CUCAMONGA,Feb 5-
Citrus fruit ranchers of this area today faced the charge that they are not only wasting valuable water, but are also lowering production through over irrigation.

Addressing a meeting of the Alta Loma-Cucamonga center of the San Bernardino county farm center, Ralph LaRue , citrus specialist of the University of California extension service, reported that investigations conducted in citrus orchards revealed that in many instances the soil was saturated with water to a depth of 22 feet and that fertilizer applied to the groves had been sunk to that level,rendering it worthless.

LaRue declared many ranchers guilty of over-irrigation during the first six months of the year. He stressed the importance of making careful tests with the use of a shovel and soil tube to determine whether or not irrigation is necessary. Careful study, he said has proved conclusively that under-irrigated groves produce better than those which are over irrigated. He urged that water be conserved for use when most needed.

Election of center officers for the year resulted in selection of Paul A. Lucas of Cucamonga as chairman to succeed L.F. Lucas Jr., and Lewis Gilbert of Alta Loma as secretary.