The herald., 1893-08-22
.cOQU|LLETT HOLDS THE ORCUS,
And the State Board Is Refused
Colonies Of the Bug.
Quarantine officer Craw Before the
Board of Supervisors.
The Purple Scale Existing in This
County-CoquiIlett's Sudden Inter-
est In the Orcus-Mr. Draws
Pointed Remarks.

A smile of satisfaction fitted from the
face of one supervisor to another yester-
day morning after a 'bug' hearing with
Alexander Craw, quarantine officer of
the state board OF horticulture, and
County Commissioner Scott.
The supervisors learned more about
"bugs" and less about the cause OF the
friction in horticultural circles, in the
space OF an hour, than they ever knew
before.
But one thing was brought absolutely
clearly to their notice, and that is that
modest Prof. Koebele and hia Australian
parasites are about the biggest thing in
California today to fruit growers.
The way it all came about was over
some demands against the county for
infected fruit trees destroyed by the
county commissioner. There was quite
a discussion over it, and the demands
were reiscted, the board holding, with
the district attorney, that the powers OF
the commissioner to destroy such trees
is ample.
Mr.. Craw was present and put in
little oar to help Mr.. Scott out, by show
ing the board the law under which sum-
mary measures may be adopted to stamp
cut diseased trees. r
When the matter was disposed Of Mr..
Craw brought up the bug question by
stating that President Ellwood Cooper
Of the state board Of horticulture had
directed him to ask permission of the
supervisors to take three colonies from
the Kercheval orchard of 100 each of the
crcus chaly beus, or steel blue lady bird.
They desired to place one colony in
Santa Barbara county, one in Orange
county and the other in Carpenteria,
and make the conditions for the increase
of this foe of the red scale as favorable
as possible.
Mr.. Scott had a ghost Of smile on
his countenance at this plunge Of Mr.
Craw into the lists, and the latter
looked as If he did not suppose his sim
pie little request would stir the board
up into a controversial mood.
II don't see that this board has any
thing to do officially with the ladybird,
Mr.. Craw," smiled Chairman Cook.
"They belong to the state" remarked
Mr.. Craw, returning to the attack. "All
we want is to place these ladybiids
where they will have a chance to estab.
lish themselves quickly and effectively
for the good of the state"
"We are with you" reioined Mr..
Cook, ''unoficially. But listen to this"
and he had the clerk read the following
notification:
PHOF. COQUILL EFT IN CHARGE.
Los ANGELES, Aug. 81, 1898.
To the Honorable Board OF supervisors
GENTLRMRN: In accordance with in
structions received from @. v. Riley,
chief of the division of entomology,
United States departments of agriculture,
Washington, D. c., am authorized to
relieve you Of the expense OF employing
q person. to guard tho colony of steel
blue ladybir6s-on the grounds of l.. NJ.
SKercheval, in this city. Accordingly
until further notice such expense will
be borne by this division, and will date
from the 20th inst. Trusting that this
action will meet with ycur approval, 1
am very respectfully yours,
'- ID. w. CoQUILLETT,
Agent Div. Ent. o. s. Dept of Agri-
culture.
"The state board Of horticulture, )"
said Mr.. Craw, "conHider these bugs
the property OF the state. They secured
the appointment by the United States
government of Professor Koebele to go
to Australia and procure parasite foes of
the different scale pests. The state ap-
propriated the money to pay his ex-
penses. No better selection could have
been made than Professor Koebele. He
was eDainently successful. He has i'm
ported about 60 varieties OF parasites.
Among them was the orcus chaly beus
or steel blue ladybird. They were re-
ceived by me at San Francisco and cent
to Professor Coquillett at Los Angeles,
with otherNvarieties. Only one colony
out of all yhose has been established,
and that is in the Kercheval orchard.
The state board thinks there is some-
thing strange about this, and believe
they have the right to take some colo
nies and place them with the friends Of
the lady
.'Do you say they have enemies 2"
asked Chairman Cook.
II certainly do" he replied. "We
are in possession of facts and evidence
that will be given at the proper time to
demonstrate that there are jealousies of
certain individuals which should not
interfere with such important inter
ests."
"If you know anything of these jeal-
ousies," said Mr.. Cook, ''we would be
glad fer you to give US any information
that will help us to act. We ehave heard
such reports, but cannot get at the in.
side. If there are any officers the board
controls we would like to know it."
edo you regard me as an enemy OF the
ladybird ?" asked Mr.. Scott of Mr..
Craw,
"No sir, do not" he replied. Gas
far as / know you have always done
your duty"
Mr.. Scott received this pleasant en-
comium with gratified emile.
THE BLACK SCALE DOOMED.
"What would like, Mr.. Craw," said
Mr.. Scett, ais whether your advice is
that the advance Of the parasites is such
az to warrant the discontinuance Of
spraying and fumigating."
This opened up the whole question
and Mr.. Craw expressed himself in
plain and unmistakable language. He
explained to the board in detail hiH visit
to MI. Elwood Cooper's place. and the
discovery OF the splendid work Of the
darasites there. principally the black
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