The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-12
Tampa Tribune.)

been conducting in its editorial and
news columns, two campaigns OF vital
interest to this State anud particular
iy to south and central Florida, name
ly: For through rates on freight from
northern and eastern points via New
York and the sea to Tampa, to in
terror points in Florida; and the
enactment of compulsory spraying
law to bring under control and, final
ly, to eradicate, plant pests.
TIL efirst named need is about to BE-
realized and remedied. 1t is safe to
predict that within very short time
any firm or person will be able to
ship goods from interior points in
the north and east to interior points
in Florida and enjoy the advantages
of a rail-and- water rate via Tampa.
This matter is now in the hands of
the Tampa Board of Trade, and what
ever that body really goes after 1t
gets.
The other campaign-for Curbing
the plant pests which are costing the
State of Florida millions Of dollars
annually in cutting down the product
of its fruit orchards and farms--is yet
in the formative stage. With the meet
ing Of the legislature only month
away it behooves the growers TO CO.
ordinate in action and insure the
passage of law like that Of Califor-
mia which vests in the State and the
county the right to compel the curb
ing-and eradication, where possible
of plant pests.
Any we'll informed citrus fruit
grower knows that the presence Of
whitefy in his grove costs him much
money every year, because this in
sect retards growth, stunts the fruit
lessons the yield and leaves its mark
on the skin, compelling extra hand
ling in the fruit washers as we'll as
installation of expensive machinery to
do this washing. He can tell you al
so that the whitefy is only one of a
dozen insects or fungus growths that
spell danger and expense. Also that
no matter how conscientious grow
er or group of growers may be in
the matter of spraying trees AMI
plants, if there is one grower in the
community who does not spray then
his grove becomes a breeding place
for all sorts of pests which spread
over the whole area and infest trees
Of those owners who have obeyed the
plainest rule of insurance by spray
ing.
He can tell you, also, that Califor-
mia has for years quarantined against
Florida fruits, while California prod
ucts come into this State. He could
tell you that one reason why Florida
did not have a more representative
exhibit at the San Francisco fair was
that it was necessary to get special
order showing the entrance Of Flor
ida fruits into California.
For the California grower has had
his troubles-is still having some, fol-
that matter-and has set up a wall Of
protection about an industry that has
grown until the coast State Is now
producing and shipping about TWEEN
ty-fve million boxes Of oranges each
year.
California enforces its compulsory
spraying law and has reaped great
benefit thereby. 1t hasn't been 9
hardship on the grower. It ha
proved boon and Put money in hi
pocket because his fruit trees pro
duce more abundantly, being healthy
and the cost Of handling the fruit Il
less because it is clean as it come!
from the trees.
He might tell you also, that NOR
than one State has questioned the al
visibility Of letting Florida fruit ell
ter its borders because of these plan
diseases, and that their presence con
stitute an ever growing menace t
the industry.
Soon after the Tribune began it
crusade for a compulsory sprayin
law the East Coast Chamber of Con
MERGE, which is composed Of grou
of live trade bodies on the east coas
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas, the State of Florida large
ly depends upon its horticultural il
dustries for the greater part of i
financial incomes, and
Whereas, anything that is destru
tive in any measure to our horticu
tural products and affecting the '
tality of plant life to the point
decreasing our revenues and inte
fering seriously with our efficiency
producers of food, and
Whereas, visitors to our State col