The record-union., 1895-03-11

growers.
All this and much more has been done
with $4,000 year. A pitiful sum COM
pareo with the benefits. If California is
TO maintain and advance her claim as a
fruit-growing State she cannot afford to
break down this protective arm and
transfer its functions to school. 1t is at
once protective and promotive board.
and as such has done what no faculty of
college can do. in that it has engaged in
It's work practical men; it has called to it's
AID the experience, brains and skill of
men who know horticulture practically,
While understanding all theories relating
to it.
These men have been watchful, proud,
and philanthropic in their work, and for
their pains, to save half-dozen thousand
dollars or so, it is proposed to rebuke
them by dismissal, and the transfer of
the results of their long and arduous
labors to university department.
The State Board of Horticulture has
made California known and honored in
all lands having to do with the growing
OF fruits, their protection and betterment.
No school faculty could have done so
well as these practical men serving with
out reward save the pride of Iaboring for
California.
The citrus industry owes to the board
more than thanks can express - that
board was the means of securing the in
PRODUCTION of parasites that restored our
orchards to their vigor and saved the in
dustry from ruin. 1t is needless to re-
count what all are familiar with in this
recent history. or to recall the details of
the debt the citrus industry owes to the
State Board. The olive industry is
scarcely less its debtor. Olive oil would
not to-day promise what it does for Cali
fornia but for the introduction of the
parasite RhiGobiuS UeTtTGleS, and this
whole scheme of fighting the enemies of
fruit interests had it's inception in and
growth out of the State Board of Horti-
culture.
At the recent fruit-growers' convention,
held in this city, it was resolved to petit
ton the Legislature to give more means
to the State Board of Horticulture to
enable it to further the work of protec-
ton by greater introduction of the enc
mics of fruit pests to that end it urged
that the board be authorized to send an
agent abroad to search for the natura!
enemies of the pestiferous insects prey
ing upon our fruit growth.
This was asked, say the resolutions, be-
cause the State Board members and
officers have had the experience neces-
sary, and because they have been SO
successful in such work and have saved
vast sums of money to the fruit growers
of California"
The fruit convention that met in Los
Angeles in November, 1898, resolved:
WHEREAS, It is now apparent that the best
method OF overcoming the various insects
such as scale and others, so detrimental to
horticulture, is by the Introduction OF par
asltes; and whereas, the efforts OF the State
Board OF Horticulture, in the introduction OF
such parasites from foreign countries, nave
been eminently successful; therefore
ReSOired. That it is the wish OF the conyeu-
ton that the board should continue its ex-
periments in this line, and that it should re-
ceive the support OF all those SO intimately
connected with the prosperity OF horticulture.
To TINS end the convention earnestly requests
the Legislature, at its next session. to appro-
pirate sufficient sum of money, not less
than $4,000, to be expended in the discOy-
cry and importation OF insects beneficial 10
lature provide that the importation and cult
ure OF such insects, and the expenditure of
such sum of money, be voted 10 the care of
the State Board OF Horticulture.
And in the year preceding, the fruit
convention at San Jose urged the contin-
uation and extension of the work of pro-
lection. But while the records before US
show many facts of similar character
and prove the immense value of the
board to the State, it is unnecessary to
present them now. Let the Legislature
pause in this proposed abandonment of
one of the most useful arms in its service.
Economy is one thing, folly is another.
We will strike down an economic self
aid if we abolish the board. We will save
money if we retain it. We will commit a
stupid blunder if we substitute an un-
tried agency for one we have tested and
proved to be of highest value.