The herald., 1893-07-24
NINE. ORCUS CHALY LYBEUS AGAIN,
Why Did Mr.. Compere Take
Some of the Bugs Away?
The State Board Of Health Becom-
ing Interested.
The Secretary First Learns of the Bugs'
Progress in the Pspers-Some Pc
culiar Developments
Possible.

n ACh Va P~1@sAS-~ -~~->-
ty yesterday made statement to
HERALD reporter regarding the steel
blrs lady bug, the increase OF the
Kercheval ranch, and it's success as de-
stroyer of red scale which was exclusively
reported in the HERALD last week.
The HRRALD's informant declargs that
he has plenty of proof of the accuracy OF
his staten ment, which is as follows
cat some time between the hours OF
II and O'Clock on "Wednesday last
team OF dark horses was driven into the
Kercheval orchard, and was halted st
large lemon tree. The men got out and
at once commenced to capture the orcus
chaly beus, or steel-blue lady bug, in a
very lively way. In fact, it was remin-
iscent OF the ardor with which orchard
lists used to gather in the vedalia.
"These two men, the occupants OF the
vehicle, must have gathered several
hundred OF the new parasites and drove
down with their booty.
Zone of the men is known to me to be
George Compere. an employe think Of
the horticultural department Of the
county. Now Mr.. Compere. as far .as l
know, may have served the county faith
fully and ably as bug inspector, but
he is not an orchardist, and the ques-
ton presented itself to my mind at once,
why did he take these bugs? What
did he do with them? and, who was
his associate? ?'
Now this may be all right, bus again
1t may not. The supervisors should in
vestigate Mr.. Compere, and IL he has
been guilty of interfering with this bug.
which may be worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars to the orchardists
of Southern California, the matter
should be known. II he acted in good
faith and as a horticultural officer it
should also be made known In Justice to
himself, and the present condition Of
the bugs taken away should be known.
The people paid for the 0. Chalybeus,
and own them, and should be informed
as to what is done with their property.
An attempt was made by HERALD
reporter to find Mr.. Compere last night,
but he could not be located, but state
ment will be obtained from him today,
which, it is to be hoped, will explain
his action last Wednesday.
TIE STATE BOARD.
The etate board of horticulture has
become aware apparently solely through
the newspapers of the progress made by
the orcus chalybeus in Los Angeles, and
seems arprehensive as to the care 1t
will receive. The following letter ex-
plains itself:
STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE,
SAN FRANCISCO, July 20.}
G. J. Grifhth, Los Angeles, CAL:
DEAR SIR: Inotice in this morning q
paper the result of your investigation to-
esther with George J. Dalton, OF the
eteel-blue ladybird at the Kercheval or
chsrd. I would be very glad to hear
from you regarding the same, and also
what protection there lie or could be for
these trees upon which the ladybirds
are, go that they will not be sprayed,
! but be given every opportunity to null
tiply.
Since the publication of the article
referred to, which is special from Los
Angeles. have received several tele-
grams from growers, fearing that the
trees would be sprayed or fumigated
and the lady birds on them destroyed.
II, in your judgment and the recon-
mendation Of other growers, it would
be deemed advisable, we will appoint d
special agent at Los Angeles whose
duty it would be to see to these tree.
that they be protected go that no harm
berdone to the lady birds upon them,
l remain very truly,
8. M. LELoKG, Secretary.
Mr. Griffith will today appear before
the supervisors and ask that the state
board be permitted to take charge ol
the bugs according to their desire indi
Gated in the above letter.
A FIGHT IN PROGRESS.
The HERALD is also informed that 6
strong fight is On between the horticul
tural inspectors Of Southern California
and the state hoard OF horticulture. II
is stated that petitions to the governor
have been circulated, not by orchardists
| bat by the inspectors, asking that the
state board be renewed and new mem.
bers appointed. II. is apparent that bad
feeling exists, and that this must affeei
the efficacy of the service in Southern
California. Why the state board should
be removed no one seems to know, ex'
cept that it has backed up Mr.. Koebeie
As that gentleman gave California the
Vedalia, and now the orcus chalybeus
he seems to be fairly efficient bugolo
gist, and the board would appear to de-
serve praise rather than censure.