The record-union., 1897-10-30
OF INTEREST To FRUIT MEN.
WHAT IS BEING DONE IN SAN
JOAQUIN COUNTY.
The Board OF Horticultural Conn
missioners Report to the
State Commissioners.

The San Joaquin County Board Of
Horticultural Commissioners has for
warded its report to the State Board
of Horticultural Commissioners, and it
viii be found of interest to fruit-grow-
ers. It is as follows:
To the Honorable Board of Horticult-
uTal Commissioners of the State of Cali
fornia-Gentlemen: The San Joaquin
County Board of Horticultural Commis-
sdoners herewith submit this, their first
annual report, as organized and exist
ing under and by virtue Of an Act of
the Legislature of California, approved
March 81, 1897.
The present Board of Horticultural
Commissioners of San Joaquin County
was appointed by the Board Of Super
visors Of said county on the 18th day
of May, 1897 The Commissioners ap-
pointed were George w. Ashley, Henry
A1mbrust and c. w. Norton, and have
remained to the present time. How
ever. Mr.. Ashley rendered his resigna-
ton to the Board of Supervisors on
the - day of September. 1897, but it
has not yet been accepted.
The Commissioners of the San Joa-
quin County Board of Horticulture dis
charge their duties without pay. 1t
being thought that the expense Of pay
ing three Commissioners 81 per day
each, as allowed by law, would be
greater than the county could bear, the
Commissioners signed an agreement
with the county not to draw pay for
their services. The Commissioners have
since discharged all the duties of the
fo1, 1or haford rhaI11
free of charge, but have not of course
given their actual time and attention
to the work of inspection and quaran-
tine, that being left to inspectors ap-
pointed by the board and paid by the
county.
The Commissioners organized on the
18th day of May, 1897, by the election
of George w Ashley President, and
c. w. Norton Secretary. Regular meet
ings Of the board for the transaction
of urgent business were holden on May
22d and May 26th. At the latter meet
ing the time for the regular monthly
meetings Of the board was fixed foI
the first Saturday in each month al
10 o'clock a. m.
In accordance with this rule a meet
ing of the board was held on June 2
1897, at 10 o'clock a. m. This arrange
ment, however, proving unsatisfactory
and it being found more convenient II
meet Just before the monthly meetings
OF the Board of Supervisors, rather
than just after, the time of meeting
was changed to the last Saturday OF
each month at 10 o'clock a. m, since
which time meetings have been regu-
larly held at the appointed time, eX-
cept on the last Saturday of Septer4-
ber, when no quorum being preset nc
meeting was held.
WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ERADT-
CATE INSECT PESTS.
Upon looking over the field immedi-
ately after their appointment, the
board reached the conclusion that one
man could not properly do the work
of inspection Of orchards and Of quar-
antine, as fruit was arriving in the
county from outside points, both by
water and by rail, every day, and also
large quantities were being disposed OF
in the market daily by local growers.
all of which needed inspection. They,
therefore. divided the county into two
inspectors districts, called the northern
and the southern, and elected a local
inspector for each.
These inspectors have since been COM
missioned as quarantine guardians IN
their respective districts by the state
Board of Horticulture. Since their ap-
pointment the inspectors have been
continuously at work in their respective
districts. inspecting orchards and fruit,
eradicating insect pests, destroying in
tested fruit, etc. OF course, the ume
in which the inspectors have been al
work has been too short for the ac-
complishment of great results. The
season of the year also has not been
the proper one for attacking and Grad
icating many of the insect pests with
which the orchards Of this county and
State are infested, the red spider be-
ing the principal insect pest which
could be successfully attacked at the
time of year in which the inspectors
have been operating. However, much
has been accomplished by the inspec-
tors in the way of familiarizing them
selves with the location and condition
of the orchards of the county, and in
preparing for a vigorous campaign
against all kinds of insect pests as soon
as the proper season arrives 1t is the
practice of the inspectors to make notes
of every orchard visited; of the name
of the owner, and the person in DOS
session: of the number of acres;