The herald., 1893-07-30

portations of predaceous and parasitical
insects for the red and black scale and
woolly aphis would render artificial
means no longer necessary to sublugate
these peste.
"That, in view of these facts, we,
your petitioners. while fully endorsing
the bill introduced, appropriating sum
OF money to further continue the search
for predacious and parasitical insects IN
foreign countries, nevertheless leel con-
strained to protest against any more
moneys being turned over to, or exs
pended by, the state board OF horticul-
ture. We believe that any expenditures
in the future for this purpose should
either be turned over to the state UNI
versity, or left to the discretion OF the
governor; or, better still, placed IN sucn
shape that it can be expended under the
direction OF the natio al department. OF
agriculture division OF entomology. 10
the end that the money may be dis'
buraed under competent authority, and
not left in charge of a body OF men who,
no matter what their other qualitica'
tions may be, have proven themselves
anything but practical and scientinc
entomologists.
Therefore, we, your petitioners, pray
that your honorable body will pass this
appropriation, and embody in the bill
such safeguards as will insure the ex-
penditure OF the money under compe.
tent authority to the end that practical
and scientific results may be obtained
therefrom in the interests of California
horticulture"
The ultimate object OF the authors
and promoters of this petition is not
known to me. 1t was conceived by ire
sponsible persons, having no interest in
the prosperity OF the state; foreigners
who have not besn very long in this
country, and of whom very little is
known. The statement charging us
with incom potency, and doing injury
instead Of good, aud that we had caused
to be published statements that render
artificial means no longer necessary, Is
false in every particular.
Mr. Cooper proceeds to cay the state
ment in the petition that Australia is
not the native place of the red and
black scales or woolly aphis was copied
from an anonymous letter published in
Loe Angeles paper last summer, and
gives the name of the supposed author
as Prof. @. V. Riley, of the division Of
entomology, department OF agriculture,
Washington. Mr., Cooper says further !:
/ regret that such determined opposi-
ton to the Investigations of this subject
should have been made by the govern
ment division Of entomology. From
the very start, every obstacle was thrown
in our way. When we asked for Mr..
Koebele, to be sent to search for para
sitic or predacious insects, we were
refused, and it was only by appearing to
the ex secretary, the Hon. j. M. Rusk,
that we succeeded. Mr.. Albert Koebele
was sent, and received his instructions
direct from the secretary, and not
through the division of entomology. You
will zee in the report of Mr.. Koebele,
page s, that some 10000 specimens OF
lady birds were collected by him and
forwarded to California. Most of these
were sent to the agent OF the entomolog-
icsl division, and were reported in bad
condition or dead. Was this purposely
conceived as part of the plan to defeat
our purpose? Nearly every publication
in Los Angeles and every letter on this
subject WAS antagonistic. All the comfy
boards near enough to be contaminated
with this spirit were in opposition. We
were charged with opening packages
directed to the government agent, and
taking part OF their contents. The COL
lector of port was written not to deliver
us such packages. These letters we have
in our possession. All the circumstances
and the evidence lead me to the conclu-
sion that the spirit which eliminated in
the petition was determination that we
should fail. But, my fellow-commis-
sioners, time will determine the great
good dwo hsvea acconp plishedn Our expe-
gisnce. howevek, haHl Convinced us that
iweseannot have Eanyt hin2 to do with the
division OF entomology until every YES
tige OF this spifit is weeded out of the
department. ssi-9u eAi
niiIt is we'll knowns by the fruit growers
throughout the state that the discovery
and introduction OF the vedalia prac-
tically saved Los Angeles and adjoining
counties as citrus growing region. The
fact ia, the whole region was rapidly
approaching bankruptcy from the dew
aetating ravages of the icerya purchase,
commonly called white scale; yet, at
the very moment of their escabe, from
this same region petition to defeat
the further prosecution OF this work Is
presented. This effort, instigated by no
laudable spirit, would if final in its re-
suits bs great misfortune, but it is not
an irreparable injury. We can avoid it
by raising the required sum through
private subscription. recommend that
we issue a circular to the fruit growers
of the state, asking for donations of
money to be placed at our disposal to
prosecute this work to the extent of
$4,000 for 1898 and $4,000 for 1894. And
as the Los Angeles petition was the i'm
mediate cause of the defeat of the ap-
preparation, we will expect the fruit
growers of that region to raise half the
money, There is no doubt but that Los
Angeles county contains as great num-
ber OF honorable and intelligent gentle
men as any other part of the state, and
that these gentlemen knew nothing of
the petition in question: but it did
originate there, and it becomes their
duty to denounce the authors and pro-
moters, and to come forward with
money to repair the damage.
In showing what other states were do
ing to conquer insect pests, Mr.. Cooper
cites Massachusetts, the legislature hav-
ing appropriated $50, ,000 for the use of
the state board of horticulture of that
state. In closing he says::
Sin closing my remarks L recommend
that all commissions given by this board
to quarantine officers who have signed
the petition presented to the Legislature
be withdrawn, and that the boards of
supervisors be notified that we will not
commission any one who is known to be
antagonistic.