Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-27

of property is increased. Many other dis
tricts notable for good results might be
mentioned. It is also worthy OF COM
mendation the efforts made in some exten.
sive districts, now free from pests, to pre-
vent infested nursery stock or fruit from
getting upon their premises-especially
noted for this kind of warfare Is Riverside,
San B rnardino county also the colonies
in Fresno county. In the latter county L
could only find few trees infested, but
they fortunately belonged to that class OF
men who do not believe IN insect pests as
blessing, and work was commenced at once
for the determination of the invaders. To
The enterprising fruit-growers these lnyad-
ing pests are
A SERIOUS DANGER,
As their industry is at all times mensced
by the negligence of neighbors, or from
their neighbor being ubacquainted with the
appearance, natural history, or habits OF
their insect enemies. Therefore they are
liable to purchase infested nursery stock,
and being imposed upon by persons who
only wish for present personal gain.
As many species of scale insects IN the
HhalS arc fHtE lttEuNcs anu St-A-AASp
be readily detected By the unaided eye, the
fruit-grower wishing to plant may be
readily deceived IN buying nursery stock
grown in this State or imported, and I'M
fortunately great damage has been done IN
this way.
Although admitting that there is a plen-
tiful supply of noxious insects infesting the
orchards of this State, yet there is one en-
envy OF the fruit grower that we are free
from at present, at least so far as | am
aware; that is, the pLuos c1rcHio. Every
safeguard is necessary to prevent the i'm
portation of this pest of the plum, peach
and apricot, from rhe nurseries east OF the
Rocky Mountains The importation of
this pest would be great calamity to the
growers of stoned fruits. Toe damage
done to fruit crops and to orchard prop.
erty by insect pests in this State In the
last six years amounts to at least two mill.
ions of dollars.
PRESENT ws-QUARANTINE, ETC.
The present laws are in many respects
imperative, and liable to lead to litigation
if enforced. At the time they were passed
the subject was not fully understood
therefore amendments will be required
flom time to time until the extirpation of
insect pests shall be accomplished. l will
state that have assisted in periecting the
bills presented for your consideration
that they will not merit the sanction of
many of the enterprising fruit growers, as
not being severe enough l am fully aware.
However, [ believe the laws, if passed, can
be enforced, and the desired determination
and prevention of spreading Of insect pest
can be accomplished, without being oppres-
sive to any fruit grower, be he rich or poor.
The bills are as near perfect as it il posi-.
bic to get them, without being oppressive,
and all points which the Supreme Court
held unconstitutional in the present law
are carefully guarded against in these bills
The prevention of the importation of
the plum curculio can only be accomplished
by a general quarantine law, under State
supervision. Probably from fifty to sew
enty.fve thousand dollars worth Of trees
will arrive in this State from localities In.
tested BIZ the plum curculio within the next
two months. 1t would be better for the
State of California to spend one million of
dollars than have the plum curculio i'm.
ported into plum, peach and apricot
orchards of the State. Tahiti and Austria.
liza sends us caTgoes of oranges and lemons
infested by species of dangerous scale in-
sects, some of them not found in this State,
and of such dangerous character that
great care should be taken to prevent their
importation before being disinfected. To
prevent the spread of insect pests, such as
colling moth, scale insects, ETC., within the
State, general quarantine laws are neces-
sary, and under State supervision.
PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE.
The work done in this State has been so
successful that | look forward TO the time
when the orchards of California will be
free from the hosts of insect pests which
now threaten the industries of the farm,
orchard etc. In making this statement
my opinions are not based on theory. The
enterprising fruit growers of California
have practically demonstrated that they
can be masters of the situation, and, if as.
sisted by general laws, general success will
result. They have done more effective
work in exterm;nating insect pests during
the last eighteen months than has been
done in any portion of this great country,
or In any other country In the world, dur
ing the last twenty years. Remedies that
are practical have been discovered in every
case, and profitable success has resulted
where the application was thoroughly ap-
piled. Real estate in the sections where
orchards were infested and are now cleaned
has doubled in value.
It is my opinion, based upon reliable in
formation, in case The bills presented Tor
similar nills) become laws, confidence in
the fruit industry will be restored, and the
thousands of acres planted since the pres
ent laws were passed will be followed by
more extensive planting of fruit trees.
Neither will those thinking of coming to
this State be under the necessity of writ.
ing for information as to what damage is
to be expected from insect pests.