The herald., 1893-11-23
THOSE AUSTRALIAN INSECTS,
The Citrus Belt Row They Have
Stirred Up.
Riley and His Ready Letter-Wr
Get in Their Work.
Lelong AntaRonizes Riisy-state Horti-
oulturists Arrayed Against Fed
eFsi gIsts-Hot
Blood Displayed.

The following article appears in the
San Francisco Examiner OF Tuesday.
1t must be taken cum grnno, as the
statements made in the petitions pur-
porting to come 'from Southern Cali
fornia fruit growers" and Mr.. John
Scotts statement that "the people"
have lost faith in the state board of
health, remind one forcibly Of the three
tAilors of Tooley street and their man
ifesto beginning 1--WE, the people,"
As far as the evidence given to the
public goes, Mr.. Scott, Professor Riley,
Mr.. Coquillett and Mr.. Heintz appear
to have bitten off more than their To-
quacious mouths can chew. Mr.. Heintz
to HERAkp reporter recently stated
that he was not in the fight. and it is to
be hoped that the others will follow his
example.
SACRAMENTO, Nov. 20.-The state board
of horticulture and the fruit growers Of
Southern California are at war. The
trouble, which has grown to be serious
matter to the fruit interests, is all about
lot of bugs. Governor Markham has
been endeavoring to pour oil on the
troubled waters, and with what success
will develop at the meeting of the fruit
growers state convention, which will
convene at Los Angeles tomorrow, the
21st inst, continuing four days. A very
hot time between the two factions is
promised, and If there is not row it
will be surprising. The United States
department of agriculture has been
dragged into the trouble to the injury
OF the state, since Secretary OF Agricul-
ture Morton has withdrawn the two
entomoloeists who bave been stationed
in California, Prof. ID. w. Coquillett at
Los Angeles and Prof. Koebele at Ala
media
WAR ON THE SCALE.
In some OF the orange-producing sec-
tions in the southern part of the state u
great many of the trees are afflicted with
the black and red scales, which pests, in
time, injure the orange orchards, entail
ing great loss.
When the white scale had hold of the
orange orchards few years ago the Leg
islature appropriated $4,000 to meet
the expenses of an expert to go to Aus
tralia to find parasite which would re-
move the pest. The department OF ag-
Ticulture in Washington was applied to
for an expert, and the services of Albert
Koebele were secured. He was success
full in his mission to Australia. The
parasites he sent to California soon rid
the trees of the white scale. The red
and black scales, as injurious aa the
white scale, were still to be dealt with,
and the subsequent legislature appropri-
ated $4,000 for parasites fight the pests.
Mr.. Koebele went to Australia again
with the consent of the department of
agriculture. The parasites obtained by
him have caused all the trouble.
SPRAYING SUSPENDED.
On the receipt OF the Australian i'm
portations it is said that Elwood Cooper,
president OF the state board OF horticul-
ture, and Mr.. Koebele urged the aban-
donment OF all spraying and fumigating
for the protection of trees, so that the
imported lady birds might multiply.
The fruit growers, it appears, were
opposed to this advice, and the sugges-
tions OF the state board were not re-
spected. In September OF last year,
John Scott, horticultural commissioner,
residing in Los Angeles, wired Entomol-
ogiet Riley as follows:
Consignments OF parasites from Aus
tralia sent by Mr.. Keobele not satisfac-
tory in breeding or feeding on red and
black scales. Many growers, also hor--
ticultural commissioners OF ak southern
counties, have doubts OF their efficacy
State board cay they will breed in suf-
ffcient numbers in four or five years.
In the mean time do you advise gus
pehsion OF spraying and fumigation
Have you information of reliable charac.
ter other than koebele's that new lady
birds will prove as effective on red and
black scale as vedalia on white?
To this Prof. Riley sent the subjoined
reply.
BY no means suspend spraying and
fumigating. Lelong's views and utter
ances are unecientiic and sensational.
Koebeles judgment not to be implicitly
depended on. To answer your telegram
specifically, have no idea, and never
had, that anything from Australia will
prove as effectual on red and black scale
as vedalia ON white. because it is not
proved that red scale is indigenous in
Australia, while black scale lie known
not to be.
RESULTS IN A CONTROVERSY.
Subsequently an article appeared hold
ing the state board of horticulture up to
ridicule. Professor Riley was accused OF
writing or instigating the Objectionable
article.
These implications angered Cooper and
Lelong. The controversy with the de-
partment of agriculture ensued. The
merits and demerits OF the parasites
were discussed, the entire press of
Southern California taking part. The
members of the board OF horticulture
were severely criticised by the southern
press.
The conduct of the state board of hor-
ticulture so annoyed large number OF
the fruit growers that petition making
charges against the board was sent to
the governor about six weeks ago. The
petition expresses an opinion that the
members of the state board of horticul-
ture do not know their business and are
not entitled TO credit for any success
that has ensued in fighting the orange
pests.
INviDIoUs REMARKS.
One paragraph is as follows:
The state board of horticulture pur-
sues devious methods in the preparation
of its literature by ''cribbing" and pla-
gisrizing and publishing unreliable sta.
tistics reg arding the fruit industry. By
antagonizing the agents OF the national
department Of agriculture stationed
here in invidioua remarks in it's pub.
lished reports it has not only lost the
sympathy and cooperation OF simiIar