The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-02-11

reduction in the number of inspectors
has been necessary for reasons OF
economy.
The other badly infected area of the
State is on Santa Rosa Peninsula, in
Walton County, where the disease 90
tanned considerable Roadway before
the people could be impressed with it's
seriousness, and before their co-opera-
ton could be secured in taking pl;
cautlonary measures. The people of
Santa Rosa are now cooperating with
the Plant Board in a most hearty man.
ner. Several inspectors are now de-
tailed for duty on the Peninsula, and
the number Of infected trees is being
steadily decreased.
Continued Inspection and Eradication
Work Necessary.
In the case of all other infected
properties in the State, the infected
trees have been promptly burned upon
discovery, and the cooperation of
growers and others has been enlisted
to such an extent that in only a few
instances have there been secondary
infections. The secondary infections
have, however, shown the absolute ne
cessity of continuing precautions for
many months after the initial out
break of the disease, and fancied Sc
curity by the growers of a community
after a few months have elapsed with
out further outbreaks is perhaps one
of the most dangerous things with
which the Board and the growers have
to contend in eradicating the disease.
There are many thousands of acres
of citrus groves in the State which
have not been inspected at all by the
Plant Board inspectors and until
thorough inspections can be made of
the entire State a constant and seri-
Gus danger exists in canker infections
which have not yet been discovered.
The Greatest Menace.
Without doubt the biggest menace
to the citrus industry of the State
now is the presence in nearly every
county of the State of citrus trees
which were shipped out of the Grit
fling Brothers Nursery during the sea-
sons of 1913-14 and 1914-15. These
trees aggregate for the two seasons
approximately 10000, and, as stated
above, infections of eleven counties of
the State have been due solely to
these trees. C!la Pla 1t Beard mas ex-
pended many thous'. ID dollars in fine
ing and inspecting these trees. and in
asking the ownar's permission to de-
stroy them, as it is realized that cank-
err may develop on any of them at any
time. Up to the present Time owners
have given consent for the destruc-
ton of over $4,000 of these, and if
the owners of the remaining ones
knew the danger which their contin-
ued presence involves permission for
the destruction of the rest of them
would be forthcoming at once.
Federal Aid Needed.
In spite of the progress which has
been made in the campaign against
citrus canker the Plant Board is new
erthless confronted with the necessi-
ty of reinspecting for many months
to come all citrus trees in the neigh
borhood of former infections, as well
as the 145,O00 trees from the Griffing
nurseries which are distributed over
the entire State.
Although the State of Florida,
both through its Legislature and its
citizens, will without doubt provide
literally for the warfare against t.
disease for as long time as may be
necessary, the task of it's eradication
is one which is too tremendous for
the State forces to accomplish unaid-
ed. 1t is most properly situation
which should be dealt with by the Fed
eral Government. The menace does
not threaten the Florida citrus indus
try alone, but also that of the Gulf
States and even California and Arizo-
ma. In its bearing on the cost of liv-
ing, the eradication of the disease is
of direct personal interest to every
citizen of the United States.
(Signed) WILMON NEWELL,
Plant Commissioner.
Gainesville, Fla.
January 20, 1916.