil ; selection 

 of varieties adapted to the place ; planting and culture of the 

 trees ; pruning, according to different systems for different spe- 

 cies and localities ; the use of special fertilizers, and the destruc- 

 tion of noxious insect life. The various coccids that infest the 

 California orchard valleys are only to be found in dangerous 

 numbers upon the orchards of the careless or the ignorant fruit- 

 growers. Their multiplication is readily and safely checked on 

 as large a scale as desired, and at a cost paid many times over 

 by the increased crop. Sometimes, for several seasons and over 

 large districts, the coccids disappear, but they return, and re- 

 newed expenditures of time and skill are necessary to conquer 

 them again. The expense lessens, however, and the certainty of 

 success increases, year after year as the fruit-grower becomes a 

 specialist. Does this appear too difficult ? It is the same old 

 demand for intellect, inherent in the order of things. Horti- 

 culture in every division is a science as well as an art, and it 

 more and more amply rewards the technical skill of the well- 

 equipped specialist. 



DURING the discussion in the British Association on anthropometric measure- 

 ments, Dr. Garson expressed the opinion that there could be no better system 

 than that adopted in the United States, where an enormous number of observa- 

 tions were made on a uniform plan in many schools. If the American plan could 

 be adopted in Great Britain we should be able to compare children on both sides 

 of the Atlantic, and have full details of the growth of the English race. The dif- 

 ferent methods of anthropometric observation now adopted rendered the results 

 absolutely useless. 



VOL. XLIV. 18 



