The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-14
HAVE CROSSED SWORDS.
state horticultural C0mm1saioneI
and County Inspector Brown
Are ut Variance.


State Horticultural Commissioner J. E.
Baker and Insect Inspector for King
County William H. Brown have crossed
swords. and there is going to be a big row
In the future as to what shall be done
with the scale-infested fruit which comes
into the local market. Commissioner Baker
says that II will be sufficient TO fumigate
IT, Brown says that II is we'll known and
an established fact that to funigate fruit
10 the extent OF killing the scale means
10 destroy the fruit. Brown will commu-
nicate with the secretary OF agriculture
about the matter, and when the King
County Horticultural Society meets next
Saturday night he will place the matter
before its members for their considera-
ton. II Is admitted by Brown that the
decision Of the state commissioner in such
matters is final. but he believes that he
win find way TO escape IL and thus keep
the market rid of infested fruit.
The fight between the state commits
sioner and the insect inspector started last
week. On the last Japanese steamer which
arrived in the local port were IL 90 boxes
OF Japanese oranges consigned TO business
houses in the United States and Canada.
j. w. Goodwin g. Co.. OF this city, and the
Nippon Trading Company, a local concern
composed Of Japanese, received about 900
boxes. Most of them were for the Nip
pom company. Inspector Brown examined
the oranges soon after they reached this
city and here Is what he says OF their con-
dition
They were infested with five distinct
species OF the pernicious scale family. They
are known as the red or orange scale, the
purple scale. the chaf scale. the black
scale and the isrva of the meaiy bug.
There were one or two other species. which
| am able 10 classify. but / know nothing
about their life history. The fact however.
that they were on the oranges convinces
me that they infest the tree.
As soon "a / made the discovery" said
Mr. Brown 10 a Post-Intelligencer reporter
Yesterday II decided that IL was necessary
70 take OF all the wrappers. pick out and
destroy ali the infested fruit so far as
could be readily seen with the naked eye:
the good fruit replaced in the boxes with
out the wrappers. the boxes placed in A
tight room and the oranges fumigated
with crude sulphur not less than fifty
minutes This naturally would incur con-
siderable expense and some loss of fruit.
When | made known my decision the
japanese who look after the Interests OF
the Nippon company In this city opposed
IL and appealed 90 the japanese consul,
Mkt Saito.
horticultural Commissioner J. E Baker
was notified OF the difficulty and requested
70 come TO the city. He arrived there was
an iENeSftEaEfOu. alsa saA. dAt-Fi
with me that the oranges We're badly in
tested with the scale.
But the state commissioner did not
deem IL necessary TO destroy the infested
fruit. nor did he require that the wrap
perx should be removed and the oranges.
an which the scale were not apparent "a
the naked eve faDigat@d IL was his
decision that ali the oranges could ha
furnigated without removing the wrap
rers. and that none OF the oranges need
he destroyed The decision OF MIR Baker
il final have no appeal
But I propose that this marke. shall
BE free from, infested fruit II the de-
cision OF TIRE state commissioner stands.
California fruit growers viii have gained
a great victory They nave been ship
ping bid fruit 20 this city for some time.
bu. I have never allowed IL 70 ba offered
for sale II was either destroyed or rs-
turned As "A result. the California p.so-
pie have been looking after the fruit
shipped 10 tn.s market. and today tbs,
frgit ~ tie local marks, Is pride and
m ornament. But il, under the decision
II the state commissioner. fraalt THAT =
furatgafef can be offered for sale Cal.
fornis will not BE- SO particular in the
future.
White the decision - the state conf
missioner Is 1naI. have The right. as
understand. To destroy sH tnf~ssssf fruit
that comes on the market In accord.
Rnca with the decision 81 Mr. Baker T
VIII f'rntSate az fruit that comes here
which have reason tn believe is infested