Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-11
HORTICULTURAL.
The Report of the County Board
Returned Yesterday.

Returned Yesterday.
The County Horticultural Commission
returned to the Board of Supervisors
yesterday the following report:
To the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
We respectfully tender herewith the monthly
report for December OF the County Horticul,
tural Commission.
The change in the commission, caused by
the retirement of Hiram Hamilton and the
appointment of F. Edward Gray, of Alhambra
by your honorable board to fill the vacancy,
was consummated the 9TH day of December by
Mr.. Kercheval has been elected as President
of the boa,d, vice Hamilton, retired, and Mr.
Gray has been elected Secretary to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr.:
Driffill who felt that his distan &C OF residence
from Los Angeles prevented his always being
present at meetings.
Encouraging. reports coming from Orange
county of the discovery of an insecticide for
the red scale. Mr.. Kercheval was delegated to
visit Tustin to inquire into its effectiveness.
Mr.. Kercheval, in company with Entomologist
were the same application of cyanide of potash
and sulphuric acid as formerly used by Prof
Coquillette in his experiments on the red scale
unoer direction of the General Government,
with the exception that the application was
made in the night. These gentlemen think
tn It ninety-five per cent. of the insects were
dead on the trees, the result of one application
Of the remedy. Good results may possibly fol
low by further experim -nts.
Thinking 1t may have come to your notice
that this commission had rescinded resolu-
tion wherein Messrs. Kercheval and Hamilton
were appointed a committee to act with Mr.
Heint2 ia Obtaining signatures to memorial
to Congress, asking that increased duties be
state in explanation that, although seeing the
necessity for such move, aud doing all in our
power as individuals to aid it, we found that
the impre ssion was prevalent that the Horti
cultural Commission had authorized an ex
penditure of money for the purpose, and this
being beyond our jurisdiction, we felt called
upon to resciud the resolution.
Eight inspectors have been employed during
the month. Their reports and our own ohser-
vations show an alarming prevalence OF the
red scale and San Jose insects. The white Ia
under subiugation by the parasite gedolia car
dtndtfs, while the black cannot be said to exist
tn numbers to excite alarm There ia great
danger from the Santa Ana red scale that has
city.
The result of the inspectors labors has been
gratifying, in SO far that where they have pur-
small places have beeu Induced to disinfect.
spray. and, in Pasadena particularly have
grabbed out and burned infected trees that
were menace to their neighbors.
In order to guard against the Introduction
into the county OF any new insect pests that are
reputably reported to exist in adjoining coun-
ties. brought thereto from Florida, we have
caused to be posted In all railroad stations and
postofhces In the county notices forbidding the
Introduction of trees, flowers, shrubs, etc., in
fected with ins act pests under penalty of the
law provided for the protection of the horticul-
tural interests.
While recalling the necessity of constant
vigilance in keeping in check the many insect
pests that threaten the welfare of the oountys
fruit industry the commission feels that VAL
liable ttme has heretofore been lost ana that
immediate action should be taken toward oh
tanning Information regarding the existence OF
parasite in such counties where the red-scala
insect has existed or does now exist With
this object In view we have requested the State
Board of horticulture to institute the desired
search, and to further use their efforts in en-
iisting the Department of Agriculture at Wash
ington in the same movement, and we have
further opened a correspondence with the varI-
GUS horticultural Commissioners in the State
asking their concurrence In the matter,
In conformity with the law, we have made
our annual report to the State Board OF Horti.
culture of the condition of the fruit interests
of the county; what is being done to eradicate
insect pests; also as to disinfecting and as to
quarantine against insect pests aud diseases
and as to the carrying out Of all laws relative
to the greatest good of the fruit interest. Re-
specially,
A. b. KERcHEvAL. President.
+. EDwARD GRAY, Secretary.