Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-11

or has been present in any form or stage of
development, together with the boxes, bar
rels, or other receptacles, in which apples
and pears so infected are, or nave been
contained This pronunciamento seems
to have greatly alarmed our Consul, who
telegraphed at once to the Minister OF
Customs that large shipments OF fruit
were then en- route from America, and
urged him to have the proclamation pub
lishcd in the United States, 10 save our
shippers from loss He also called the at
tenion of the local authorities to the fact
that American fruit invariably arrived
freer from insects than that from Tasma-
MA New South Wales or any other coun-
try, He also explained that the danger of
the moth is so well understood in the
United States that only small portion of
the fruit, such as that gathered early in
the season, is likely to be affected with the
pest. The alarm of the Consul will not
appear to lis 50 Unsuitable, since By indis-
erect or unguarded importations Califor-
MIA received the fruit-insect pests with
which we are now cursed. But his con-
clusion that the proclamation was issued
at time when it could operate only
against American fruits, ard was therefore
partial, would appear to be justified. The
lesson to Us is that our fruit export trade
is, and will continue to be, seriously men
aced by these insect pests, and that if We
propose to continue or enlarge it, we must
exercise the highest degree of
care in packing, and also rigidly
enforce the laws for the clearance of
orchards. These laws have been resisted
by stubborn and progressive men, who
have claimed it as an inalienable right to
propagate insect pests upon their own lands
if they chose. But the last Legislature
was brought to 4 realizing sense of the
fatality TO our fruit interests of such doc
trine, and We now have 4 stringent statute
giving proper officer the right of enter
ing upon any orchard preserve to examine
and cleanse it. 1t appears that last Sep
TENDER cargo Of fruit from San Francisco
arrived at Auckland in which were few
specimens Of the Goblin moth. 1t was the
first time that California fruit received
there had been seriously affected by in
sccts. The result was great excitement
in Auckland The press bloomed with
sensational articles upon the subject, and
the idea went out that all the New Zealand
orchards were about to be destroyed by the
California insect Mr.. Griffin says:
The subject was brought up in Parliament
and although both the House of Representatives |
and the Legislative Council were informed that |
the Goblin moth had long been introduced |
here that il did not kill the tree and could be |
destroyed, il was found to be wholly impossible |
to quiet the excitement until the Governor issued
the proclamation to which have referred. The !
insect had frequently been noticed in the Tas- |
mania apples. also in the boxes containing CT |
gars. onions and other goods imported from
Australia.
The result was to almost wholly stop
importations of apples into New Zealand
from California, notwithstanding the fact
that our apples command a far higher
price than those shipped from any other
point to Australasia Mr.. Griffin says:
The quantity and value of American dried
fruits imported into New Zealand for 1855 were
SIX or seven times greater than those of the year
previous, and Arthur Nathan, one of the largest |
importers in Auckland, informs me that the de
M
hat he ordered by the last san Francisco
steamer 5000 cases of it. This fruit retains in a
nigh degree its natural flavor and extract, and
IN account OF its popularity Mr.. Nathan and
other dealers are making extensive preparations
% distribute it throughout New Zealand. The |
climate and soil OF all the Australasian colonies
Ire especially adapted to the growth of fruits
common to temperate zones, but not one of
hem, tor many years to come, will be able to |
compete successfully with California in any of
he various branches of the frut-canning indus.
ry. The want of skilled labor and the right
ilnd of machinery are the principle obstacles i'll
he way, and moreover there is no convenient |
md economical method of getting the fruit 10
he factories. The railways throughout the col |
,nies, although owned and managed by the diff |
erent Governments, have established such high
eteS of freight that it is quite impossible for
armers to undertake to send fruit to market ex-
,epJ in very limteo quantities, and the result is
hat all the fruit-canning factories in Australia
ia are conducted upon very small scale and,
moreover, there is not one of them that has
What is called complete establishment.
The Consul, after advising that fruit
,aSes for his port should he of the best
quality of wood, and put together very
toutly, adds: " 1t will also be we'll enough
O bear in mind that every apple intended
or voyage through the tropics should
lot only be free from insects but perfectly
ound"