The record-union., 1897-11-18
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
RESOLUTION RELATIVE TX
PLANTS SENT BY MAIL.
Danger That Insect Pests Might be
Thus introduced to the States
Detriment.

The County Horticultural ComHlis-
sioners resumed their meeting yestel,
day morning, and Chairman Marshali
being sick, j. A. Rose of Fresno was
elected Chairman of the meeting.
Mr.. Ehrhorn read the resolution
drawn up by the committee appolhteo
the day before, stating that as there
is danger of introduction of insect pests
through the mails it was resolved thal
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson be re-
quested to ask the Postmaster-General
for permission to inspect all parcels
containing plants coming into the
State.
Mr.. Ehrhorn asked how the Horu-
cultural Commissioners were to Know
when there were packages containing
plants in the Postoffice, and the Secre-
tary answered that the Southern Pa
cific Company had instructed its agents
TO notify the Commissioners before
they delivered the plants, and possibly
the PoStoffice officials nlght pe sllii-
larly instructed.
Alexander Craw said he thought the
move an excellent one, as the subject
is an important one. The eggs Of the
gypsy moth could be as easily import
d
in a large shipment. 1t has already
cost the State of Massachusetts, S2Oo.-
600, and it is estimated that it will
take ten years longer to stamp 1t out
and Congress will probably take a
hand.
1t was decided that Mr. Ehrhorn
should present the resolution to the
Fruit Growers Convention and ask
that it be acted on Immediately.
Mr. Craw said that the railroad COM
pany had taken great interest in the
matter and issued instructions to their
agents to report to the Commissioners.
Mr.. Ehrhorn said the trouble was
that some counties had no Inspectors,
and the Commissioners could not visit
all the offices in the county in short
time. He himself was sometimes
forced to let trees from this State
be delivered, but he had given orders
that all goods from outside the State
must be inspected before delivery, and
the railroad company's agents had al
ways observed his requests.
Mr.. Ashley Of San Joaquin advocated
inspection and destruction of infested
fruit He thought if a few patches
We're destroyed it would tend to make
people more careful to clean their
orchards. He would like to know If
Commissioners had authority TO con-
denim such fruit, individually.
Mr.. Craw said the fruit could be con-
demned as a nuisance. AS the law
gives each Commissioner a district he
thought each had full authority in his
district.
Several Commissioners thought that
at least two members Of the board
should act in condemning.
Mr.. Craw thought it would be well
for the Board of Horticulture to sub
NIT the question to the Attorney Gem
er-al for his opinion, and it was decided
to ask the board to do SO. on motion OF
Mr.. Ashley.
Mr.. Rust explained how the reports
of inspections in his county We're kept
and several other Commissioners de-
tailed the practice prevailing in their
counties.
Considerable discussion was had on
the decision of Judge Van Dyke that
the Legislature could not make the
charge for cleaning an orchard from
fruit pests a lien on the land, and it
was proposed to take the case to the
Supreme Court and have it settled, as
the decision would, If it stands, seri-
ously Interfere with the work of the
Commissioners but no action was
taken, and the board adjourned till to-
day.