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TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



the younger, matures the nuts earlier in the season, and produces the 

 more abundantly; the nuts are more easily harvested, look the better, 

 and command the higher price. 



Nearly all the orchards now in bearing are seedling trees; but the 

 more recent plantings are largely of grafted or budded stock. 



The most serious menace to the industry is what is commonly known 

 as "walnut blight." It is a bacterial disease, for which no efficient 

 remedy has yet been discovered. It does not seriously affect the growth 

 or vigor of the tree, but manifests itself chiefly in the destruction of the 

 nuts in the early stages of their growth. In the affected orchards it 

 manifests itself from year to year with greatly varying severity; in 

 some seasons the destruction being very slight, -and in other seasons 

 reaching as high as fifty per cent of the crop. Prof. Newton B. Pierce, 

 the Government pathologist located at Santa Ana, is devoting much 

 time to the study of the disease, and all walnut-growers are anxiously 

 looking for a favorable report from him. To encourage a widespread 

 study of the disease and search for a remedy, the walnut-growers of 

 southern California, in their organized capacity, have offered a reward 

 of $20,000 to any person who will produce an effectual remedy. Any 

 one desiring to know the exact conditions on which the reward will be 

 paid can obtain full, printed particulars by applying to the secretary of 

 the Walnut-Growers' Executive Committee, Mr. J. A. Montgomery, of 

 Rivera, Los Angeles County. 



The harvesting of the walnut is accomplished by simply shaking the 

 trees and picking up the nuts by hand, and costs from $12 to $15 per 

 ton. 



The marketing of the nuts — which includes the preparation for 

 market, consisting of grading, bleaching, and sacking — is done chiefly 

 by the walnut-growers' associations, of which there are ten in number. 

 These associations are incorporated and are strictly co-operative 

 concerns. 



Not only are the individual associations co-operative concerns, but 

 these individual associations have united in a co-operative body known 

 as "The Walnut-Growers' Executive Committee," which is composed 

 of the directors of the individual associations. Although the executive 

 committee is not an incorporated body, and theoretically has no 

 stronger bond than the simple word of honor, yet in its actual work- 

 ings it has been very effectual, and its requirements have been carried 

 out with remarkable fidelity. 



The executive committee decides what size of mesh shall be used in 

 the grading of the nuts, thereby securing uniformity in this matter: 

 also, it secures the bags for all the associations, and by thus purchasing 

 in vast quantities gets them much cheaper than otherwise. 



But by far the most important prerogative of this committee is the 



