Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-02
QUARANTINE ON
IDAHO ALFALFA
CAUSES BIG LOSS
Serious Situation Confronts
the Hay Growers of the
State Because of Action
Taken.

serious situations in their history or
the history of the state and If they
do not act quickly they will find the
million tons of alfalfa, valued at mil
lions of dollars they have grown this
year completely blockaded from going
on the market outside iof this state.
The seriousness of the situation Is
brought to light by a letter received
by state Horticultural Inspector
John IT, Mcpherson from the horticul-
tural inspector of California who had
placed a quarantine on Idaho alfalfa
on the grounds it is infected with
weevil. Mr. Mcpherson has been
working single handed in an attempt
to raise this quarantine. The Cali
fornia official has failed to do so and
Idaho alfalfa is blocked from ship
ment into that state.
May Mean Great Loss.
Should the other states in the Union,
especially those great feeding states.
place the same quarantine on Idaho
alfalfa, the great crop of alfalfa grown
in Idaho this year will be forced to re-
main in this state, where it will be
impossible to feed it as there is not
the stock. This will mean the loss of
hundreds Of thousands of dollars to
the growers. 1t is. believed that all
state organizations interested and all
growers will have to act quickly to
prevent this blockade, for the issue
has now become serious one.
state Horticultural Inspector Nc
Pherson wired the state horticulture
inspector of California to ascertain
why Idaho alfalfa had been discrim-
mated against. He received the fol-
lowing letter in reply which is self
explanatory:
October rs, 1912.
Mr.. ]. U. Mcpherson,
State Horticultural Inspector,
Boise, Idaho.
My Dear Sir: Your night letter re-
ceived, and in answer beg to say that
we have quarantined, as you will see
by enclosed quarantine order, against
hay, ETC., from your state. I have
from authorities in Utah and the de-
partment OF agriculture reports that
tho alfalfa weeyil has reached west
ern Idaho. Our alfalfa crop this year
will be worth s50,O00,o00. You know
the havoc produced in Utah, so we
feel we must keep this pest from our
deputy to Utah to Investigate this
matter, and he brings report that there
is danger in bringing hay, bee hives
and possibly seed from affected re-
gions, so you see we could do no less
than we have done, though we did it
with sincere regret. l am sure that
you will agree with me that we must
protect our people by all possible
means, and we shall do this though
we shall be very sorry to do it where
1t produces injury to other states or
sections.
appealed to the railroads before
issued the order. The Southern Pa
cific replied that they had instructed
all their agents to reject hay, even
forbidding cars from infested regions.
The Salt Lake road replied that as
there was no quarantine they felt
helpless in the matter. so you see we
were forced to make this order. II
as you say there is no infection in
your state, l regret exceedingly that
your state was included, but are you
sure that you are right? The depart
ment of agriculture people are usually
very cautious.
Hoping that we may adjust this
matter so that all may feel that no
wrong has been done, and wishing
you all success in your work, / am
Yours truly,
A. J. COOK,
State Commissioner Of Horticulture.
Mcpherson Protests.
State Horticultural Inspector Nc
Pherson replied with the following let
ter OF protest:
October 81, 1912.
Professor A. ]. Cook,
Horticultural Commissioner,
Sacramento. Cal
Dear Mr.. Cook: Your letter Of the
2Sth inst. received, and also copy of
quarantine No. 16, the quarantine in
this state on shipments of alfalfa and
bees
/ note what You say in regard to 1t
being reported to you that there is al
falfa weevil IN this state. although
there may be some in Oneida and
Bear Lake counties, but it is confined
to this district right along che Utah
line. I also wish to say that no hay
from this section is shipped out. This
is one of the large dairy sections of
Idaho, and every pound of hay raised
is fed up, in fact, l have known Of
hay being shipped into that section.
The principal alfalfa growing sec
lions are Twin Falls, Lincoln Ada, Ell
more, Canyon and Washington coun-
ties. These, l am certain. are not in
tested with the alfalfa weeyil, and
from these counties large quantities
of hay are shipped out of the state, in
fact, last year, for, a period Of about
six weeks, a trainload of hay per day
went out Of that section to eastern
and southern points. Now, in regard
to your protecting your state from
this pest l think that you are abso-
lutely right, but I do feel that it, is
wrong to quarantine the whole state
of Idaho when the big alfalfa sections
have no weevil J
This I am certain Of, and in this
connection wish to draw your atten-
ton to the Arizona quarantine law
which does not quarantine the whole
state but only those portions where
I,ss,