542 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



are right. "We are sending them out much earlier this year than ever 

 before. Next year we shall probably send them even earlier, shipping 

 direct from the mountains to Imperial Valley and other places, where 

 they are needed. This will save largely of expense and from our obser- 

 vation this year in the field we believe they will breed up rapidly and 

 therefore the numbers will be greater as the cantaloupes become infected 

 with the aphids. 



We sent some of the ladybirds to the barley field early in the season 

 this year, and Mr. Harry S. Smith, superintendent of the State In- 

 sectary, found them breeding very rapidly. The people of Imperial 

 Valley are very confident they are receiving great help from these little 

 predators. — A. J. Cook. 



FROSTS. 



The great freeze of the winter, which did such harm in the south, 

 has been followed by numerous frosts reaching far into the north. 

 "While considerable harm has been done, it is hoped that it is not as 

 serious as was at first feared. — A. J. Cook. 



HORTICULTURAL LEGISLATION. 



A word regarding the bills relating to horticulture will be of special 

 interest to our readers. The act concerning the office of the State 

 Commissioner of Horticulture does not materially change the adminis- 

 tration. Instead of one deputy quarantine officer we will have two — 

 one at San Francisco and the other at Los Angeles. The salary will 

 be the same as heretofore. The plant pathologist with the two just men- 

 tioned will be in the statutory list. 



In the budget we are especially interested in The Monthly Bulletin. 

 For the last two fiscal years we have only issued nineteen instead of 

 twenty-four numbers, as I did not take office until October, 1911. The 

 circulation is increasing so rapidly that we feel we must have five 

 thousand dollars more for the next two fiscal years. 



"We are now also fully equipped to win success in securing parasitic 

 and predaceous insects from the Orient. As is well known, almost all 

 of our fruits have been grown in the Orient for many years. Our worst 

 pests are nearly all there, and yet do little harm. Does this not sug- 

 gest that we should at once be engaged in this direction? "We ask for 

 twelve thousand dollars for this work. I believe we shall' gain in both 

 these matters as it would be almost criminal neglect in not gra^sping so 

 promising an opportunity. 



A second bill provides for inspection of seeds. This has only to be 

 mentioned to win support. I believe it will meet with little opposition. 



The Slater bill has caused very much discussion and has met with 

 some opposition. The bill calls for the same painstaking in giving 

 information as to intercounty shipments, especially of nursery stock, 



