Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-31
IMPORTANT TO FRUIT.eRowERs.
Official Circular from the Chief Executive
Horticultural Officer.

IMPORTANT TO FRUIT-GRoWERs.
Official Circular from the Chief Executive
Horticultural officer.
Matthew Cooke, Chief Executive Horti-
cultural and Health Officer, whose headquar.
ters are in this city, has issued the following
circular containing suggestions of Importance
to fruit growers, and calling attention to the
quarantine rules and regulations for the pro.
lection of horticulture. Copies of the circu-
lar will be mailed throughout the State:
take the liberty of calling your attention
| to the necessity of disinfecting empty fruit
| packages before beiHg returned from market
to the orchards, as required By the quaratine
rules and regulations for the protection of
| horticulture
| Rule 6. Fruit boxes, packages, or baskets, used
for shipping fruit any destination, are hereby
quired to be dsinfected, as hereinafter provided
| previous TO their being returned to orchard,
storeroom salesroom or place to be used for stor-
| age shipping, or any other purpose.
hule y Empty fruit boxes, packages, or baskets,
may be dlsnected by dipping in billing water, and
allowed to remain in said boiling water not less than
two minutes said boiling water used such dsin-
fectant o'contain, in solution not less than one
pound o. concentrated potash, or threefourths Of
| pound OF concentrated I've, to each and every
| twenty gallons Of water, or in any other manner
satisfactory to the Chief Executive Horticultural and
| Health Officer.
In order to secure general compliance
with the above rules ARRANGEMENTS will be
made at SsS FraLciscc, sacramento. San
Jose, Stccktol aRl other places where fruit
ID shipped to market or for storage; and
| Local Inspectors appointe J, who will disir-
feet such packages. if required by the own
| ers thereof, or the owners If empty packages
or their ageats nay disiafect them, subject to
inspection.
In answer to inquiries. the following ques-
tions may be asked Are those requirements
oppressive on fruit-srowers who wish to send
fruit to market: | answer, they are not, for
the following reasons
l. There are several counties which may be
termed fruit-growing counties, such as So
mona, Napa, Yuba. Tuolumae, Calaveras
and others, where the fruit-growers have
failed in having County Board CT Horti-
cultural Commissioners appointed therefore
there is not any organization in any of the
above and some other counties, with which ]
can consult in relation to matters in which
the fruit growers are interested.
2. The Commissioners in several counties
have been retarded in their work by the re-
qui ements of the law, that complaint must be
made before they can make an inspection Of
an infected orchard. Although many of the
fruit growers have made every effort in their
power to cleanse their orchards, yet they he's
itste to enter a complaint against their neigh
Dor; therefore, in large number of orchards,
the pests have been allowed to spread as here.
tofore. Aud it is Only by general enforce
ment of the quarantine rules that any good
results can be secured.
3. A large number of orchards are rented,
leased or owned by parties that, judging by
past experience. cannot be depended upon to
comply with the quarantine rules, except
they are compelled to do SO.
4. 1t would require at least $50 Local In
spectors throughout the State to have the
work of disinfecting empty fruit boxes or
packages. at the orchards, steamboat landings
and railroad stations, dons as effectually as
by the disinfecting at markets, ETC., as re-
quired.
s. The Local Inspectors, if appointed, are
allowed fees by law, and would be heavy
expense on the fruit-erowers.
6. The rapid spread of the codling moth to
at least thirty counties in this State, since its
first appearance in one orchard in 1874, can
chiefly be attributed to the use of the return
packages /; therefore, the disinfection Of all
return packages is = necessity.
z. There is q difference of opinion among
ruit-growers as TO the style Of package that
should be used in sending frait to market.
Some growers recommend and have adopted
the so-called free package, and others use the
so-called return package.
8. The disiHfection Of the packages gives
an opportunity of using the return packages
at nominal cost.
8. Stores. commission houses, and places
where apples, pears and ounces were stored
or sold last season, are generally infested by
the larvae, pun fe, or image (perfect insect) of
the codling moth, and are liable to be taken
from such places in return packages to
orchards at this season OF the year.
10. The disiufection of return packages at
the place where the fruit is sent to market
Tor for storage) is not only the most effective
| method for the prevention of the spread of
insect pests, but is by far the most economical
for the fruit-growers.
There has not been any time since the advent
of insect pests into the orchards of California,
that required such strict attention of the
fruit growers, as the present season. In aG-
dition to the codiing moth, scale insects.
caterpillsrs, canker worms, ETC., at least four
new species Of insect pests, not heretofore
known in the orchards Of this State, have ap.
peared or are noticed this spring, which
threaten the apricot cherry and peach crops
to an alarming extent.
Every fruit. grower of this State should be
prepared by practical experiments and OBJ.
servations to discuss the following subjects,
which will necessarily be brought up for dis
cussion at the Fruit-Growers' Annual Con.
vention, to be held at San Jose, on the second
Tuesday in November, 1882
1. Is the determination of insects injurious
to fruit and fruit trees in the State Of Cali
fornia a necessity
2 Can such insect pests as infest tire
orchards of this State be exterminated
3. Is legislation necessary to protect the
horticultural interests of the State If so,
to what extents
4. Should the present laws for the protet.
ton of horticulture be amended or repealed !?
Those participating in the discussion Of the
above subjects either in the affirmative or
negative, should be prepared to support their
statements with Observation-Disclosures learned
from practical experience, and not depend on
theories or fancies.
Fruit-growers, respectfully inform you
| that it is nay intention to do my duty as re-
quired by the laws of the State to make the
enforcement of the laws O. for the protection
of the horticultural interests of the State"
general, and in all cases for the best interests
of the fruit-growers. L therefore ask your
cooperation. so that we may learn by practi.
cal experience and observation what can be
effected TOW ard restoring orchard property in
this State to its former value, and securing
the enterprising horticultural fair renuner.
alton on his labor and investments.
1t should be remembered that merely the
enactment Of laws by the Legislature of the
State for the protection Of the horticultural
industries will not afford any relief il the re-
quirements Of said laws are not complied
with. Respectfully. MATTHEW COOKE,
| Chief Executive horticultural and Health
/ Officer.
/ Sacramento Nav "a 1890