Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-17
UNTOLD GOOD
FROM PLANT
INSPECTION N
Millions of Dollars Saved
State If Pests Are
Kept Out

Efforts made by the county hOr-
ticultural commissioner to prevent
the importation of nOxiOus weeds
and plant pests into this county are
little known by the average citizen,
who now and then reads that q quar-
antine is on against this or that
plant, or on all goods coming from
certain sections of the country.
AS an example of the vigilance
Of the horticultural commissioner 8
office, any citizen of Ell Centre can
see deputy of the office who meets
the morning train here from Los
Angeles and inspects all seeds,
! shrubbery, plants and vines that
may be unloaded here.
Last week two carIoaus of pecan
trees were received in this city from
a Florida nursery. There were ap-
proximately 500 young trees in the
carload, and each was subjected to
a rigorous inspection before it was
unlOaded from the ears. Each day,
several bags of alfalfa seed are re-
ceived here and are carefully ex-
amined for seeds of. other plants, or
for low grade alfalfa seed.
Deputies are on duty at other re-
ceiving points in the valley and
close watch is kept of all importa-
tiOns by means of the railroad.
"a Hour Inspection at Yuma
Possibly the closest inspection of
all is that maintained on the bridge
at Yuma, where 24hour inspection
is operated and every car coming
into the county carefully searched,
also the contents and in some cases,
the occupants of the car. +. w.
Waite, county horticultural commits
sioner, explained at n meeting last
week, the Importance and the neces-
sity of this inspection at Yuma. He
said many Of the automobiles COM
ing into California through Yuma,
are from Texas and other southern
states, where the boil weevil has
been 81 source Of loss to the cotton
growers for years. The cotton in
California has been kept free from
all pests, and naturally it is the de-
| sire of the horticultural commission
to keep it so. Other ears coming
from sections where deciduOus fruits
are raised, frequently have young
fruit trees from the old place,
which the newcomers plan to plant
in California. In many cases these
plants are affected with scale or
some similar pest.
Mr.. Waite told of one Texas
farmer, halted on the Yuma bridge,
who strenuOusly objected to the in
spectOrs taking several small cotton
plants from him. He told them he
had gone broke on cotton in Texas,
due to the boil weevil, and was com
ing to California for n fresh start.
No Boil Weevil Here
When the inspectors finally con-
j., vinced him that there is no boil
weevil in California and that the
lplants he was carrying were undoubt-
edlyaffected by the pest, he express.
ed his astonishment, and said he had
firmly believed that all cotton areas
were infested with the boil weevil
and agreed that the inspection was
a good thing.
$50 far" said Mr.. Waite, "we
have been very fortunate in being
able to prevent any pests from get.
ting fOothold in the county and
through the cooperation of those
engaged in the agricultural and
horticultural lines our work has been
very successful. AS the inspection
of seeds, plants and vines is only
one small section of our work, we
! need all the cooperation we can
possibly get, and citizens can aid
us in a great measure by letting us
know of an ysuspicions they may
have of the existence of plant pests
in Imperial Valley.'