Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-13

Alexander Craw says over his oW
signature: "The facts are, Prof. Rile
visited Southern California in March
1887, and called at the Vol
skill orange grove. After discuss
ing the white scale question b
advocated his expensive coal-oi
emulsion and ], our fumigator. / ais
said that the only hope eaw of any re
lief would be to send Prof. Coquillett t.
Australia to study up what natural enc
mics we're keeping the white scale il
check there and import them to Califor
mia. He, (Riley), opposed it, He wal
so emphatic in his opposition that I wat
very much surprised to see in the River
side Press week later, that he advo
Gated, in an address before the State
Board of Horticulture, the advissbility
OF sending an agent, as had suggested
All efforts to secure help from the De.
partment of Agriculture, Washington,
failed, because the department was not
authorized to spend the money appro.
priated for that department to send a
man to Australia, even after we had posi-
tive information that there was para
site waiting for us that would at least
check the ravages of the cottony cushion
scale, If we would only 60 and get it.
All efforts to secure an appropriation
| from Congress failed in not providing in
the appropriation that was allowed, that
1t could be used in sending man out
side of the United States. Thus the case
stood late in 1887.
Congress had, however, provided
amply for an exhibit to be held in Mel
bourne in 1888, appointing the Hon.
Frank McCoppin, of California, as Com
missioner. Here was an opportunity,
and it was improved. Knowing that
Mr.. j. DeBarth Shorb, of San Gabriel,
who is the owner of large orange orchards
which we're badly infected with the cot
tony cushion scale, had interested him.
self in the matter, wrote him as to how
it came about etc.
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
The following letter explains itself and
l give it in full:
San GABRIEL, CAL, Feb. %, $780,
Mr.. Geo Rice, State Board of Horticul-
ture, San Francisco.
DEAR SIR Your favor of the 10th
inst. asking for the history of how the
vedolia cardinals was introduced into
this State, is received. I have the honor
to state in answer thereto, that one
evening some time nrevious to the de
parture of Hon. Frank McCoppin for
Melbourne, he asked me how or what he
could do as Commissioner that would
most benefit his State, California.
Knowing for some time past through the
Australian newspapers as well as by
private sources of information, that
parasite had destroyed all the cotton
cushion scale in and around Adelaide
within a circuit of one hundred and
twenty. five miles. l told Mr.. McCoppin
if ne could secure the appointment of
some entomologist of the Agricultural
Department of Washington, to be sent
on with him to secure the parasite and
provide means of sending them here
without dying on the steamer he would
do grand work for his State. Immedi-
ately acting on the suggestion, he tele-
graphed on to Secretary Bayard, using
my name as he told me as authority for
the value of the parasite and asking for
the appointment of the entomologist.
Mr.. Bayard replied expressing his
willingness to make the appointment,
hut regretted that there was no appro-
priation available to meet the necessary
expenses.
Mr.. McCoppin replying, offered very
generously to devote two thousand
dollars CT the appropriation made
to meet the expenses of the U. s.
Commission to Melbourne (and which
was entirely unter his controD, and the
entomologist was duly sent, and did his
work admirably. The vedolia cardinals
arrived in good condition, were placed in
careful hands, and by the same generally
distributed throughout the State, with
the result now known far and wide. The
cotton cushion scale is thing of the
past.
desire to publicly express my thanks
to Mr.. McCoppin for his generous and
efficient act in obtaining for the orange
growers of California this great blessing,
the vedoha cardinals. Without it's aid
the entire citrus interest of California
was doomed to destruction, loss greater
than generally appreciated throughout
the State.
1 also desire to call attention to the
fact that Mr.. McCoppin's only desire
was to serve his State in accomplishing
the work be did, and that he did not
consider himself in the matter.
Gould with propriety in a public in
quiry like this withhold my name en-
tirely from connection with it, would
do so, and not attempt to share the
credit when it belongs to Mr.. McCoppin.
Very truly yours,
J. DE BARTH SHORE.
We find in the official records at Wash
ington that Mr.. McCoppin had done as
suggested in the above correspondence.
Mr.. G. L. Rives, Assistant Secretary of
State, communicated the facts to the
Hon N. j. Coleman, Commissioner
of Agriculture, requesting him to detail
Professor Riley and his assistants to be
sent tc Australia at the expense of the
Commission" In reply to this COM
munication, Mr.. Coleman, June 23d,
said: "There can be no question as to
the importance of the investigation al
luded to, and 1 know of nothing to pre-.
vent my complying with the proviso
that the party or parties may send to do
the work will go as an aid or aids to the
Commission, and make report which
shall be part of the general report to the
Secretary of State"
Three days later, June 26th, Secretary
Rives, in o communication to Commis-
sioner Coleman says: II have to inform
you that the matter of employing and
compensating subordinate assistants has
been left entirely to the discretion OF MIR.
McCoppin, subject, of course, to the
eventual control of the Secretary OF State.
In the present instance the Department
anrroves of Mr.. McCoppin's arrange