Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-04-11
WILL ENFORCE LAW

Made to Enforce the State Pest
Crop Law and Officials Today En-,
tered Upon Their Duties TO Kill
the Cedars.
At the v NJ. C. A. last Tuesday
meeting was held by the fruit grow
efs of the county for the purpose of
discussing the state crop pest law,
which was enacted at the last session
of the state legislature, and its en-
foreement. Prof. w f. Rumsey,
state entomologist, of the West Viz
ginai university. was present and de-
livered very helpful address.
Others present who made address
es were Senator Gray Silver, father
of the State Crop Pest Law; II. L.
Smith, president of the West Virgin
ia horticultural Society; Alex, Clio
han, president of the Berkeley Coun-
" I1OItlCuituidl 9OCittsi anu - w
Thatcher. president of the county
court.
1t will be remembered that last De.
cember the Berkeley County hortioul
tural Society held a meeting .n tlle
Firemen's Hall. and took steps toward
Kidding the county of the obnoxious
cedar trees Following that meeting
an appeal was made to the people Of
the county, who had cedars on Their
farms, to destroy them, and quite a
number did SO. But there are others
who have not and those engaged IN
growing fruit are now determined to
see that the law covering this ques-
ton is enforced TO the letter.
Recently notices were sent out ~
the people to destroy the trees or the
law would be enforced. 1t appears
that there are many who refuse 10
yield, and now the authorities viii
take the matter in hand and see that
the law is enforced and that the ced-
ars of this county; and, in fact the
eastern panhandle, are destroyed
without delay, because the season OF
the year has come when cedar rust
will become very dangerous and may
result in the fruit suffering great dam
age.
This morning Prof Rumsey and his
assistants went to the country to call
upon the farmers and ask them not
to delay any longer this work, and
should they not be successful STEPS
will be taken to have the cedars re-
moved and the fruit crops afforded
the protection provided for by the law
The Pest Commission.
The state crop pest law requires
that a state crop pest commission
shall be appointed Since the law
was enacted the following commission
has been named; E. D. Sanderscn,
chairman, Morgantown, director West
Virginia Agricultural Experiment
Station; H. e, Williams, Charleston,
Commissioner of Agriculture; H. L..
Smith, Martinsburg, president West
Virginia State Horticultural Society,
and w. e. Rumsey, ! Morgantown,
State Entomologist.
This commission is now busy at
work looking after the horticultural
and agricultural interests of the state,
and will see to it that the law is
strictly complied with, because it is
realized that only through its rigid
enforcement satisfactory results can
be obtained.
Section six of the law says:
THAT should any of the officers
aforesaid, through their assistants Or
employees. or by any notification what
soyer, find any trees. vines, shrubs,
plants or parts Of plants infested or
diseased with, or harboring insects
or diseases published by the state
crop pest commission as dangerously
injurious, the aforesaid officers SHAH
mark or tag in some conspicuous way
all trees, vines, shrubs, plants or
parts of plants infested with or har-
boring the aforesaid insects or lis
eases, and shall give notice in writ
ing to the owner or owners, tenant or
persons in charge of such premises OF
the conditions thereof; and thereupon
if such person or persons so notified,
shall not within ten days after notifi-
cation destroy or treat the same in
accordance with the rules and regula-
lions of the state crop pest commls-
sion, which regulations shall accom-
pany said notice, a copy OF which
rules and regulations shall be sent
upon application to any person, tsen
the state crop pest commission shat!
through its officers, assistants or ena-
ployes destroy or treat all such IT -