The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-18
HORTICULTURAL BILL
IS VERY RADICAL

OLYMPIA, Feb. IA bill making
sweepiugipg changes 10 existing horti-
cultural laws OF the state have been
approved by the legislative committees
on horticulture and will be submitted
to the legislature for approval during
the week.
The law as drawn, was recommended
by the Washington State Horticultural
Society and by horticultural Institutes
all over the state. Fruit growers and
purserymen OF Washington are In
Olympia working for the passage OF the
bill.
The new law provides that the state
commissioner Of horticultural must be
a graduate OF an agriculture college,
and the new bill has been amended TO
read that his Office shall be in Tacoma
instead OF kennewick as the BILL first
proposed. The Office OF district hOrti-
cultural inspector is created, and
twepty.four new districts arranged
Each OF the districts is to be provided
with q district inspector who is 70 be
appointed by the state commissioner
OF horticultural. A salary OF al,ooo q
year is allowed to district inspectors.
District inspectors are empowered to
hold institutes for the discussion OF
horticultural subjects; they must in
SGT Ct orchards and nurseries, and re-
ouire the disinfection OF trees infected
with pests; they must prevent the
shipping and sale OF infected fruit ex'
cept where it is 70 be used in the man
uiacture OF byproducts.
Each pursery.man doing business in
the state is required TO secure yearly
license on payment OF fee OF -. He
must file bond Of 5000 as guaran
tee that he will comply with the horti-
cultural laws OF Washington and TO
guarantee that his trees shall be true
TO name.
The state commissioner OF horticul.
tnre is 10 issue bulletins descriptive OF
diseases injurious to trees, and tree
owners are required TO keep their trees
healthy. District inspectors are en-
powered to enter the premises OF
tree owner at any time TO see ii the
law is complied with. They have the
right to enter places where fruits and
trees are stored and destroy infected
portions II the owner fails to do SO up
on proper notice. The cost OF such
disinfection or destruction becomes q
lien upon the property of the owner
Firms shipping fruit into the state
must mail q notice OF the fact to the
state commissioner Of horticultural, in
order that the stock may be Inspected
as Il enters. Agents OF transportation
companies also must notify the state
commissioner on arrival Of trees.
The bill provides that district hor-
ticulture inspectors institute must he
held annually at the state college.
Fruit trees must be sprayed once an
nually with q preparation where form
ula Is prescribed by the state com
missioner.
Fruit grown 10 the state, shall, when
offered for sale, have marked On the
package the names and variety OF the
fruit, the name of the grower, and the
number Of pieces In the package.
Nurserymen who falsely represent
stock are liable to fine OF from $50 to
500.
A "distrct horticultural fund" is
created to be handled by the state
treasurer. The fund is to be created
by tax levied by the county commits.
sioners, but in the ensuing year the
legislature is asked to appropria to
sufficient moneys to pay the expenses
OF the commits ,iOner and his assistants
All other horticultural laws are re.
pealed by the bill, which carries an
emergency clause