The record-union., 1891-02-27
Weather Forecast.

ton,
THE ASSAULT IN THE LEGISLA-
TURE UPON TWO CHIEF INDUS
TRIES.
The proposition to abandon the Horti-
cultural and Viticultural Commissions is
il-advised and in direct antagonism to
the greatest productive interests of the
State. 1t is proposed to atone in some
part for the threatened abandonment by
placing horticultural and viticultural in
terests under the supervision of the State
Board of Agriculture. No assurance can
be given that the two interests referred TO
will be represented upon it. But if fsuch
assurance could be given it is impossible
that these interests can have such atten
ton from such board as is commensur-
ate with their importance. For the State
Board of Agriculture is not chosen with a
view to. its making any special branch of
production an exhaustive study. 1t was
not the purpose in creating the board that
it should make a scientific and practical
study of horticulture and viticulture. 1t
can encourage displays of fruit, grapes
and wines at the annual fairs, and beyond
that its office does not and cannot extend,
save in the gathering and publishing of
fugitive papers upon California pro-
duction.
Horticulture is rapidly becoming the
chief productive industry of the State. 1t
is its hope at this day, when grain grow
ing is retiring from its one time promi-
nence. 1t is, therefore, essential that the
industry should have the study ola body
of scientific and practical growers. and
such was the expression of the Act of
1888. 1t has become fad to decry the
commissions of the State, and in the
name of economy to call for their number
to be made less. Some commissions have
not compensated for the money spent upon
them. But assuredly the Horticultural
and Viticultural Boards are not of them.
serve, as they have, discussion of subjects
intimately related to fruit and vine grow
ing, they have paid the State roundly for
all their costs.
Unless there is body sof earnest, Gin
telligent men, devoted to horticultural
and viticulturai study and discovery, our
fruit and vine interests will suffer. In
telligence ofthe needs of the fruit-grower.
of the remedies for the ills that affiict
vineyards and orchards, of the knowledge
of varieties and their propagation, of the
methods of harvesting, packing and
marketing, cannot so well, so directly, or
so orderly be had, as through the agency
of boards that make these subject special
studies.
There is in the Legislature, evidently,
serious misapprehension concerning
these boards and the work in which they
have been engaged. 1t may not be too
much to say that there is ineXcusable
ignorance upon the subject. How many
of the legislators proposing the abolition
of the boards have perused the reports of
thoSC JULIUS, VI tHCul-
selves passing familiar with their history?
1t is only the other day that the
RECoRD-UNIoN found it necessary, in
order to correct misapprehension and
call attention to what the horticultural
report discloses, to point out the absolute
necessity for the righteousness of a bill
petitioned for by our horticulturists, that
will authorize local bodies, of which there
are twenty-one in the State, to abate
nuisances that breed insect pests destruc-
tive of fruit interests. Int hat one matter
alone, the determination of pests and the
prevention of their importation, there is
work enough for Board of Horticulture.
That which is left to general care re-
ceives no attention. Our fruit and vine
interests are of such enormous value are
so vitality related to the State, and so init
mately knit into State advancement and
prosperity, that it is imperatively neces-
sary that organizations making such
interests specialties should be maintained
by State authority.
Were it necessary, the detailed history
of the boards and the achievements stand
ing to their credit could be marshaled in
defense of their existence. But we trust
to the second thought of legislators pro-
posing to blot out the commissions, say
ing the State from such disaster-for it
would be nothing less than calamity to
abandon the only agencies we have of this
order.
The State of California can scarcely go
amiss in literally promoting such work
as win conserve its orchard and vineyard
interests. In any other State such adj
vantages as we possess would be aided
without stint to attain a footing commen-
surate with their Importance. California
should be thankful that it can command
the services of specialists upon Boards
of Horticulture and Viticulture. Instead
of cutting off these commissions they
should be strengthened, fostered and de-
veloped to the fullest possibility of use
fulness. We venture the assertion that if
the members of the Legislature will even
cursorily examine the latest reports of
the two bodies proposed to be disor-
ganized, the unwise scheme of proposed
abolition will be abandoned.
For instance, the volume issued by the
Horticultural Board for 1890 is one that in