Graham guardian., 1912-01-12

transported from one State to an
other by means of packed boxes Of
fruit. Under the circumstances it
should be noted that there is no in
sect more likely to be shipped from
the apple growing sections of Utah,
enclosed in boxes of fruit, than is
this alfalfa pest.
AS soon as the Utah apples were
discovered in the Phoenix markets,
the writer took the matter up with
the local wholesale fruit dealers and
it needed no urging for them all to
agree to specify hereafter, in order
ing fruits from Los Angeles or else
where, that no Utah products would
be acceptable. 1t is hoped that all
other importers in Arizona will also
adopt this plan.
California fruit growers consid-
cred that Arizona was menace to
them before our horticultural law
was adopted and put in operation.
We are admittedly still a menace to
California, since the most dreaded
orange pest, the Mexican orange
maggot, may at any time gain en-
trance through Nogales with some
passenger destined to California.
A maggot infested orange brought
|by passenger from Mexico might
be discarded at Yuma, Riverside,
San Bernardino or any other citrus
growing locality If the passenger
happened to be bound in that direc-
tion. Arizona could and should do
Whatever is possible and practicable
in order to protect our own citrus
districts and to prevent unneces-
sary dangers to neighboring Stases
through our unprotected borders.
A national quarantine and inspec-
tion act is greatly needed where
lsuch international interests are con-
scerned, as in the case Of the Mexi-
can orange maggot. 1t is now the
turn of Arizona to turn to California,
asking protection against the need.
less risks involved in shipments OF
Utah apples to Arizona points by
way of Los Angeles and other dis
tributing points. The alfalfa grow
ers Of the Imperial valley and other
sections of California are doubtless
menaced in similar way since it is
probable that the wholesale dealers
of California are distributing home
grown and packed apples through
out Southern California.
The newly appointed California
commissioner of horticulture, DR.,
IA. j.. Cook, formerly professor OF
biology at Pomona college, is willing
and anxious to cooperate with horti-
cultural commissions and entomolo-
gists of other States for the mutual
benefit of all fruit growing and ag'
ricultural interests concerned. He
has been notified by the writer con.
cerning the shipments of Utah ap.
plies, and if it is possible for him to
take any steps to check this danger
both to California and Arizona, he
will no doubt do so.
In addition to taking the matter
lup with the local dealers, the writer
has written the following letter to
a distributing concern located at
Los Angeles:
| December 16, 1911.
Richardson, Holmes & Lamb Co.,
Los Ange es. Cal.
Gentlemen: | have recently
found in the Phoenix markets boxes
of apples packed at Provo, Utah, all
by the Royance Fruit Company
Provo is in the district infested by
the alfalfa leaf weevil and investi.
cations in Utah by the entomologist
of the experiment station there have
demonstrated that fruit packed in
the district infested with this insec,
is very likely to transport the adult
weevils from State to State.
! you may have heard something
of the destructiveness of the alfalfa
| leaf weevil. Alfalfa is the back
bone Of the agricultural industry ir
the Salt River valley, Arizona, 81
well as in several other of the i'm
portant irrigated districts. The in
. PRODUCTION of this insect here woulc
be terrible calamity and the dan
, ger is so imminent if the shipments
of fruit from Utah are to continue
, that am writing you this appeal t.
, avoid shipping to Arizona any frui
that originates at any point in Utah
/ have seen all of the wholesale deal
ers here in Phoenix, and after hav
I ing the danger pointed out to then
they have all agreed to specify il
ordering apples in the future tina
the fruit must be grown in othe
States than Utah.
Il understand that you have, dur
|, ing the past four months made ship
ments of Utah apples to Phoenix
and | feel sure that now that tn
matter has been brought to you
attention you will be glad to coop
crate with us by arranging to pre-
vent any further shipment Of Utal
. lapples to your Arizona customers.