Arizona republican., 1916-01-22
1T
 CITRUS STOCK
Orange Growers of the Val ley Preparing Petition to
 Horticultural Commission for Protection Against
 Importation of Pests

The Arizona Orange Association is preparing a petition to the state horti- culture commission asking for a quar- antine against the importation of nur- sery stock which the commission at a late meeting decided to submit under inspection The following is copy of the petition:
 Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 2l, 1916. To the Commission of Agriculture and Horticulture of the State of Arizona Gentlemen:
 We, the citrus growers of Arizona, hereby petition your honorable body to place at once an absolute statewide quarantine against the importation of all Citrus nursery stock and against such other plants as have proven | themselves to be carriers of citrus pests, for the following reasons, to- i wit:
 | The only way to keep this state free I from citrus pests is absolute quaran- tine, which could in no way hinder the l development of any industry in the state; on the contrary, it would be a protection to home industry and an 1 advertisement for our state. This state is now clean of citrus pests@the only citrus growing state in the union that is clean. It would be a crime to allow it now to become infected. Cali l fornia and Florida were once clean: now, this great industry in those states is to large extent destroyed These pests occur in a new country | only by importation. :. single impor- tation from Japan to Texas and from Texas to the other gulf states, ha. caused those states to ask the fedora government to contribute $4,000,00t | for use this year as a lt,-It of the nee l eSSary expense to combat the citru. canker which is destroying the citru. industry in those states. California is now eXpending yearly over $2,0O0, ,00t to combat the pests. This represent. only q part of the added annual ex- pense. The damage to the industry i many fold that amount and bids fai to ultimately destroy it.
 The only way to keep this stat free from citrus pests is absolut quarantine. We respectfully, but very urgently, ask immediate action.
 The Yuma growers are equally in terested and before the last meetin, the following letter was addressed t, a member of the local association:
 Dear Sir:-I see where the commis sion of horticulture is to hold an opel meeting in the near future and I wis . to take this occasion to urge that yo attend and speak for us.
 As you know we have put in an ir rigation system here on the mesa t supply 300 acres arid This amour will be planted to citrus fruit insd the next eighteen months and not fo speculative purposes but to keep a an income property.
 We have been in the orange busi ness in California for a good man years and so are in a position to hay some very positive personal opinion as to manner of conducting a quaran 1 tine in a state which is already free ( | insect pests and do not hesitate to Sd that in our opinion the biggest possi ble service that could be rendered tn state and particularly the fruit grow 1 ing interests therein would be tn maintenance of quarantine so rigi 1 in all respects that the country woul remain clean.
 { territory once infested is alway infested as shown in California i spite of the advanced method handling the situation.
 We would strongly recommend tha all plants and trees capable of carry ing citrus pests be shut out absolute ly and in so doing we are certain ths the best interests of all concerne woulG be served.
 With best regards, I am
 Yours truly,
 | (Signed) GEO. M. HILL.
 Yuma, Dec. IS.