The record-union., 1897-11-17
}UIT GROWERS IN CONVENTION.

Boards of Supervisors relative to County
Horticultural Commissioners is to be de-
piored. Thousands upon thousands OF
trees are continually being brought MTG 9
the State, and none should ever be allowed
to be planted anywhere until inspected by
competent authority.
In many of the counties the, pohey
adopted by the Supervisors has been 70
keep the office alive just to comply with
the law Such a policy can be of no
benefit to their. people, has resulted IN
great harm and has caused them TO spend
ten to twenty times more to remedy the
evil. The people have been compelled 70
bring suit against certain Supervisors 10
for, Notwithstanding the great interests
at stake, the Acts We're practically an
nuled by the narrow policy pursued ,Ie1l 10
Gently at Los Angeles, condemned the
present law, and declared 1t to be a per
nicious Act; that it would work hard
gretted that such action was taken, es-
pecially without mature deiberation. me
fruit-growers of the State. in convention
assembled last November, unanimously
passed the following resolution:
Whereas. The fruit interests of Can.
fornia demand the protection from insect
pests and diseases provided by law. ana,
Whereas. Many counties with valuable
fruit interests. particularly in the northern
part of the State, are as yet without
County Boards of Horticultural Commls-
sioners: therefore, be II
Resolved By the fruit-growers of Cali
fornia, in convention assembled, at Sacra-
quest the Boards of Supervisors in the var
ious counties to Immediately appoint Hor-
ticultural Commissioners. where there are
no Commissioners at present. and we
further ask that liberal policy be adopted
toward the Commissioners when ap-
pointed
90 SC
greatest interest was threatened with en-
tire destruction. and the orchards were
rendered unprolifc. To-day this question
of pests and diseases is better understood
here than elsewhere. California was the
first to recognize the necessity of protec-
tion against the introduction of mans enc
mics to his crops, and this necessity was
forced UPON us by the vast Importance of
the fruit industry, overshadowing all other
industries of our great State.
(Act. approved March 81. 1879
Section l. Whenever a petition is pre-
Sented to the Board of Supervisors of any
county. and signed by twenty-five or more
persons, each of whom is a resident free
holder and possessor of an orchard, the
Board of Supervisors shall, within twenty
days thereafter appoint a Board of Hor-
ticultural Commissioners, consisting of
three members. who shall be qualified for
the duties of Horticultural Commissioners.
Section 5. The salary of all inspectors
working under the County Board of Hot-
ticultural Commissioners shall be two dol
lars and fifty cents (S2 50) per day. In the
case of the Commissioners themselves,
their compensation shall be four dollars
formance of their duties, and itemiZed
necessary travelling expenses incurred in
the discharge of the regular duties as pre-
Scribed in this Act
This Act has been declared mandatory
by competent authority. An effort will he
made to have the law repealed. 7 therefore
recommend that a committee be appointed
to draft a preamble and resolutions 10
present to the next Legislature ard to
watch the proceedings with reference to
any action that may be detrimental to the
fruit interests.
Before closing my remarks I will say
TO You that | trust and hone that our dis
cussions will be calm, deliberate, earnest
and in that spirit that may lead up to
something that will remove the burden Of
distress that hangs over us. The financial
disturbances that have existed in the past
few years have been the cause of degrad-
ing our lands and homes and reducing the
price of our products below cost. A care
ful consideration of the subject ought TO
evolve something that will give us perma-
nent relief.
All these questions are respectfully sub
mitted for your consideration.
Vice-Persident Johnston moved that
a committee of three be appointed by
Vice-President Walton to take charge
of the Presidents address and report
on 1t. Carried, and Messrs Johnston Of
Sacramento, Childs of Santa Clara and
Berwick of Monterey We're appointed.
NO NURSERYMEN WANTED.
Secretary Lelong read a resolution as
follows:
Whereas, The laws of the State now
on the statute books designed for the
protection of horticultural interests
We're demanded and procured because
of the existence and alarming increase
of insect pests which threatened the
destruction of the vast, increasing and
valuable fruit-growing industry, in
volving millions of dollars: and
Whereas, 1t is the plain intent and
requirement of the law that only those
skilled in the knowledge of insects, in
furious and beneficial, and fruit tree
diseases, should have the matters in
control, and that nurserymen and 9TH
ers interested in propagating and hand
ling fruit trees or shubbery should not
be placed in positions requiring the
execution of the law or the applica-
ton of its penalties; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this convention of
fruit growers deem the action of Boards
of Supervisors in appointing nursery
men as Horticultural Commissioners,
and others for political reasons, ire
spective of qualification, as unjust, i'm
proper and fraught with disastrous
consequences, and we do hereby un-
qualifiedly condemn such action as
trifiing with and endangering one of the
most important industries of the State;
further
Resolved, That the Legislature be
urged to pass an Act requiring ali who
may be appointed to the positions of
Commissioner or Inspector to have a
knowledge Of the work they have TO
perform, and to that end shall pass a
civil service examination and receive a
proper certificate, in accordance with
rules prescribed by the State Board of
Horticulture. before assuming such du-
ties
The resolutions were referred to the
Committee on Resolutions.