The record-union., 1898-12-19

IdlS I-grOWerS' convention al
Fresno by Alexander Craw, Quarantine
Officer Of the State Board of Horticult-
ure, dealing with conditions arising in
consequence of our new territorial ac
GuisitionS in the Pacific:
The possession of our new territories
OF Hawaii and the Philippine Islands
brings up question of very serious
moment to the horticultural interests of
the United States, and more especially
to California and the Pacific States, Is
at our ports are liable TO be landed
plants, trees and fruits that are in
Tested with new and destructive insect
pests, or tree diseases. Heretofore We
have had no direct communication with
the latter islands, and with the excep-
ton of few lots OF phalanopsis
(orchids), I have only inspected two
plants that l know came form there.
We have had nothing in the plant line
whereby we can ascertain the species
of insects peculiar to that country. /
am not aware that anything has been
published in relation to tree or fruit
pests of the country. 1t is different in
the case OF the Hawaiian Islands, for
we have a very good knowledge of the
great list Of destructive insects that at
tack their plantations and forests, and
that are foreign to our orchards and
gardens. Some of them are of recent
Introduction into the islands, but from
the number and variety of plants found
infested and destroyed, l am sure our
State would soon be overrun with them
If a thorough quarantine cannot be
maintained.
This is the point to which 1 desire to
call particular attention. Until Con-
sress ratifies the annexation treaty, the
islands are considered a foreign coun-
try, so all ships arriving from there are
inspected by Customs Officers and one
or more customs officials are on guard
day and night while the ships remain in
port. The Surveyor of the Port, Hon.
Joseph s. Spear, Jr., and his first dep
uty, Chauncey NJ. st. John, like their
predecessors, very kindly issued in
structions not to allow any plants or
fruits to be landed until inspected by an
officer of the State Board of Horticult-
ure. The customs officers, inspectors
and dock officials are very obliging and
gentlemanly in the enforcement of this
order.
The value of this assistance to the
State cannot be estimated. Under such
an arrangement, no plants can be
snuggled away, to be afterwards land
ed. The annexation of the islands dis
penses with the services of customs
officers to inspect the ship or the pas
sengers' baggage upon arrival, and our
horticultural regulations do not confer
upon us the right to interfere with the
personal effects or baggage of passen-
gers, unless it is plants or fruit.
Now, it is very rarely that plants
are packed with personal effects, but
when passengers, or members of the
crew, ascertain that valises are not to
be inspected, the inducement will be
greater to try to get their plants ashore.
Most people-not fruit growers-con-
slider it rather high handed officiousness
for us to even inspect their plants, and
when the latter are found infested with
insects and confiscated, they consider
that they are out and injured, but never
take into consideration the fact that
those harmless looking specks or bugs
if allowed to land would probably cause
a loss of thousands Of dollars to other
planting and caring for an orchard
The only safeguard that 1 can sug-
gest to prevent to great extent any
attempt at landing plants without in
spectiOn, would be the enactment of a
State law making it punishable by fine
to bring into California any plants or
trees without Immediately notifying the.
Quarantine Officer of the State Board
of Horticulture or the quarantine guar
dian of the district i'm which said plants
or trees are received. AS no penalty is
attached to the violation of Rule | Of
the regulations Of this board it is prac-
tically a dead letter. although the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company has
rendered US very valuable service by
keeping US advised of arrivals of trees
and plants by rail from outside the
State.
The State Board of Horticulture un-
der the power conferred upon it by Sec
ton D of the Act of March s. 1899
adopted rules and regulations to pre-
vent the introduction Of insect pests and
tree and plant diseases, but it had no
power to attach a penalty, so in order to
make such regulations effective. we will
have to submit bill to the Legislature
providing penalties for noncompliance
Unless this can be done at the forth
coming session of the Legislature. we
are liable to have the work done in this
line during the past few years COM
pletely nullified in the future.
Before presenting bill for your con-
slderation, l desire TO mention a few
of the more serious insect pests and
tree diseases that have proved to be
very injurious in other countries and
States, and which We have no reason
to believe will prove less destructive
if introduced into California.
Probably the most serious would be
the introduction Of the Gypsy Moth
from Massachusetts, Europe or japan.
The cate1p pillars of this moth devastate
forest trees as well as fruit and orna-
mental trees and plants. The people Of
California would be up in arms if the
State Board Of Horticulture asked the
Legislature for an appropriation of over
hundred thousand dollars year to
fight single pest as they are now doing
in Massachusetts to try and stamp out
this insect that was introduced into
that State from Europe over twenty
years ago.
The peach yellows," or the peach
rosette," it is claimed, would not spread
in California, but the advice Of East
ern experts in tree diseases is to keep
it out. Now a new peach disease, called
small peaches" is reported from Michi-
gan. where four thousand acres are
stated to have been killed by it. A
Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland pro-
40 hi ffNrr A -. ,.n1s