Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-12-01
HORTICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS.
They Meet and Organize Fruit Growing
Districts Plans for Doubling
the Supply of Salable
Fruits,

The county board of agricultural com
missioners, provided fer under an act "to
promote and protect the horticultural in
terests of the territory Of New Mexico"
approved February 26, 1891, met at the
court house at 1 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. The terms of the respective COM
missioners were settled by lot and result
ed: Enos Andrews, one year; Trinidad
Alarld, two years; Geo. II. Cross, three
years.
On motion Of DR.. Andrews organization
was effected by the selection of Hon. T.
Alarid as chairman and Geo. H. Cross as
| secretary.
The board agreed to divide the principal
fruit growing region Of the county into
three districts. That region west of a
north and south line represented by Don
Gaspar avenue was given in charge OF
| Mr.. Alarid; the district north of the
Rio Santa Fe and east of a line represent
ing the northern extension of Don Gaspar
avenue, was assigned to Dr. Andrews,
and the district west of Don Gaspar avenue
and south of the Rio Santa Fe was as.
signed to Geo. II. Cross.
1t was resolved not to name deputy dis
trlCt commissioners at present. it being
deemed more economic to concentrate the
work and have the inspection of orchards
carried on by the commissioners them
selves.
A discussion OF the duties of the
commissioners developed the fact that the
most damage done to fruit in this locality
thus far Is by the codling moth, Other
insects doing little or no harm so far
Statistical tables showing the benefits o.
spraying orchards in the spring in
Michigan, California and New York were
discussed by the board and these show
that by spraying the trees with a solution
of London Purple or Paris green from 7(
to 80 per cent of perfect fruit is secured
when as by failure to spray the perfec
fruit gathered scarcely amounts to 10 PEI
cent. 1t was thought that when orchard
lists would reflect upon this saving t.
themselves the board would have at once
the earnest cooperation of every frui
grower in carrying out its duties.
Briefly stated, the law requires the in
spectlon of all orchards and fruit, AM
when insects or disease are discovered
the cwner is required to have the same
sprayed. Should the orchardist fail to de
this within a reasonable time the board il
required to employ means to have it done
and the cost of same stands in law as
lien upon the orchard and fruit unit
paid. Merchants handling fruit are also
subject to have their places of business
inspected and if diseased or infected
fruit is found the commissioners are
required to have the same destroyed. Ii
such cases it will not suffice to bury the
infected fruit, but it must either be fed tc
live stock, ground up into cider, thus
killing the insect, or thoroughly scalded
with hot water.
The board resolved to gather estimates
on the cost of spraying and will under.
take to arrange with some competent
| persons to secure a sprayer and the nee.
essary chemicals and recommend to
orchardists the employment of such
persons to the end that the law may be
easiest complied with and the work done
at the minimum Of cost. 1t is thought
that il every orchardist can be induced to
give his trees at least two sbrayings in
the spring-just after the blossom ap-
pears and again after the fruit is we'll sci
the salable fruit crop of Santa Fe will
be increased at least one.half within the
coming year. The commissioners meet
again on December 30.