Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-08-14
MES|LLA VALLEY TO
WAGE WAR ON
WORMS
Fruit Growers Propose to
Make Trouble if Wormy Fruit
is Shipped in-HorticuIturaI
Commissioners Act,

II dbh ioAA ~ Ctll IL II > flO use llAlll-
to ship 1t up the valley into New Mex
leo, for they have got the big stick
for anybody who tries to send wormy
fruit in among their orchards and
there will be trouble. says the El Paso
Herald. The fruit will be destroyed, If
nothing more.
For many years the fruit growers
of the Mesilla valley have been trou
bled, like others, since the davs of
Plato Che tells of the coddling moth in
some of his journalistic efforts. so it
is said by those who have made a
study of bugs and bugology. with the
coddling moth till almost all their frui.
was being lost, but his year the cold
II the frost got in ahead of the
coddling moth and killed the fruit.
and then the growers took a notion to
take strenuous steps to starVe out the
moths for a year and see what effect
II would have. Therefore they got the
New Mexico legislature to pass a law
for the inspection of fruit and for the
condemnation of wormy fruit and then
set to work to kill all the bad fruit
they could find, if any had escaped the
cold. a board of horticultural COM
mtssioners for Dona Ana county, con-
sisting Of Prof. Fabian Garcia, Theo.
Reault, and p. H.. Bailey was named
and they were empowered to see that
every bit of fruit in the county was
destroyed.
They appointed deputies and the
work was done. 1t has just been
completed and Prof. Garcia Is now in
El Paso to warn local shippers not to
send any diseased fruit to the NOR
chants. They hope by keeping all
wormy and diseased fruit out Of the
county, so that the larvae Of the moth
cannot be scattered, to prevent il APP
pearing next year, as they are sure
they have effectually disposed Of an
the moths in the county by killing an
the fruit, for the scientists say the
coddling moth will not live In any
thing but fruit and If any fruit has
been left in Dona ana county the com.
mtssioners of horticulture dc not know
Of H.
We do not wish TO cause any Itrou.
BILE 10 El Paso dealers or fruit grow
ers.' said Prof. Garcia to a Herald
man, and l have come down here to
notify them hat that we are making
effort to drive out the cOddliug
moth and that we want their help.
They can help US by not sending US
any wormeaten fruit and in this man
ner we are fairly certain that we can
start out next year without any danger
from worms. BY a proper inspection
OF all fruit brought In and by spraying
ana watching our wi orchards i'm tho
future we believe we can then keen
the moth under control. or hope to do
so anyway.
The coddling moth is as old as
fruit itself, it would seem. and is A
pest that ruins the fruit. | have seen
orchards that ! thought would yield
$4,000 worth of apples right here "a
the Mesilla valley. and these same or
rhards have not yielded $1,000 when
crop was sold, because the worms
rom the moth had ruined the fruit
! have notice from observation
among young apple orchards in the
Velley that 80 per cent Of the wind
AUS are wormeaten apples and tina
30 per cent Of the fruit remaining on
tree is also damaged by the
worms.
Phe coddling moth lays the eggs
IN the fruit ana they hatch into Young
The worms burrow into the
.ruit and have a life Of about twenty
lays, when they crawl out. spin a
'ocoon and leave IL to hatch out an
ither moth. This moth will hatch in
wo weeks in the summer time ana
immediately begins 20 lay eggs for am
'ther crop of worms. our only hone
or the fruit is to destroy the moths"
Warning Letter.
frof. Garcia served all the fruit |.
.ealers with a copy OF a letter which
us board is sending out. II Is as fo,-
pWs.
Las Cruces. y. NJ. Aug. l.. 1907.
% the Fruit Buyers and shippers in
~ Paso. Texas.
We wish 10 call your attention 10 4
1e work now being carried on in
Ana county. New Mexico, boz
latve out the %coddling moth. Thu
.eeze Of April 21st having killed prac- I
.tally all the fruit I'm the county. has
iade II possible FOR the plan Of starry
ls out the coddling moth TO be tried. [
n order To give this plan a. thorough 4
Test as possible, IL is necessary 10 ir I
rect all u orchards and destroy any {
.uit that has escaped the freeze and
p guard against the Introduction of Z
iH insects from other sections. iu \
.'rmy fruit that may be shipped in;,
county. The destruction of the 7
'uit which escaped the fruit and tn
rncction Of the fruit hat may be-
tipped into the county from other
.rtiors are the two important fea- B.
of the work.
The fruit found in the orchards in +
Dee valleys has already been de-
.f"yed and the work Of the inspectors :
ON now on will consist mostly OF tn"
'spection OF fruit shipped into the
filey. The New Mexico laws IN re-
'Fd % the inspection Of trees. vines.
ult. etc, are very strict. and the in +
-e'ors are instructed 20 enforce O.
not allow any fruit that g. wormy
irped IN. All fruit shipped into tho
rN Is subject 10 inspection. and n "A
'lnd wormy will be destroyed. y
We are DESTROYS. in order to avoid a
z trouble or losses 20 the shippert A
set your cooperation in this work.
you shin any fruit to anyone o.
'na Ana county. II should De pa
ii} sound. 80 hat 1t can stand The
rection test. III
Respectfully yours.
THEO RENAULT.
p. p. BAILEY.
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