FUMIGATION OF CITRUS TREES. O 



and acid are furnished by the contractor at a certain price per pound, 

 although sometimes the grower himself supplies them. In the latter 

 case the sole consideration is the cost of covering per tree. 



BY ASSOCIATIONS. 



A citrus association is composed of a large number of growers from 

 the same district organized for the purpose of cooperation in the 

 handling of their fruit. Some of these associations own fumigating 

 outfits which are utilized in the treatment of orchards belonging to 

 its members. The manager of the association looks after the pur- 

 chasing of chemicals and supplies, and also selects competent men to 

 run the outfits. The inspector of the district usually directs the 

 movements of the outfit from one orchard to another. Under this 

 system the chemicals and labor are supplied at actual cost, plus a 

 slight allowance for the purchase as well as wear and tear of equip- 

 ment. In short, this system is supposed to be merely self-supporting. 



BY COUNTIES. 



Each of the county boards of horticulture owns a greater or 

 smaller number of fumigation tents. In San Bernardino County this 

 system has reached its greatest development, for here the horticul- 

 tural commission owns fully 500 tents and carries on more work 

 annually than all other systems combined. This fumigation is under 

 the personal direction of a county horticultural officer. The cost to 

 the grower of treatment by these outfits is usually what it actually 

 costs the county to perform the work. An important consideration 

 in favor of the system of county owned tents is that it readily enables 

 the treatment of trees on city lots and in small orchards in out-of-the- 

 way places which otherwise would in all probability be neglected. 



BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. 



Many citrus fruit growers who control a considerable acreage have 

 fumigation outfits for their own work. In a few cases two or three 

 growers in a locality combine in owning an outfit. The private 

 ownership of tents is rapidly gaining in favor and well merits this 

 increased popularity, as it possesses decided advantages. 



Excepting private ownership, it would be scarcely possible to say 

 which of these systems is superior. Each has its advantages. While 

 one system may prove superior in one locality it might prove less 

 successful in another. The reason for success or failure lies not in 

 the system itself but largely in the personal element directing and 

 conducting the procedure. A reckless, uneconomical, or unreliable 

 director of any one system will achieve inferior results and give less 

 satisfaction than a careful, economical, and perfectly reliabje one 



