The herald., 1893-08-18
COQu|LlETT'S COY RESPONSE,
He Attempts to Reply to ELL
wood Cooper's Letter.
But He Fails to Reply to Any Specific
Charges.
An Explanation Which Might Be More
Explicit and satisfactory-The
Letter Printed in Full.

for the division of entomology of the
United States department of agricul-
ture. He was requested by the depart
ment to insect the ranch of Ellwood
Cooper, president of the state board OF
horticulture, to see the work OF some
predaceous insects there, and Mr.. Coop
or refused him entrance to the ranch,
on the ground that he belonged to
gang here who were trying TO injure the
state board of horticulture and to decry
it's effort to find predaceous insects, and
who favors the expensive fumigating
schemes. The records, however, estab-
lish the contrary very conclusively. Mr..
Cooper's letter of refusal was printed in
yesterdays HERALD, and mentioned
specifically his reasons for discrediting
Prof. Coquillett'B responsibility.
Prof. Coquillett has sent reply to
the HERALD, which 10 printed below. 1t
will be noticed that he denies the ex
istence of the gang referred to, and fails
to reply TO any OF Mr.. Cooper's specific
charges. The professor is either not
frank, or else is very unfortunate; like
poor dog Tray. he may be innocent, but
if he has kept the company alleged by Mr..
Cooper, tine usefulness of the division
of entomology" in Southern California
would be greatly increased by change
in its representative.
The orchardists OF Southern California
are weary of scheming officials, are
weary of personal wars in the conduct
OF business vital to their interests, and
are weary of expensive and unsatisfac-
tory fumigation schemes. This is fact
that the federal, state and county au-
thorities should take eognizance Of.
Prof. Coquillett's letter of explanation
follows:
EDITORS HERALD: While / have no.
desire to engage in newspaper contro.
versy with the president of our state
board of horticulture, still l wish to
make few statements in relation to
President Cooper's letter which appears
in your issue of the 18th inst, in order
to show the true reason why Mr.. Cooper
objects to nay making an examination
of his ranch at the present time.
The only reason given by Mr.. Cooper
is that I associate with certain parties
in Los Angeles "who have been so ac-
tive in trying to destroy the work Of
searching for parasitic inHects." Itwifl
be noticed that he does not charge me
with incompeteney, nor does he even
hint that my report would not be a
truthful one. As to my aeBociating with
persons who have been active in oppos-
ing the importation OF beneficial insects,
1 have only to say that If such persons
exist anywhere on this coast, have
never met them; all OF our fruit grow
ers and business men with whom asso-
ciate are highly in favor OF importing
beneficial insects, and at various meet
ings have passed strong resolutions to
this effect, which resolutions were duly
printed in the HEnALD and in various
other papers. The existence, therefore,
of parties "who have been active in
trying to destroy the work of searching
for parasitic insects" is all myth, and
Mr.. Cooper's only objection to my ex-
amining his ranch falls to the ground.
In the HERALD of July 2oth of the
present year appeared the following,
under the heading, another Scale
eater"
"a communication was yesterday re-
ceived from B. M. Lelong, of the state
board of horticulture, at San Francisco,
stating that President Ellwood Cooper
of Santa Barbara has bug which came
with the steel blue bugs and which has
cleared his orchard of the black SCALE"
DO any of your readers believe for
moment that Mr.. Cooper's orchard has
been cleared Of the black scale? And
does it not occur to you that Mr.. Coop
er's real objection to my visiting bis
ranch is the fear that I would make
known the trae state of affairs and thus
incriminate the secretary of his board?
I may state by way OF correction that
our board of supervisors did not appoint
me guardian of the steel blue lady birds
on Mr.. Kercheval's place in this city.
The person go appointed is Mr.. John
Aerni, who rented the Kercheval place.
Very truly yours.
D. W. Coou1LLErT.