The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-11-28

George Compere, chief field entomol-
ogist for the department of horticul-
ture, state Of California, and also for
the department Of agriculture of West
ern Australia. His work consists in
searching the world for beneficial in
sects or parasites, for the preservation
of the fruit industry OF the two states
mentioned, from the ravages Of in
sect fruit pests. The reason that he
is able to serve both governments at
once to their mutual satisfaction is
that the fruit pests Of California and
Western Australia are identical with
but few exceptions. Two of these ex-
ceptions are comprised in the cooling
moth and the fruit fly; the first is
prevalent in California, but not in
Western Australia, and the reverse is
true of the second.
The prime object of three out of the
seven world tours made by Compere
was the finding of the parasite, or ma
tural insect enemy, of the fruit fly;
yet Compere did not forget the inter
ests of his own state while making
these tours; among the beneficial in
sects calculated to combat the fruit
pests Of California obtained by him
during these travels was the parasite
for the codling moth, which he found
on the western coast of Spain, and
one for the purple scale, discovered in
the interior of China.
COmpere's methods are peculiar to
himself. When starting upon one of
these expeditions, he sewers all social
ties, and remains in communication
only with the horticultural officials of
the two countries employing him. He
goes alone and unattended, and en-
cages no helpers until he arrives in a
field Of immediate search; then he
may hire guide and perhaps an in
terpreter.
During his long sea voyages he is
Immersed in his collection of books ON
entomology, and studies them carefully
In their bearing upon his peculiar line
of investigation. But no sooner is a
landing made, although it may be only
for few hours stop at some lonely
island in the middle of the Pacific
ocean, than Compere seizes his para
phernalia and hastens ashore to hunt
insects until the steamer shall pro-
ceed
His outfit on one of these expedi-
lions is simplicity itself. 1t consists
of large sheet of white cotton cloth,
stick, an insect case, and a micro
scope. AS soon as he espies tree or
shrub that he thinks may be inhabited
by some important member of the in
sect family, he proceeds to spread his
sheet underneath It's boughs, and when
that is done he begins to beat the
branches with his stick. When he has
dislodged great number of insects,
he falls upon his knees, with the
microscope to his eye, and makes a
careful scrutiny of the sheet. Should
he discover any interesting individual
he proceeds to capture it, and consign
it to his insect case.
One may ask why it becomes neces-
sary to search in foreign lands for
these beneficial insects, and why they
may not be found within the borders
of the state of California in conjunc-
ton with the injurious insects This
is quite readily explained; California
is new state, and her fruit industry
is of comparatively recent origin and
of very rapid development Neither
the injurious nor the beneficial insect
was in the state originally. The first
came in through negligence and lack
Of foresight; the second can be brought
in only by great labor and research.
The early fruit growers were more in
fluenced by enthusiasm for the intro
duction of new and rare fruits than
by wise caution in not importing at
the same time about all the fruit
trees in the known world. The pests
came in through infested trees, shrubs,
green and dried fruits, etc., because
in the early days no one thought of
horticultural inspection and quaran-
tine such as California has since es-
tablished; but the parasites did not
come with them; so the pests gained
a foothold, multiplied by the million,
and have been productive of infinite
evil.
Again, it may be asked why it is so
difficult to obtain these parasites ecen
in foreign lands, which are apparent
~ their natural home. This question
is also easily answered: In lands where
pest and parasite exist in conjunction,
there is eternal war between the two
species; one is on the offensive, the
other on the defensive, with the para
site always in the ascendency.
The pest gradually. disappears under
the constant attacks Of the parasites,
and as it disappears the parasite is de-
prived Of its natural food; for under
no conditions will it subsist upon a
vegetable diet; and then the parasite
disappears by reason of food famine.
So Compere does not look for para
site in any locality where the pest is
prevalent, for the very presence of the
pest is proof positive that the parasite
is not existent in that neigh orhood,
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