The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-15
HORTICULTURAL PROGRESS.
STATE BOARDS REPORT ON
GENERAL WORK.
Scales and Other Pests Are Ex-
terminated by Their Para
site Enemies

There are many interesting facts In
the biennial report of the State board
of Horticulture, filed with the Governor
yesterday The report gives fair
summary of the work that has DeeT
done in California during two years in
the way of advancing the interests OF
horticulture in the State.
Among other things, it is shown that
there has been great vigilance in pre-
venting the introduction of dangerous
pests among the vineyards and orchards
of the State, and in fighting those that
are already here. In this particular It
appears that beneficent insects have
been imported and that quarantining
has greatly aided the work Of keeping
down the rayaees of the pests In
some of it's more important details the
report shows the following facts:
That the board has prohibited the
importation of all trees and plants from
the Hawaiian Islands, owing to the
fact that that country Is troubled with
q beetle that does great damage IN
orchards. 1t is also shown that
number of flying foxes were found on
an Australian steamer and destroyed.
They have been a great pest in the Or
chards of Australia, and that Govern
ment has expended large sums to have
them exterminated, resorting in some
cases to the use of dynamite.
A strange story of the perfidy Of man
comes to light in the assertion of the
board that a man who was employed
by the State Board of Agriculture in
Massachusetts came to this State With
large number of Egyptian moth eggs,
which, out of pure deviltry, he tried to
introduce in this State TO spread mis-
chief among the horticulturiSts. The
infected trees were destroyed here and
the place where the wretch placed the
eggs was discovered, and the eggs were
rendered useless. Three hundred and
twenty five thousand orange trees from
Tahiti were destroyed because they
were infested with the mining scale.
A great deal of attention is devoted
to the subject of beneficial insects, and
1t is stated that many of them have
been imported for the purpose of max
ing war upon dangerous parasites. 1t
is stated that the Verdalia cardinals
saved the citrus crop of the State last
year and the year before by destroying
the parasitic enemy of the crop. The
so-called San Jose scale has been al
most completely destroyed by the in
PRODUCTION Of parasites that exterminate
Il. The cushion scale has been almost
entirely killed by the Australian lady
bug, which has also eXterminated most
of the dangerous mealy bugs. The as
founding fact is brought forward that
the original supply Of the Australian
beetles was but twenty, and that mill
ions have been distributed from the
eggs of this stock since their first in
PRODUCTION to this climate, much to the
relief of orchardiSts suffering from the
various pests that are destroyed by the
lady bug. 1t is said that the colonial
ton of insects that benefit orchardists
has done away with at least half the
pests, and the hope is expressed that
other beneficial pests will yet be dis
covered to still further aid those who
engage in the fruit business IN this
State.
A great deal of attention is given to
the subject of spurious foods, especially
olive oil. 1t is stated that the board
has done all in its power to prevent the
sale and manufacture of spurious oils
1t has also taken a great deal of pains
to teach growers and the people the
=
this line it may be stated that law
has been passed that makes it crime
to make any imitation of olive oil in
this State, or to sell any alleged olive
oil that is not oil, unless there has been
bottle or package the words in capital
letters: LIMITATION OLIVE OIL"
together with the name OF the chief
fc nd
stances therein. 1t would seem that
this law is fagrantly violated, from the
fact that it is almost impossible 10 find
pure oil on the market. and the
spurious is seldom labeled ir any way,
in spite of the law.
There has also been a vigorous me-
morializing of Congress in behalf Of
pureLfood laws. forestry laws and other
matters of general interest. The board
also asks that the State should make
good appropriation for the purpose Of
having a good display of horticultural
products at the Paris Exposition in
1900. 1t is said that it is considered
that this will be the best place and
way to advertise in the proper places
the advantages of California as a re-
gion for growing horticultural products
Twenty thousand dollars are asked
as a fund to enable the board to ex-
tend the markets Of products raised in
this State 1t is said that the sum of
$50, 900 should be left with the commits
sion to be spent advantag eously from
time to timel in furthering the purposes
of the organization. To get up a book
on the resources Of the state. with
history of the good qualities of each
county, il is asked that $4,000 De
given to the board by the Legislature
Petition for Letters.
A J. Rhoads has petitioned the SUI