The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07
THEY WILL ASK A BETTER LAW
.or,crLTURIsT WANT LAWS TO
PREVENT INSECT INFECTION.


.i,,ion at Americus-He Says the
..ociation VIII Fight Bringing
,..farted Fruit rees Into Georgia.
nh. desired Points of a Bill Form
-tv Presented the Legislature
,,.re stricken Out, Leaving the
orcbards and Gardens UnprOtect-
az From Insect Plaques.
-,- p T. Berckmans, president of the
- ,,eta State Horticultural Association,
-,...f m Savannah yesterday and is the
-..- of DR.. J. C. LeHardy on Hall
He accompanied Dr. LeHardy
80 after the annual meeting of the
a..,.iation adjourned at Americus, and
nul probably remain here several days.
NV Rerckmans is one of the leading
t,rrtculturists in the South, being an au-
,borifv OF high standing on all matters
manning to the subject There is prob
abi, no one in the state more thoroughly
,..zo~bed in any work than is Mr.. Berck-
r,,rs in the branch in which he has taken
most profound interest. He has been
the mover in valuable research along this
lime for many years.
When seen by a Morning News repre-
sentative last night, he spoke enthusiast
t,a.lv of the recent meeting, believ-
ing ii was for many reasons one of the
bssr since the association was organized.
ta was particularly impressed with the
exhaustive manner in which the essayists
discussed the subjects assigned them, and
said be could not recall a single meeting
when there was more spirit and general
enthusiasm.
the working, thinking element of the
association was never so generally repre-
sented," said Mr.. Berckmans. The agri-
cultural department at Washington even
entered into the zest of the meeting by
sending q special representative, Mr.. J.
". Taylor, who was agreeably received
by all the members. Then there was Prof
Massey Of the North Carolina state agri-
cultural department, and Prof. e. H.
Srockbridge of the Florida State Agricul-
tural board both of whom read papers
that were highly interesting and instruc-
i've There were a number of others press
ent none the less prominent, whose essays
brought cut points suggested by the sub
ject matter
state Entomologist w. M Scott was
also present, and read a paper containing
numerous valuable suggestions" said
Nj Berckmans, it viii be renlem-
bered this Office was created by the last
legislature and on being appointed by
the Commission of Agriculture, Mr.. Scott
started persistently to investigate a num-
Der of things, among which was the fam
Gus san Jose scale, an insect which clings
To fruit trees and spreads until large orch
ards are killed by them. The scale in Geor-
fODOd Of
the south counties, where 1t
was doing such mischief to the trees,
that Mr.. Scott made the locality where
they thriyed his headquarters some time
In treatise on the subject he suggested
the ACCESSIBILITY of checking this disas-
trous destruction of trees by a law pro-
viding for the removal of all those in
fected. SO long as there are no regula-
tions IN this regard, infected trees will
be constant menace to all round Them
for the reason the insects fly from one
orchard 10 another, and once the scale
finds its start it takes but short time
to XII out an entire orchard. The ex-
tent OF this scale plague in Georgia can
De well imagined when 1t Is known that
air Scott found it necessary to condemn
$4,000 trees infected with scales"
The scale travels like wildfre when it
once starts IN a community. The Park
ana Tree Commission once thought Sa-
Vahnan shrubbery was infected, and 1t
gave those interested much anxiety for
awhile
The horueulturists talked over their eff
loIts TO get the last legislature to pass
remedial laws, but 1t seems there were rep
ieseh1aliFes who took it upon themselves
10 erase and lnterline, until the bill was
ialhef henectual. 1t was stripped of the
uihss me horucultuTists wanted most.and
tlIea passed TO accomplish what was in
teuueo by the original draft The result of
Ule Hcuon the legislature took is that an
otner bin viii be drawn and presented To
Il be passed
peheVe the state entomologist should
nave nave police power, said Mr.. Berckmans.
al Ile meeting of the association in Sa-
.1.Hdh IN 1877, special committee was
81 70 work with one appointed by
tLe agricultural Society to draft a suita-
pie Dill 10 protect the orchards of Georgia
eH"4si injection from any cause 1t was
'ieU Ihe law be practical in its provis-
- yet not dictatorial more than to give
-V eHloinologist police powers to make the
80" o%IatlNe. The law was intended TO
'9i'- TIE introduction in Georgia of in
trees with insects from other local
- III was desired to prevent the bring
l'i7 o- refuse nursery stock into the state
H. 4-1aN infection and ultimately annihi-
90 uee culture. The bill submitted was
fa result OF thought by the associations
-'' 7'losl members but for some unknown
,'9o" 1he original draft was ignored and
$50, I- substituted in its place, the provis-
- s OF which We're far short of what was
W. me value of the law was destroy
e e@ ana the orchards and gardens of the
nave gone without protection"
1,l.. is intended at the next session of the
tAfe to submit the original draft.
"-..A d is hoped will become law as an
Nil .,4'i-eht to the present enactment. 1t
-'F9 the entomologist increased pow
ana otherwise add to the present law
80 as TO make it effectual.
M 81 the special features of the meet
~. AheHcus was the rich display of
no., rom the state experimental sta
t5,, "tieh IS now in prosperous condi-
to o' mere was an exhibit of 300 varie-
D. o. sIapes, which was pronounced by
MI. 4dylor and others as the finest ever
- I'D this country. There were several
H. OF peaches and about forty varie-
,io@ o. water melons raised at the sta
f. but of these only about eight are
I profitable cultivation.