The herald., 1893-11-19

The object Of this bulletin is obvious
from the following quotation:
THAT Mr.. McCoppin opened the way
to aecure the final result, and that to
him the honor belongs Of finally report
ing to the general government the dis
covery and importation of this most
wonderful little ladybird, the vedslia
cardinals, is a settled fact"
However much l may regret to see
ore sided and inaccurate state
ments widely circulated officially
by state institution, the matter has
long since passed out OF mind, and the
real facts will 60 down in history, not
withdrawing the efforts to distort them.
Secondly-With regard to the question
from the Los Angeles Times of Septem-
Der 70. 1892, of which Mr.. B. M. Lelong,
secretary of the state board of horticult-
ure, writes: "The above was no
doubt written by Prof. Riley. and
the private correspondent is none other
than Coquillett." have to repudiate
both insinuations. / have tried to keep
track of the voluminous discussion which
has taken place in various California
journals, but for some reason have not
seen this particular article that 10
quoted; but positively aver that
have neither written nor prompted the
publication of any such article, and /
have every reason to believe that Mr..
Coquillett likewise had nothing to do
with it. So far as the statements are
based upon Mr.. Willis letter, to which
reference is made by Mr.. Cooper,
should be willing to endorse them, be-
cause that letter was official and public
property, but 30 far as they go beyond
that letter this department cannot be
held responsible.
Thirdly-Whilea away on part Of my
annual leave at Atlantic City, the fol.
lowing telegram WAS forwarded to me
from the department.:
Los ANGELES, CAL, Sept. 8, 1898.
C. v. Riley, Entomologlst:
Coneignments of parasites from Au-
stralia sent by Mr.. Koebele not satisfac-
tory in breeding or feeding on red scales.
Many growers, also horticultural COM
missioners of six southern counties
have doubts of their efficacy. State
board says they will breed in sufficient
numbers in four or five years. In the
mean time do you advise suspension Of
spraying and fumigating? HavU you
information of reliable character other
than Koebele's that new lady bird8 will
prove as effective on red and black scale
as vedala on white.
(Signed) JOHN ScoTr
Horticultural Commissioner.
My answer to this is that quoted in
statement Nc. 2. 1t was specific an
swer to specific inquiries. The reHec.
tion on Mr.. Lelang should have avoided
had it been possible, bat the mass Of
published matter on file in this depart
ment, and the general unscientific and
sensation nature of most of that which
has emanated from Mr.. Lslong, fully
justify the statement.
About the same time this telegram
was sent very strong division of ,opin-
ion had sprung up among the California
fruit-growers in reference to the course
to be pursued anent these Australian
importations. Mr.. Koebele was re-
ported to me by. several writer's as urg-
ing the abandonment of all spraying
and fumigating for the protection of
trees, so that the imported ladybirds
might multiply. expressing tho utmost
confidence in the ultimate result of his
70 endorse this position. | could not
fully endorse such advice when given by
one who, as an agent OF the department.,
IN measure represented it.
"A short time afterward, at conven-
tion OF fruit-growers held at San Jose
on November II, 1902, Mr.. Koebele in a
paper on the subject of the Australian
parasites, is reported to have publicly
urged this course and Mr.. Cooper to
have endorsed his views. The utter
ances OF both these gentlemen on this
subject were reDudiated by the meeting
ana by resolution expunged from the
records wide the Rural Californian for
December, 1892. An amplification of
my telegram will be found En- what is
said by your predecessor, Secretary
Rusk, in his report for 1892, page 81.
where, after stating the facts and
the opposing opinione of the two
factions, it is declared that wisdom die.
tates middle course, such as a reserya-
tion OF certain orchards for the uninter-
rupted experiment with the Australian
introductions. while the ordinary in
secticide means continue to be pushed
for the protection of orchards gerer.
ally"
This same question is still being aci.
tated among practical fruitgrowera, and
lhave in every instance urged the i'm
portance OF giving every encouragement
to the lady birds by the uon-use of in
secticides in specific orchards in which
they had been colonized, so as to give
them every opportunity to develop their
fullest capacity for good and to demon
strate their possibilities and their use.
iulness without obliging or requiring or
chardists generally, where the insects
have not yet been colCnized, to leopard
ize their crops for the coming year by
inactivity and the cessation OF all direct
remedial measures.
Fourthly--Mr. Cooper charges the di.
visonal agent. Mr.. Coquillett, with being
instrumental in publishing the third
exhibit which he encloses, namely. a
detailed account of Mr. Koepele's ex-
penses. Whether this is true or not 1
nave no means OF knowing, but [ do
ieei quite convinced that the general
tone OF the article and the editorial
com msnts upon the expenditures never
were inspired by Mr.. Coquillet. nave
viewed with extreme regret the various
articles that have appeared in the
California papers in reference to Mr..
Koebele's expense account, and though
the department. had no control what
ever over his expenditures | have had
no sympathy with the criticisms aimed
at him, having the utmost confidence
In his integrity: Nor can believe from
my knowledge of Mr.. Coquillett's char
acter that he employs his time in
'mousing around to hunt UP things to |
have published in order to defame the
character of brother officer"
Fifthly-Exhlblt 4 calls Tor no esne-