Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-29
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
IMPORTANT MATTERS ACTED ON
AT YESTERDAYS SESSION.
and Means for their Destruction-Othsr
Matters.


At the meeting of the Board of Super
visors yesterday the following resolu-
tions as to scale pests were passed:
WHEREAS, We believe that the pros
perity and consequent happiness Of our
people more largely depend on the sue
cessful prosecution and development of
our horticultural industries than upon
any other resource of Los Angeles
county, and
WHEREAS, OF late years there has
developed insect pests, that have greatly
damaged vineyard and orchard, and
which, if not combatted, threaten the
total destruction of all orchards and
vineyards, and
WHEREAS, While we congratulate the
county on the almost entire annihila-
ton of the terrible white scale (that so
well-nigh ruined our best orange or
chards), by the parasite known as the
Australian lady bug, yet we would
sound the note of alarm against what
now appears to be quite as dangerous
enemies, viz: the Florida scale, the red
scale, and the San Jose scale, all of
which are at various points advancing
with deadly destruction upon our or
chard Industries, and
WHEREAS, We believe. that the best
and most certain means should be
adopted to arrest the further spread of
any of these pests, and if possible stamp
out the plague, and
WHEREAS, We are convinced, not
only by the result of our own investiga-
ton, but by the overwhelming evidence
of all men of thought and intelligence
rIAh hox 1o %k<r fill
full personal investigation; that while
there are natural parasites of the various
orchard pests that prey upon them; yet,
with the single exception of the Austria
liam lady bug, against the white scale,
none of them have ever made any con-
siderable head against the various scales,
as is proven by the factn of their rapid
and alarming spread in various districts.
Considerable has been said and written
concerning what is known or claimed as
the Cass parasite in Vernon district.
We visited the orchard of Mr.. Cass and
also various other orchards in the Yer
non district, and gave them careful in
vestigation, and while we found upon
some of the imported trees in Mr.. Cass's
orchard there were what is known as
the twice-stabbed lady bug and it's
larvae, which is known to feed on insect
life and which doubtless destroys more
or less of orchard insect pests; yet we
found many of his trees were very badly
infested with red scale, and none OF
them but have more red scale on them
than we found on any tree in any of the
half-dozen orchards we visited in that
vicinity that had been sprayed with in
sect-destroying washes, therefore
Resolued, That the horticultural in
terests of this county demand at our
hands that we see that the most vigor-
GUS and efficient means possible be
adopted to arrest the spread, and, if pos
sible, stamp out the orchard pests that
are now ravaging our fruit industry.
Resolved, That we demand Of the
Board of Horticultural Commissioners
that they enforce to the letter and spirit
the ordinance recently adopted by this
board, and especially that they take
prompt and efficient means to prevent
the scattering of trees or fruits that are
infected by any scale or pest; and that
they see that all trees offered for sale
are wholly free OF any and all insect
pests; and that all orchards that are in
tested with scale shall be vigorously dis
injected by seme application that shall
destroy such pests, or at least hold them
in check.
Resolced, That we call upon each and
every commissioner ON said board to fear
lessly execute the law, and we will stand
by them.
Resolued, That we call upon all citi-
zens to aid the Board of Horticultural
Commissioners and their district deputies
in every way in their power to save our
great and growing orchard industry from
destruction, or even injury, from the
pests that are now. in some localities
preying upon it. a
A warrant for $500 was ordered drawn
upon the general road fund for the San
ford bridge, in favor of Mr.. H. Ledbet-
ter 4fa
The sum of $500 was ordered trans
ferred from the general road fund to the
Sierra Madre road district.
Transfers were made of $50 from the
Laurel district to the Santa Monica dis
trict; $40 from the Redondo to the
Chautauqua; $50 from the Downey to
the Clearwater.
A number of streets were accepted and
declared public highways.
L. H. Whitson was appointed in.
spector of the Sanford bridge, and VIM.
Granger was appointed to the same Office
on the San Fernando-avenue bridge.
A committee, composed Of Mr.. Perry
and Mr.. Rowan, are to ascertain the
public sentiment in regard to the court
house roof.
Hearing as to the vacation of certain
streets in Burbank was set for May 10th.