Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-02
Effect OF San Jose Scale en- Ship.
ments of Apples to
Germany.

frulC growers Will IeHIeluDtI
that, a few years ago, Germany was
determined to exclude American
fruits from her markets in order to
prevent the introduction Of the
San Jose scale. This was carried
to the extent of attempting to ex-
clude evaporated fruit, and it was
only after the most vigorous pro-
tests that this ruling was changed.
Our fruits are admitted now, but
they must be free from San Jose
scale and other dangerously injur.
ious insect pests.
These facts are brought out
clearly by the following extract
from letter just received by this
office from ona Of the largest firms
importing apples into Hamburg:
about 6 to s years ago, when
we imported a heavy quantity OF
Virginia apples, we hardly had a
lot which was not free from scale,
but. in the course of few years,
matters there entirely changed. and
two years ago we Involuntary Sc.
cured a good MANY Virginia apples
which were scaled and, when
they arrived here. we had to trans.
ship them to another foreign port,
which naturally caused us some
considerable losses OIL such scaled
fruit. No doubt, you know that
such apples are not allowed here,
and we have to export them to
another country.
"You will easily understand that
it is of big Importance to us to
know which districts of Virginia
are free of scale and where we can
buy apples which are suitable for
our trade, and therefore we would
request that you tell us by return
Of post which districts are danger
Gus for our trade and in which dis
tricts or counties we can buy with
ont running the risk Of getting
supplied with scaled fruit.
Any one familiar with the histo-
ry of our inspection laws knows
that it required,three years of agi.
tation to get the law passed and
that, when passed in 1896, it car
ried no appropriation, one of the
College officials volunteering to DO
the work without paw and the trav-
cling expensts being paid from
the proceeds of some gard n work,
which the board felt at liberty to
devote to it. This ann unit was in.
creased from time to time by thu
Legislature. and quite system of
inspection has been built up, but
the work is left largely in the
hands of the county Boards OF
Supervisors, who may or may not
appropriate sums in excess of $3.50
per annum. In some counties they
have responded literally, and the
work is being pushed with vigor.
We have always urged upon our
growers the necessity OF exporting
only the very best fruit and insist
ed that it should be free from San
Jose scale also. On this point our
law possibly lacks its defniteness,
and our fruit growers should mite
to help prevent the shipment of
infested fruit, as we'll as in trying
to get and amendment to the State
law that will help to make this
phase of il more effective.
We are confronted by the real
danger, as mentioned in the above
quotation, of having our apples re-
shipped from tie German markets
if they are found to be infest' d.
and the consequent setback and
reduction in prices, and. if our
growers should send ever so little
infested fruit, there is always the
possibility of all American fruit be
ing excluded from the best German
markets.
A good step to be taken at the
present time is for the local horti-
cultural and fruit growers orgsni.
cations to take up the matter and
arrange for the local inspectors of
the different counties to inspect the
fruit and certify to its condition.
The growers should organize in ev-
cry county and fruit growing dis
tricts and see that some such &C
ton is taken promptly. No law OF
this character can be fully effective
without such organizations and in
spectors and the active co.opera-
ton of the growers in all matters
pertaining to the advancement OF
the industry.
This office is ready at any time
to CO operate in anv practical wav,
with the means at its command, in
the furtherance of this important
matter. j. L1PHILLIPS,
State EntomOlogist