The Florida agriculturist., 1907-07-03

(Odol LdDOI dlOI1cS, GIC., lO1 III III.
Pierce's defence of himself as published
in the California Fruit Grower. But
we think that his account of the work
which has been done there, may be Of
considerable interest, SO we copy it:
The discontinuance of the govern
1nent interest in the Pacific Coast
Laboratory and Wild Plant Improve
ment Gardens at Santa Ana, has led
to some misconceptions and miSstate-
mentS.
The undersigned was endorsed by
the faculty of the University of Michi-
gan and appointed by Secretary Rusk,
in 1889, to undertake. an investigation
into the nature and control of the
California vine disease After devoting
year to this work, it seemed ad-
visable to make a comparative study
Of this disease with vine diseases Of
southern Europe and Algeria, where
the same varieties of grapes ate grown.
AS the chief Of the division held that
the expense OF such fereign study
could not be paid by the Department,
the investigation was undertaken at a
sand dollars, including the loss of sa1a-
ry during absence from the United
States. Soon after returning to Cali
fornia, in the summer of 1891, it was
proposed to the Department that this
station be permanently established at
Santa Ana for the study Of plant dis
eases in general on the Pacific coast,
and that it be known as the Pacific
Coast Laboratory. This was done,
and the laboratory has since served as
a general bureau of information rela-
tive to plant diseases for the entire
region west of the Rocky Mountains.
The results accomplished have been
of great value to the region represent
ed. The work on peach leaf curl alone
has been saving approximately half
million dollars annually to the horti-
cultural industries Of the coast, and at
least one and half million dollars an
nually to the United States in general.
Large numbers of other diseases
have been successfully treated and the
general information disseminated over
the coast through correspondence has
resulted in great savings to the fruit
interests during the period the labora-
tory has been active.
lhe cause OF one Of the most serious
black canker-whch at one time bid
fair to destroy the entire apple indus
try of Oregon, Washington and Idaho,
was first demonstrated here and
satisfactory method of treatment
recommended through the press of the
affected region The cause of the
bacterial walnut blight of California
was first discovered and demonstrated
at this laboratory. A method of treat
ment shown to reduce the loss one
half was also ascertained through care
tul experiments. In relation to the
California vine disease, a resistant
vine has been found and it's hardness
proved through many years Of test
ing. Cuttings of this resistant variety
have been distributed from this labora-
tory for the past two years over all
parts Of the infected districts. The
breeding of this resistant to other
grapes for the transmission of its
hardness to new varieties Of fruit is
well in hand and is the only apparent
source of permanent relief from this
disease, which has already cost Cali
torn1a from forty to fifty millions of
dollars.
Advanced methods in the overcom-
ing of plant diseases are those looking
to the securing of resistant or immune
types Of plants. To further this line OF
work a search was begun for wild
plants resistant to the diseases with
Wf1ch We are struggling A search of
the world for all types of wild walnuts
was begun; also for all species of wild
grapes, wild loquats (resistant to To-
quat blght), for wild pears (resistan+