Imperial Valley press., 1921-06-09
WAITE TELLS
Of MEETING
IN s A t:
CAPITAL
Horticultural Commission
ers Discuss Bugs and Bee
ties and How to Get Rid
of Worst of Them.

+. w. Waite, horticultural commits
sioner, attended the state association
meeting of the horticultural commits
sioners at Sacramento the week Of
May 1928. which was called by State
Director G. II. Hecke, this morning
made his report on the meeting.
The meeting opened Monday at 80
p. m. by an address by Director Hecke.
Among the subjects on the program
which were given very careful consid-
GRAFTON, were problems of pest con-
troll, plant quarantine, agricultural
chemistry, Standardization and agri
cultural measure passed by the 44th
session of the California Legislature.
Under pest control: Grasshopper
campaign, nematodes, rodent control,
disinfection of nursery stock, parasite
distribution, and prevention of inter-
county spread of pests and diseases.
These subjects We're thoroughly dis
cussed. Nematodes are of special in
terest as the state is widely infested.
Every effort should be put forth to
check its spread. One commissioner
reported that nematode infested pota-
toes were thrown in an orchard and
plowed under as fertilizer and the
trees are now all dead. Nematodes are
also called eel worms or root knots,
causing root rot of nearly all kinds of
vegetables.
Wonderful progress has been made
in parasite distribution, in other words
collecting beneficial insects and plac-
ing them in orchards where they deS
troy the destructive insects. The latest
success in these beneficial insects is
the destruction of the dreaded mealy
bugs, which have not been controlled
by sprays or fumigation.
There were % Legislative bills listed
on the program for discussion. Those
receiving the most attention We're Sen
ate bill No. POI, Fruit and Vegetable
standardization; Senate bill No. 23l,
noXous weeds; Senate bill No. 6, pure
esed law, and Senate bill No. 273, eco
nomic poisons.
There are several changes in the
fruit and vegetable standardization
law which are Of great benefit. One
important addition gives the director
of agriculture full power to enforce
the provisions of the act and have con-
troll over all enforcing officers, the re-
suit will be unification throughout the
state.
OF special Importance is the pure
seed law, Senate bill No. 6. This bill
provides that all seed sold in lots of
IS pounds or more must be labeled,
showing kind, termination, DoXious
weeds, and purity. Senate bill No. 273
provides for the regulation of manu-
facture, sale and use of economic poi
sons, preventing adulteration, mis-
branding and misrepresentation Of
same.
Another very serious pest, not vet
in this state was discussed. 1t was the
alfalfa weevil which is now in Idaho
Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. A small
field of about acres near Reno was
reported infested and when inspected
and surveyed they found about 1000
acres infected.
Due to the heavy travel through
these states by autos it is very inn
portant that every precaution be 1ak-
en- to keep it out of this state. Mr.
Smith said that it was necessary to
visit the infested fields and see the
larva in action in order to be able tC
detect them should they get into the
alfalfa fields of California. He strong.
ly advised every commissioner and as
many inspectors as possible who have
alfalfa fields in their respective coun
ties TO make this trip. One wa:
planned and many left Sacramento OF
Friday but due to the cantaloupe in
spection it was impossible for us K
go at this time.