The morning call., 1893-02-12
WHY SHE WEPT.
The Bugs Were Refused a
Landing.
Rare Exotics Are Confiscated on Ship
board When They Bear Foreign
Insect Pests.

AS the China neared her wharf on her
last trip from China and Japan a diseOnso-
late young lady stood by the rail aud re-
gretfuly saw a nice man. who was clothed
with authority, ruthessly drop into the
dirty outgoing tide the beautiful, rare ca
mellia, five feet high. which she had bought
in Japan and carefully treasured through
out the trip.
She came pretty near getting indignant.
but concluded to softly shed three or four
nicely seasoned tears and say only well,
It's too bad"
Pm sorry, madam. bu. 1t can't be
helped" said the gentlemanly officer few
moments later to middle-sged arist0cratic-
appearing lady on the deck. You don't
want TO be the means of bringing into the
State new pest that will spread and de-
stroy thousands OF plants in time, do you?"
NO; OF course not" she replied, tartly;
but tell you I'll pick them all off as soon
as i get home: l wouldn't lose that plant
for anything"
But the lovely tree peonv from Japan fol-
lowed the camellia on its trip out TO sea, so
did some double Drunes and a half dozen
other choice exotlcs from the sunny land of
flowers.
1t was Alexander Crow, the quarantine
officer Of the State Board OF Horticulture,
who had confscated the floral treasures.
Americans who come home from across the
sea usually bring several spoils of foreign
lands and they expect the annoyance of
having custom-house officers get inquis:ive
about their baggage. but when travellers who
land here by steamers meet an officer they
never heard Of and he begins Inquire as to
whether they have any plants in their bag
gage, and IL they have goes TO looking for
bugs among them, they are surprised to say
the least.
No steamer arrives here from a foreign
port that Mr.. Crow does not board before it
is locked. lie not only inspects any con-
signment OF plants that come as freight,
but he looks as carefully after any indiyid-
ual plants, however small that passengers
may have among their baggage. Most
women and many men bring home plants
for their cOnservat0res or gardens, espe-
cially from Japan. and it is MIR. Crows
business 10 see that they do not at the same
time bring in new insect pests that will
spread and work havoc when they gain q
residence here.
1t was 100 bad that the camellia and the
tree peOny should go into the bay, but
Crows experienced eye detected on the
leaves OF each scale which is as yet un-
known in California, and which would
have gained a footho old here if the plants
had been set out as Intended
Most people are philosophical and reason
able about such things, but many make
vigorous protests, and even swear real hard
when their valued treasures are firmly con-
fiscated. But they can't help themselves,
aud the State is protected by the operation.
Plants that are free from injurious pests
are, OF course, passed, and when they are
found to have on them pests already here
or which are not dangerous in great de-
gree the owners are allowed to keep them,
but are instructed how to kill them.
This careful quarantine against foreign
bugs Is kept up all over the State through
the watchfuiness of district quarantine Off
GERS. who inspect every consignment of
fruit trees that arrives in the State.
The confiscations have amounted to many
thousands of dollars