The herald., 1897-06-05
(Edited by Prof. A. ]. Cook.)

(Edited by Prof A. j. Cook)
It does not take any very great acu-
men to enable any student Of the char
acter and workings of our present law
providing for the appointment Of horti-
cultural commissioners to discover seri-
Gus objections to it. And he would he
dull indeed If he were not able to sug-
gest very desirable improvements.
The old law provided for from one to
three commissioners, who were empow-
cred to appoint an indefinite number OIL
inspectors, whose duty it was to inspect
all the orchards of the county and take
measures to eradicate any injurious ~
sects that were menace to the welfare
Of the fruit industry of the county.
The new law makes it necessary 10
appoint three commissioners, who shaii
each receive 81 per day and expenses
The new law, like the old, makes 1t the
duty of the commissioners to enforce
treatment where insects have lnvadeo
and are despoiling our orchards. The
commissioners are appointed by the su-
pervisors. and the deputy commission
ers under the new law by the commits
sioners.
There are serious inherent objections
to this law. The commissioners should
be men willing to study, close observers,
and men who love nature and would
be quick to see and appreciate her in all
her varying moods. If just the righ.
men were available. and could be Sc
cured and retained, then the system
would have much to commend it. AS it
is, politics enter largely into the ap-
pointments, and political pull not fit
ness often determines the selection. Re
cent appointments abundantly sustain
this position. Men have recently been
appointed to these position who would
not claim any special fitness. Some OF
these men will show an aptitude to the
work, and will develop considerable eff
ficiency; but no sooner will they demon
strate ability and proficiency than poll
tical control may change; then they
will have to give way to men possibly OF
no native fitness, and who are as totally
untitled for the work as were they whea
first appointed
Again, thorough inspection and thor
ough extirpation demand not only abil-
ity to observe, judge and act, but grea.
energy and thoroughness Insect war
fare will not brook any half way meas
ures or slipshod work, if it bring sue
cess. No man will do such work as thor
oughly as the owner, for he is urged on
by a real personal interest. I have
known of spraying and fumigation, at
great expense, where no such work was
called for. 1 have known such work to
be done so poorly that no considerable
good was accomplished. Lack of abil-
ity, absence of judgment, and want of
thoroughness must characterize much
of the work done under the present laws.
While the present system may be the
best possible at this time, it is not what
is needed, and it is none too soon for this
fruit growers to consider better Once
they are united on what is best for their
interests and they can easily secure it
by united action.
First the magnitude of the fruit inter-
est demands competent entomologist,
one we'll trained, and full of aptitude
and energy-indeed, one of the best
entomologists to be secured in the coun-
try. Such an one could be had and
would bring Incompatible advantage
to the state. Matthew Cook showed
what could be done by such one. Again
Mr. Koeble or another as able should
be kept in the field to secure friendly
insects; another Vedalia, to help in this
tremendous warfare against our insect
foes Investigation along this line is
too full of promise to be longer neg
lected. Fruit growers should act as one
man to secure this end.
Last, each club should select one man
from the number best fitted for the
work by natural taste and training, and
III 1aiy. ,ar7f afa
on entomology. He will be permanent,
and will become authority for the club
on matters chronological. He will keep
informed, and keep the club Informed
as to the wisest and best course, and
then the club can own apparatus, and
each do his own fighting at great saw
ing in expense and at great gain in
most cases in thoroughness. This will
be one of the best fruits of our club
systems and is sure to come, for it has
wisdom and good sense to commend it.
The Olive in California
It Is an undoubted fact that the Cali
fornia picked olive is equal in excel
lence to any produced in Italy or the
world. Nor is the olive oil product sur
passed in richness or flavor anywhere.
1t is just as true that both these prod
ucts, pickles and oil, are very superior Is
food, and occupy a very high place in
supplying the necessary food elements
in any proper regimen. We must have
fat or oil in our food, and the olive oil
furnishes one no less wholesome and nu-
tritious than it is pleasing and appetiz
ing. 1t is everywhere conceded that
no fruit surpasses the olive in the amount
OF nutrition which it affords Chemical
analysis, no less than actual expert
ence, shows that the olive, while rich
in the usual food elements of fruits, is
especially so in nitrogenous material
and so is especially hearty and sustain
ing. With abundant olives on the able,
the hunger for meat and kindred food is
seldom felt. 1t is authentically report
ed that laboring men of Italy eat, often
for long periods. little but olives, and
keep not only well but able to perform
hard labor. What other fruit could sus-
tain such test?
1t is also very apparent to anyone who
studies into the matter that as yet we
consume only the merest fraction of
what we will use of these olive products,
when we really know, as people,
their value and excellence as an appe-
tizer. True, the taste for them is not
always, perhaps we may say not gener-
ally, natural, but most of us know how
easily and quickly it is acquired 1t
seems net a whit rash to predict that
with M great effort the c0nsIImptiou of