The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-06

Smutty, Stunted and present a most
striking evidence in favor of parasites
The orchards adjoining where the rhi-
zobii have been eoloniZed are almost
free from insect pests and in beautiful
condition. This is so notorious that 1t
| is common talk of all the fruit groWers
| in the community. A very interesting
report by Alexander Craw, the Ento-
mologist of the State Board, is to be
| found in the Pacific Rural Press OF
| October 9TH
| l consider this discovery the most i'm
portant that has taken place in the last
century. The development of this prin-
ciple has to do with every product or
the soil. It secures to the cultlvator
| freedom from the destruction OF ms
crops by the ravages of insects. IL VIII
be the greatest source OF economy. IL
will encourage his efforts and his labor
| and increase the value of his home. III
| should teach us humanity, and I'M
press upon us our dependence upon the
results of the workings OF natural law,
and of our inability to cope with the
most apparently insignificant of liv-
ling insects.
In view of the Importance of this dis
covery,and the fact that all the credit is
due to the California fruit-growers-
they having originated and urged the
| Investigations complete history of all
| circumstances leading up to 1t should
be written and compiled in book form,
and sent to all the scientific schools and
| important libraries throughout the civ
| ilized world, in order to fix the record
and establish the credit where it justly
belongs for all time to come.
| Albert Koebele is the discoyerer of
the Verdalia Cardinals, the Novius
koebeli, the Rhizobii, the Orchus Cha
| labiuS and O. Australasia, the Japan
| ladybird and many other valuable
,N1.o, ,ai. l.;
belongs
! / also recommend an appropriation of
5000 per year to enable the State
| Board of Horticulture to engage the
valuable services of Albert Koebele and
to keep him constantly travelling in for
eign countries as we'll as in the United
States for the further investigation of
parasites.
AS an incident of the Importance of
| this work. | wish to state in this place
that d. O. Mills gave his check for
S3,120 to pay the rent of the rooms
now occupied by the State Board in the
Mills building for two years, up to date
of July l, 1897, and in addition to this
donated janitor service, light and heat,
making a total amount of about five
thousand dollars, and he said in refer
| ence to this subject that the State
Board had saved his trees and plants
at Millbrae, which were to him of great
value, and that it gave him pleasure to
| donate this money.
We have received most fiattering
and encouraging letters from Hawaii,
from Australia, from South Africa,
and no doubt will be similarly compli-
mented from every portion Of the globe
where these valuable parasites may be
| coloniZed.
| l am well aware of opposition and
adverse reports in our own midst made
| iI-iGn lie ytr1n firth
uted one dollar, either in taxes or other
wise. towards the promotion of this in
vestigaton.
There are thousands of dollars lost
each year in spraying for the Goblin
moth, and many more thousands lost
! in the destruction of fruit by this in
sect. That a parasite exists for it there
is not doubt. The existence of such
in Southern Europe was claimed by
Mr. Gillet in the first year of the or
ganization of the State Board. We are
constantly menaced by various pests,
both to the farm and orchard, and the
only prudent course on our part is to
keep pace with these pests by the dis
covery of their natural enemies.
To protect the fruit industry and to
secure the best results we must demand.
as recommended $1,000 annually to in
vestigate parasites, $4,000 for the Blu
reau of Statistics and 5000 for the uses
of the State Board. This, with the
amount already provided for in the
salaries of the officers of the board,
and the Clerk, $500, will make total
sum of So, 800
In the official report of the State Con-
troller for the forty-second fiscal year
| there was expended in the State. in
round numbers, $S000,000. Of this 3d.,
300 900 were spent for educational pur
poses; 50 800, 600 for the INDECENT, poor
no
truant homes, insane asylums and
State prisons, making, with the esti-
mate for coyote ScalpS of $3.50, 900
total of about 5000, 000-three- fourthS
of the entire expenditures. This is a
very heavy burden upon the farmers
and fruit-growers, and unless they have
more prosperous seasons than the past
few they can ill-afford to bear it.
When l was a small boy, and at the
time of the introduction of the free
school system in Pennsylvania, il was
Pquite common in the winter months to
have at those schools young men from
20 to 30 years of age taking their first
A 3 c lessons. People at that time,
and in that state of ignorance, were
more industrious, less vicious, and there
was less insanity than at the present
time We spent over 40 per cent. IF
our revenues for education, and yet
have staring us in the face rapid in
crease in the percentage of crime, Of
! insanity, idleness and every sort OF
bad-doing. This is discouraging, and
does not offer much announcement to
our energies in supporting the present
systems. a sound political policy to be
pursued would, in my judgment be to
foster, protect and encourage the in
dustrious citizens.
The fruit industry of the State is by
far the most important, because it fur
nished labor to a greater number than
any other industry; it employs a greater
number of children, of women, of men
not able-bodied, as well as the able
bodied, enabling them to make COM
Portable homes.
In concluding my remarks, I enjoin
upon all the fruit growers to interest
themselves in their Representatives to
the next Legislature; give them all the
information that will enable them to act
intelligently regarding the necessities of
the fruit interest
We must keep up a central organiza-
ton and increase its efficiency in order
to insure that degree of prosperity that
is possible to the State and an equal
equivalent to the individual fruit
growers that will compensate them for
the amounts expended and the care and
energy given in the business.
1t Costs Little and Does Much.