Imperial Valley press., 1927-10-31
BAN ON FLORIDA
CITRUS FRUITS
HELD JUSTIFIED
Presence of Disease ON
Eastern Crop Assigned
AS Reason.
BY G. H. HECKE
Director of Cal. Dept. of Agriculture

director OF Cal. UCpt. OF Agriculture
Lack of proper understanding un-
doubtedly accounts for the more or
less frequently expressed opinion
that Florida citrus fruits are pro
hibited admission into California be-
cause the citrus industry in this
state fears competition. No plant
quarantine restriction has ever DcGn
paced by this state for any purpose
other than to protect agriculture
from the Introduction of some scri-
quarantnes have always been Inn
tied to those pests which could not
be effectively excluded through in
spectlOn of the particular commodi-
ties with which they might be trans
ported, and which, because of the
damage they have done III those To-
calitles where they are established,
well justify the conclusion that If
introduced here, they would serious
iY affect some Drancn of agriculture.
Citrus fruits from Florida and
ether southern states are embargoed
by California because of the occur
renee in those states of two serious
diseases OF citrus not known to oc-
eur in California, the citrus canker
disease, (Pseudomonas citrD, and
.urus mclanose, (Phomopsis citri).
Brought from Japan
The citrus cancer disease was
first discovered IN the United States
i'll 1912, in Florida where it haS
been introduced on shipment OF
citrus seedlings from Japan. by
49l4 the Florida growers realized
that a disease possessing Il virulcncc
previously unheard of was playing
laVoc i'll their groves and a cam
palSn of eradication, consisting of
the destruction of the infected trees
by fire, was adopted. This warfare
on citrus cankcr has been going on
ever since that time and has extend
cd to other Gulf states to where this
disease has spread. In Florida ~
lone d. los bearing citrus trees and
343,2GO citrus nursery trees have
been dstroycd to date in this cam
Palgn, ana it is reasonably cstimat-
ed that III all the Gulf states up
ward of S20,00O,O00 has been cx.
pended or lost in this attempted
eradication without any compcnsa.
ton being paid the growers tor the
loss of their trees and crops.
The citrus mclanosc disease oc-
ours also i'll Florida and Several
other Gulf states, and is second only
t. citrus cankGr as IL major disease
attacking the citrus i'll Florida. The
United States department of agrl-
culture is authority for the state.
mcnt that this disease in those dls-
tilcts where 1t occurs in quantities
either actually renders unfit for hu-
htan consumption or nnpairs the
market value OF more citrus fruh
than all other active parasitic dis
eases combined.
Neither of these two serious dis
eases occur in California, yet both
OF them have been taken by Cali
fornia quarantine inspectors on
hIany occasions on citrus fruits of
fcrcd for entry into this state. Both
If these diseases are readily carried
ON oranges, grapefruit ard other cit
rus fruits, trees and cuttings, and
such infection is frequently not
discerniblc Or may be readily over
locked.
Florida Understands
Probably no better illustration of
tie necessity and justification for
California quarantine against
these citrus fruits can be given than
to quote the following extract from
a letter written by Mr.. Wilmon New