The record-union., 1897-10-17
The MEXICAN ORARGEWORM.
STEPS TAKEN TO PREVENT ITS
INTRODUCTION.
The Southern Pacific Company
VIII Assist the State QUAR-
antine Officer.

antine Officer.
Secretary B. M. Lelong of the State
Board of Horticulture yesterday mn
ished an interesting paper on the Mex
lean Orange Worm" (trypeta ludens),
in which is set orth the efforts taken
by the board to prevent its introduction
into the State. Secretary Lelongs pa
per IS as follows:
'fOf late there has been considerable
discussion as to the probable ntroduc-
ton cf the Mexican orange worm INTO
this State. The State Board OF Hor-
ticulture has taken all precautions pos
sible to prevent its introduction All
shipments OF fruit arriving in this
State viii be thoroughly inspected pc
fore being allowed to land, and If any
fruit should be found infected by this
pest it win be promptly destroyed.
THE Quarantine officer of the board.
Alexander Craw, has been instructed
to take every precaution to prevent the
introduction Of this pest.
William Sproule, the Assistant
General Freight Manager of the South
ern Pacific Company, representing MT.
Smurr. was consulted, and discussed
the matter very fully. He said he was
willing to cooperate with the state
Beard of Horticulture as far as they
they can. He, however, is in doubt
as to cur or their right to interfere
with the cars in transit, as it might
come under the interstate commerce
law, and cited an Eastern case bear
ing on the subject.
He also discussed the question as to
their liability as common carriers for
any detention or interference with cars
or freight turned over to them from
other companies, and that such freight
could not be returned without the con-
| sent of the connecting lines. Partieu-
lar stress was placed upon the danger
/ to the great citrus fruit industry of the
! State by the introduction of such
pest, and it's effect upon the revenue
OF the transportation companies, all of
which Mr. Sproule concurred in, and
he remarked that they were fully alive
| to the Importance of keeping out all
pests, and desired to cooperate with
US Mr. Sproule promised to place the
matter before the legal department of
| the company for immediate considera-
| tion and will inform the board as to
/ lIFHIG O}iIIiOD III d lew QcyS.
"a fruit dealer Of Los Angeles. in
terested in the Mexican orange trade,
in an indignant letter to the Nogales
Oasis, asserts that this orange pest
has already secured a lodgment in
Southern California. This statement
is without foundation, as the Califor-
MIA insect is the larva of a small Tort
ricid moth, and not one orange in a
! thousand is attacked by it. Tt only
pierces the rind and never enters the
pulp. The Mexican orange worm is the
larva Of a fly and enters the pulp.
THE Mexican orange worm is report
ed to be confined to two States, south
Of the City of Mexico. In answer to a
telegram sent to DR.. L. O. Howard,
United States entomologist, by the
quarantine officer, asking if this pest
| is konwn to exist in any other State
in Mexico, Dr. Howard replied
No certain knowledge, except Mo
relies and Puebla, but must occur else
where Investigating now
Both these State are south and
southeast of the City of Mexico, and
adjoin each other.
Mr. Sproule said that no oranges
have been brought to California by rail
for two or three years past, and those
only from the extreme northwestern
State of Sonora Mexican oranges are
shipped to Chicago and other northern
cities from the end of October until
December or January. and go by way
of Eagle Pass or Ell Paso, Tex.
"The General Freight and Passenger
Agent of the Mexican Central Railway
has been communicated with, request
ing him to notify their shippers not to
make any shipments of citrus fruits
to any point in California, for in the
event of the fruit being infected with
the Mexican orange worm it will be
Immediately destroyed and that such
notification will prevent any misunder-
standing and loss to their patrons. His
attention was also called to the mag
nituda of the citrus industry of Cali
fornia, and the well grounded alarm
of the growers as to the danger of in
PRODUCING such a pest into their or
chards.
"The orange growers of the State can
rest assured that every preeaution will
| be taken BY the State Board of Horti-
culture to prevent the introduction Of
this pest. and If it is ever found in
transit. drastic measures will be adopt
ed to stamp it out, irrespective of inter-
state commerce law, and the courts can
decide the question afterward.
"A meeting of County Horticultural
Commissioners has been called to meet
at Sacramento on November 18th for
consultation and to take concerted ac-
ton to prevent the Introduction of this
and other orchard pests into the State.
BY convening at Sacramento at the
time fixed, they will have the advice
and counsel of the Attorney General.
the State Quarantine Officer, and ex-
perts on matters of law, quarantine. etc,
and can attend the sessions of the State
convention of fruit growers, November
10th TO Doth
Supervisors of fruit growing coun-
ties should see to it that their Horti-
cultural Commissioners attend the con-
vention. These sessions they will find
profitable, and it is expected that ey-
cry fruit growing county will be rep
resented"
Real Estate Transfers.
The following real estate transfers
have been made since our last report:
80 e%x--