Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-20
HORTICULTURAL INTERESTS,

Two bills, by Mr.. Cox and Mr.. Hollis
ter, of very important character, are be-
fore the Legislature, and relate to the pro-
lection of our horticultural interests from
the attack of fruit pests and diseases. The
first requires that orchard trees and fruit
in orchards shall be disinfected, and an in
spectors certificate procured that it has
been done, before the removal of the fruit
to market. Fruit boxes and packages are
also to be cleansed, and fruit showing the
presence of insect pests is not to be kept
in bulk, or sold, or given away, while i'm
ported infected fruit must be disinfected
prior to marketing. The same regulations
apply to fruit trees, gratis, scions, cuttings
and plants. A Chief horticultural Officer
and local inspectors are charged with the
enforcement of the law, and the inspection
of fruit importstions, and of trees infected
that stand upon unoccupied lands. The
second bill erects seven Horticult-
ural Districts and creates a State
Board of Horticulture with necessary
officers. 1t salaries the executive
officer and Secretary, and provides for pay
ment of counsel. This latter expense will
probably be cut off. The Board is given
general powers to prevent the introduc.
ton and spread of contagious diseases
among fruit trees and fruit, to extirpate
fruit insect pests. encourage the formation
of orchardists' clubs, disseminate horti.
cultural information, appoint local inspect.
ors, and make rules and regulations ade.
quate to the attainment of the objects
indicated. There appears to be nothing
in either bill exceeding those wise police
regulations which should prevail. Our
horticultural interests have greatly suffered
for need of adequate laws for their pro-
lection. The work of determination of
fruit pests must be general. 1t cannot be
left to individual effort. The neglect of
remedial and precautionary measures in
single garden orchard may make it
the breeding spot for fruit disease that
will infect an entire fruit growing region.
1t has been demonstrated that the enemies
of fruit-growth may be defeated by proper
inspection and disinfectiou OF orchards and
fruit packages. One instance is cited of
horticultural lands approaching from
IS to 100 per cent. in Santa Clara
county after the determination of the
scale, and solely because of that.
Similar instances are cited in Los
Angeles and Sacramento and Yolo
counties. One gentleman, OF our own
knowledge, who paid $50. 600 for an or
chard in 1881, offered 1t for half that sum
within five months afterwards, because the
scale insect had appeared in his trees. By
advice of the present Horticultural Beard
he expended 81, 200 on the work of ex-
termination, and has since refused $40 900
for the lands. The State is asked by these
bills to expend but SIS, 900 in the next two
years to protect our orchards and fruits.
That it will be wise and profitable in
vestment cannot be doubted. The present
Board Of Horticulture is an offshoot of the
Viticultural Commission. 1t is proposed
to make it independent, and give its execu.
tive officer such living salaries as will en-
able them to traverse the State and apply
themselves diligently and exclusively to
duty. Some opposition has developed to
the bills, chiefly on the part of those who
desire to be "let alone, )" and left to de.
termine for themselves when their fruit is
marketable and their orchards clean. Their
opposition is en- par with that of the citi-
zan who re.4.es to cleanse his premises and
would be left alone" that his drains and
cesspools may poison an entire community
The exercise of the police power asked
is for precisely that class of people.