The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-06-16
AN ANT,-PEST BILL.

The state or Colorado has set an c.
ample In the matter OF anti-pest legts-
lation that might well be followed
with profit BY sister commonwealth.
The measure In question. which IL
known as the Casady-T Teller bill. Is
the result or the activity and interest
Of the State Ant-pest association and
in particular of the painstaking work
of the secretary Of the society. g. T.
Fitch Certain sections OF Colorado
suffered heavily from grasshoppers
and potato bugs during the years 1908,
1909 and 1910. and 1t was this emer-
gency that made the passage OF the
out amendment possible. The bill -
especially worthy or publicity because
1t recognizes definitely the cooperative
or community idea In the fighting OF
pests. type Of cooperation that -
imperative liz such work Is to be Ct
fective and farreaching. Briefly the
new law, which went into effect Inn
mediately upon it, passage, provides
for the protection OF trees. fruits, crops
and pasturuge against the ravages OF
insects, rodents. weeds and plant dis
eases. This protection may be invoked
whenever the owners of a majority OF
the acreage Of q given district not ex-
ceeding thirty-si2 square miles file
petition in due form asking that pest
inspection district be established. This
ds directed to the board OF county COM
missioners and not only gives the
names and description of the lands OF
the interested petitioners, but defines
the area to be- set or a. an inspection
district and states the nature Of the
pest through which loss is threatened
The provisions of the new law are car
ried out under the supervision OF the
state entomologist and county inspec-
tors, which are appointed by the coun-
ty commissioners upon petition signed
by twenty-five persons The county in
spectors are in turn assisted by the dis
trict inspectors who are named i'm the
original petition.
The state entomologist is required to
make inspections twice a year of all
sections where he has reason to be
lieve pests exist or when asked to do
so BY the district inspectors. He may
direct determination work TO be done,
and ID case II is not the inspector may
take it in charge. Violations Of the
provisions Of the act or failure to car
ry out the directions or authorized in
spectors is subject to a fine Of not
less than $50 nor more than $500. and
each days delay i'm Obeying instruc-
tons is a separate offense, while the
cost of work done by inspectors where
the owner fails to act becomes a
lien upon the land. inspectors having
pest work in hand must make month
ly reports to the state entomologist,
who furnishes them with necessary
blanks and gives directions TO property
owners for lighting the pest. The
state pays the additional salary Of the
entomolOgiSl and hiS deputies. while
the county pays the salary of county
and district inspectors and their help
err. The bill a. passed resembles
closely In important aspects the law
in force under the British board Of
agriculture in her Indian. African and
Australian colonies, where 1t has
proved very effective. The idea Of
small district cooperation is a feature
of the new bill suggested by a Colo
RADIO farmer