The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-11
INFECTED TREES.
What MarysvilIe Man Says of Our
Nurseries.
All Infected Trees Were Ordered Quar-
antfned Last Month, and Also
Fumigated.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: There is pecul-
lar state of affairs existing at the city of
Sacramento as regards the enforcement OF
the laws that forbid the importation of
scale-infested fruit trees into this State.
! saw in yard near the depot in. that city
yesterday many thousands of orange
trees, recently imported from Florida,
that had enough of the purple scale
tMytilaspis citricola) on them to spoil in
short time every grove in the northern
citrus belt. These trees were "heeled in"
in an open yard, and were offered for
sale to any one who might wish to take
them away.
Upon questioning the owner of the
trees l was informed that no quarantine
officer or horticultural commissioner
had as yet appeared to inspect them, but
tna1 one OF the gardeners or yardme11
mad looked through them but could lind
no signs of scale. a careful inspec-
ton showed that on nearly every tree
some speciemns of the purple scale could
De found. Some of the scales were dead
but many live ones were found.
When the owners attention was called
to the existence of the scale he said he
fumigate the trees, but that it would not
make much difference, as he did not be-
lleye that the Florida scale would live
and thrive in the California climate. His
ignorance and Indifference was something
akin to that of certain well-known
nurseryman, who, when his attention
was called to the existence of scale on his
trees, declared that he knew positively
that the scale found on the trees were not
insects, but were caused by the exuda-
ton OF the sap; he firmly believed it, be-
cause Chilean priest had so informed
him some years before.
The purple scale of Florida is consid-
cred one of the worst pests that could be
introduced, ana it is a weil-known fact
that it will live aud thrive in California.
Notwithstanding the fact that Sacra-
mento Is one of the chief distributing
points in the northern part of the State,
II seems to be wholly without the protec-
ton of Quarantine Guardian. Why is
this? There has certainly bRn enough
laws passed, Commissioners and officers
appointed to prevent this great wrong
that lapaciouS nurserymen are trying to
put upon the truit-growers of the State.
GOD helps those who help themselves"
and the orange-growers who are striving
to build up the industry of citrus culture
should keep sharp eye open while they
are about the business of buying trees for
the extension of their groves, else they
may find themselves in possession of one
of the finest collection of injurious scale
insects the world has ever seen.
The purple scale infests the trees in
Tahiti as well as in Florida, and it is con-
sldered very serious pest in those coun-
tries, as it covers the wood, leaves and
fruit ard is very difficult of eXtermina-
zion. Something over year ago cargo
OF trees numbering 325, 900 arrived at the
port of San Pedro, in Southern California.
They were promptly inspected by the
horticultural Commissioners and were
found to be infested with several kinds of
scale insects, among them the purple scale.
Were they taken up to the nursery yards
and offered for sale? No, sir. They never
left the beach, where they were placed in
quarantine. After several unsuccessful
attempts to kill the scales by fumigation
they were burned, and the ashes of the
$4,000 scale-intested trees now enriches
the sands of San Pedro-and there are no
more importations from Tahiti.
GEORGE w. HARVEY,
Hort'ural Com'r Yuba County.
Marysville, February 9th.
MR.. HARNEY's MISTAKE.
1t looks very much as if our CORE
spondent must be laboring under mis-
take. About four weeks ago the follow
ing item appeared in this paper, which
would seem to place the matter referred
to in a different light:
AACAdhOC1 OIaN1 OUlCST
of the State Board of Horticulture, Who
had been in the city and vicinity for
several days inspecting the tree yards
and nurseries, returned to San Francisco
yesterday.
Sacramento has the cleanest and
healthiest nurseries 1 have seen any
where said Mr.. Craw to a RECORD
UNION reporter. In tact, the tree-yards
here may be said to be absolutely devoid
of pests, with the single exception of a
few orange trees that came from Florida.
These l have quarantined, although they
are not badly affected. They will be
thoroughly fumigated, and none of them
need be destroyed.
1 find there are yet few of the cot
tony cushion scale in some private yards
about town, and L will send up some
Australian lady-birds shortly and have
the pest cleaned out.
1--we started in 1889 with 129 Australian
lady-birds. and in three months upward
of IL, 900 were distributed. The southern
counties were rid of their pests within
one year."
Thus, according to Mr.. Craw, the nur-
series here were inspected, and the
Florida trees directed to be Quarantined
and fumigated. If his orders have not
been carried out, someone here is to
blame.
EVERYBODY'S COLUMN