The record-union., 1895-04-20
ANXIETY AMONG FRUIl-GROWERS.
The State Board of Horticulture is
Badly Crippled.
President Cooper Thinks a Convention
of Growers Should Meet at Once
In Sacramento

There was a meeting of the Directors of
the State Board of Horticulture the other
day for the purpose of discovering if
possible whether or not that body was
really alive, since the bill appropriating
$40, 600 for it's maintanence had been killed
by the Governor. Elwood Cooper pre-
sided, and there were present L. w. Buck
of Vacaville, Frank a. Kimball of Ma
tional City, Mark l.. Mcdonald of Santa
Rosa, Fred G. Miles of Penryn, j. L.
Mosher of San Jose and ]. II. Thomas of
Visalia.
Governor Budd's refusal to sign the
appropriation BILL" said Secretary Le-
long, sis based, understand, entirely
upon the technical ground that the bill
was not plainly drawn and was detec-
lively constructed. He has expressed no
hostility to the commission. The bill
provides for salaries, and Governor Budd
says the salaries are already provided for
by the statutes. The results to the com
mission are as bad, though, as if the bill
had been knocked out for any other rea-
son "
a resolution was adopted requesting
the Executive Committee of the State
Board to collect all the facts bearing upon
the subject and to present them to Gov
ernor Budd and ask him to suggest some
means by which the State Board of Hor-
ticulJure may not be unnecessarily re-
striCted in its work, and, If necessary, to
secure the Endorsement of the State Board
of Examiners to recommendation OF the
passage of deficiency bill for this pur-
pose by the next Legislature.
The following new officers were elected
for the ensuing term of two years: Pres
ident. Elwood Cooper; Vice President,
L. W. Buck; Auditor, j. L. Mosher;
Treasurer, Fred G. Miles; Secretary, b.
NJ. Lelong; Quarantine Officer, Alexan-
der Craw.
President Cooper delivered an address,
in which he referred to the embarrassing
circumstances of the commission through
Governor Budd's failure to sign the ap-
preparation bill.
1--WE have very valuable library" he
said, "a great many photographic plates
and wood cuts, with other necessary aD-
pliances by which the work of the board
was carried on, also all the furniture,
carpets, etc.
'If we give up our rooms some place
must be provided to preserve this prop
erty. The question for US to consider is
whether we shall retain these rooms by
subscribing hberally from our own
funds, and depend upon the fruit-grOw-
ers of the State to make up a sufficient
amount. 4 careful estimate can be made
y
meet this expense.
sit is most unfortunate that funds have
been withheld. 1t may result in such in
jury that 1t Will squire many years to
repair, but ] hope not 1t is for us, my
fellow commissioners, and to US, that
the fruit-growers of the State will look
for the solution. We must at this meet
ing determine the course to pursue.
There are two ways-one to adopt
plan and depend upon the fruit-growers
to subscribe sufficient money to carry it
out; the other to call a fruit-growers'
convention to be held at Sacramento in
May, so as to bring together as many
fruit-growers as possible to discuss and
TO determine the wisest course to protect
and save the fruit industry. Fortunately
the law creating the State Board of II Horti-
culture was not repealed. The salaries
of our officers and clerks are secure.
"Our quarantine officer will exercise
the same precautions, the same vigilance
in preventing the introduction of new
and dangerous insect pests as formerly.
We would be hopelessly bankrupt, our
lands, our possessions would not be
worth the One-tenth of what they are now,
If the insect pests were not fought con-
stantly. l will mention, for example,
only two or three of the numerous dam
gers that would surely follow.
I'VE viii have TO rely mostly upon the
Boards of Supervisors of the different
counties TO pay or provide for the travel
ing expenses of our officers, otherwise
they cannot visit the localities.
"All experimental work will have to
be discontinued. Office rent, postage, ex-
pressage and stationery will have TO be
provided for by voluntary contribution.
THE bill asking for $40, 600 to continue
the investigation and search for parasites
was not reached. This most important OF
all other measures to be considered,