The herald., 1893-11-21
TODAY'S CONVENTION.
THE STATE BOARD OF HORTICUL
TURE AND FRUITMEN.
The Meeting Today at Opera House
HaIi-A Dissgreeabls squsbble.
what 1t IL Expected
Will Re Done.

The state board of horticulture assem-
bles in this city this morning at the
Grand opera house to hold its regular ses-
sion, with the state fruit growers con-
vention. The proceedings and discus-
sions OF this body of intelligent men,
who all have great interest and invest
ment in fruit growing, are always inter-
'esting and profitable. The session at
this time in Los Angeles has q peculiar
significance, and its proceeding will be
listened to with attention. OF it's work
the HERALD can say nothing in advance,
as the reports will be published from
day to day.
Owing to the discussion which has
been in progress among fruit men, that
Is, those who make it a business to grow
fruit and take advantage OF all
scientific knowledge to aid them in their
endesvors and to protect their orchards
from its universal enemy, on the one
side, and brevet fruit men, those who
raise nothing, but spend their time in
obstructing every effort put forth to
benefit the whole country, there is q
possible chance for something inter
esting. The HERALD has taken an active
part in this discussion and has freely
published mass of Information, run
ming through several months, which has
all gone to prove very conclusively that
there exists in Los Angeles and other
parts of South California cabal organ
lied for the express purpose of thwsrt-
ing any and every effort made by the
state board of horticulture or any
other source looking to the intro
duction OF parasites or predaceous
insects which will do the work of clear
ing out scale pests from the citrus and
deciduous orchards. And this, too, in
view of the grand work the vedolia car
dinalis did for the white scale. The off,
GERS and members of the state board
have not been idle. and it Is believed,
judging from reports published fre-
quently, that they will no doubt be
heard from in quite effective manner.
1t is expected the state board at their
session will sift this whole matter to the
bottom, TO the end that this unseemly
squabble may cease and every available
means be combined to stamp out with
which threaten the fruit interest and
imperil the prosperity of the country.
1t appears very clear that enemies are
d1 WOIk IL Will NO WibQOM OA bAO Phkb
OF the convention to invade their camp
and smite them hard when found.
A lasting and damaging injury was
when the petition from Los Angeles
county went up to the legislature at it's
last session and procured the defeat of
the bill to authorize further search for
predaceous parasites. That petition
was based on false premises and sigma
lures obtained for it under false pre-
tenees. 1t was sprung at the last hours
OF the session, when it could not be
combatted, and the injury was done. In
the meantime Mr. Ellwood Cooper, the
president OF the state horticultural
board, has propagated at his place in
Santa Barbara from a few colonies OF the
steel.blue lady bird saved from the ruin
attempted here in Los Angeles, and has
sent out thousands of the little workers
that are doing grand service in cleaning
fruit trees affected with scale all over
the state. In face of this fact the oppo-
sition party had the lnef6ble assurance
to hawk about an old petition, and
when Governor Markham was here at
the irrigation convention thrust 1t into
his hands, asking that the state board
be removed because they were accom-
plishing nothing. They were sat
upon."
1t lies in the power OF the convention
today, composed as 1t is of representa-
tive fruit men from all over the state, to
settle this unseemly and disastrous
eouabble and secure harmonious action,
that the great and rapidly growing fruit
interests be no longer jeopardized as 1t
has 30 long been.
Mr.. Cooper's arrsignment OF these
enemies, published in the HERALD on
Sunday morning was straightforward
and powerful statement OF facts from his
own knowledge. and was exactly such
statement as might have been expected
from that gentleman. Professor Riley's
reioinder seemed lame in comparison.
Another cause OF regret is that Pro-
fessor Kosbele has accepted a position
under a foreign government, and his ad-
vanced scientific knowledge is lost for
long time at best to California.
Good things will come out OF thor
ough investigation, and then all will
know just where the fault lies and who
is protting by this persistent opposi-
ton and acrimonious opposition to the
broad work of the state board and Pro-
feeeor Koebele.