THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 537 



We wish to call attention to five victories gained the past four years, 

 all of which are of commanding importance : 



Yon will remember that unique and most exceptional special session 

 of the California legislature in January'-, 1912, called for the exclusive 

 purpose of enacting a State ciuarantine law to safeguard the horticul- 

 tural interests of the State against the ^Mediterranean fruit fly and 

 other insects and plant diseases. The law passed at that time is won- 

 drously efficient in its practical working. A gentleman of very large 

 experience in this particular sphere of service remarked to me a few 

 days since that if the legislature should give him cat^te hlanche authority 

 to change this law, he would not know where to add to or to erase. 

 California is marvelously fortunate in possessing this admirable quar- 

 antine law. You may all go home and sleep more soundly because of 

 its presence in our statutes. 



Perhaps the most signal victories of the past four years and the ones 

 least to be expected are our triumphs in securing invaluable congres- 

 sional action and, what is more surprising, these achievements came 

 .just at the close of two very strenuous sessions of that great body when, 

 as you know, all is hurly-burly and confusion. This Commission bent 

 every efi'ort to secure this legislation, and in two cases we feel sure that 

 this effort on the part of the Commission was the last straw. We also 

 feel certain that except for the superb and untiring efforts of Congress- 

 man William Kent these laws would not have been enacted. The first 

 law resulted in the establishment of the Federal Horticultural Board 

 which is so well officered and which is doing such magnificent service. 

 California and this board are working hand in hand, and we may all 

 breathe easier because of this hearty co-operation. The second law 

 financed the fight against the Mediterranean fruit fly on the Hawaiian 

 Islands, and thas the service was strengthened, and the expenditures 

 which California had been forced to make in this direction were 

 assumed by the general government. The third and best law of all, 

 as all who are in close touch with our great quarantine system know, is 

 the reg-ulation governing the shipment of plants and plant products by 

 parcel post, securing inspection by our own officials at terminal points. 

 Our wide experience and observation made us tremble, and in view of 

 the imminent danger this action, which might mean the salvation of 

 California's great fruit industry, was taken next to the last day of the 

 last session of congress. We also owe this colossal victory to Congress- 

 man William Kent. When you are informed that our inspectors have 

 taken in quarantine more than once live egg masses and larvfe of the 

 gypsy moth, whose attempted eradication has cost the state of Massa- 

 chusetts millions of dollars, and the end is not yet, and also live IMexi- 

 can orange maggots in the mails, you will begin to appreciate the 

 magnitude of this victory. This fight was commenced four years ago, 

 and I think my pulse never beat faster than when Congressman Kent 

 wired me that the measure was a law. 



Ten county horticultural commissioners have been added to this 

 efficient corps of workers, one of whom at San Francisco had been 

 wooed vainly for thirty years and was only won the past season. Such 

 victories are most encouraging. Any unprotected county is a state- 

 wide menace. Plans are on foot to officer the five remaining fruit 



