126  Honey  Production  in  California.  {"^'iiSifsss™' 
olf.  The  pomace  is  re  crushed,  treated  with  hot  water,  and,  on  press- 
ing, a  second  quality  of  oil  is  obtained.  The  oil  is  clarified  by  being 
passed  through  a  filtering  column  composed  of  five  or  six  compart- 
ments with  sieve  bottoms  on  which  cotton  batting  is  placed.  Heat 
facilitates  this  process,  but  is  liable  to  injure  the  oil,  and  hence  is  not 
used  in  filtering  the  best  oil.  The  oil  is  finally  bottled,  kept  in  a 
moderately  cool  place,  not  exposed  to  sunlight,  and  agitated  as  little 
as  possible. 
Pickled  olives  are  prepared  in  various  ways.  In  general,  the  pro- 
cess is  to  deprive  them  of  bitterness  by  steeping  them  in  brine,  or  in 
water  containing  lye,  for  varying  periods,  thoroughly  washing  to  free 
from  alkali,  and  preserving  in  a  strong  solution  of  the  best  Liverpool 
salt. 
From  what  I  have  said  it  appears  that  if  pharmacists  and  other 
consumers  of  olive  oil  are  willing  to  pay  the  price  necessary  for  an 
absolutely  pure  oil,  they  can  obtain  it  of  unsurpassed  quality  in  Cali- 
fornia. The  price  given  is  unusually  high,  owing  to  a  short  crop  last 
year,  and  the  excellent  reputation  that  the  oil  has  gained  on  the  coast. 
A  prominent  producer  of  oil  informs  me  that  the  prices  will  probably 
be  greatly  reduced  when  the  new  product  now  in  process  of  manufac- 
ture is  placed  on  sale.  It  is  earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  this  new  addi- 
tion to  our  home  industries  will  receive  the  encouragement  and  support 
it  so  well  deserves. 
HONEY  PRODUCTION  IN  CALIFORNIA. 
By  J.  E.  S.Bell. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  February  21. 
Southern  California  is  justly  celebrated  for  the  quality  and  varietur 
of  its  fruits,  but  comparatively  few  persons  on  this  side  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  are  aware  of  the  extent  to  which  honey  is  produced  there, 
and  the  excellence  of  the  product.    Believing  that  pharmacists  and 
other  consumers  will  be  interested  in  knowing  where  they  can  procure 
honey  of  unsurpassed  quality  in  any  desired  quantity  at  a  reasonable 
price,  I  have  been  led  to  prepare  this  brief  account  of  its  production  on 
the  Pacific  coast. 
The  honey  producing  district  includes  San  Diego,  Los  Angeles,, 
Ventura,  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Bernardino  counties,  together  with 
portions  of  those  adjacent.    The  primary  requisites  for  an  apiary  are 
