290 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



to year, and it is safe to predict that the already good reputation that California 

 enjoys for her fine fruit will be extended because of her greatly improved pack. 



One great weakness in the original standardization law was its exemption from 

 inspection of fruit packed for intrastate shipment. This weakness has been elimi- 

 nated in the act of 1017, and now every box or package is subject to inspection and 

 must conform to certain standards, whether for intrastate or interstate shipment. 



We have been hearing the complaint, for a long time, that the good fruit was all 

 shipped out of the state and our own consumers, as a consequence, were forced to 

 accept a second or third-rate article. We may now hope for a decided change and 

 should be able to buy fruit of the finest grades and packs in the San Francisco, 

 Los Angeles, and other large markets of the state. 



Another valuable provision in the new law is found in the requirement that all 

 fruits not packed in standard containers shall be marked "irregular." Thus there 

 can be no encouragement for anyone to pack other than in standard containers for 

 the word "irregular" indicates something below the standard. 



The State Horticultural Commissioner and his chief deputy are named as "ex 

 officio inspectors in chief of fresh fruits," whose duties are to settle disputes which 

 may arise between inspectors of two or more counties, regarding the proper regula- 

 tions for their respective counties. This provision of the law is designed to bring 

 about greater uniformity in the work of the county horticultural commissioners in 

 whose hands the work of inspection is placed. G. P. W. 



The Deputy for the South and Citrus Canker. 



Our quarantine service has undoubtedly closed the doors tight against the intro- 

 duction of citrus canker by preventing shipments of nursery stock or fruit from the 

 East by rail or through the Pacific coast ports of entry. There is, however, one 

 possible avenue of entrance into our state, and that is through passenger traffic from 

 the infested regions of our own country. It has not yet been found practicable to 

 inspect the baggage of inward-bound passengers on our passenger trains and there 

 remains this one weak link iu our quarantine chain. A prominent citrus grower of 

 the South recently told me it was with difficulty that he resisted the temptation to 

 bring home with him from a trip to Florida some beautiful grapefruit. How much 

 more difficult would it be for one not familiar with the dangers of citrus canker to 

 resist such a temptation. 



Our quarantine guardians have frequently caught contraband canker material in 

 shipments from infested districts. It is imperative, therefore, that the danger of a 

 possible infestation be reduced to a minimum. If by any chance an infestation 

 should occur, it should be discovered and checked at once through the patrolling of 

 the citrus regions by a man who is thoroughly familiar with citrus canker. The 

 legislature, at its last session, authorized your commissioner to appoint a deputy for 

 the South. It is the intention of your commissioner to appoint for this work a man 

 of training and experience, the best man to be found, and immediately send him to 

 Florida for the purpose of studying thoroughly citrus canker in all its phases. After 

 thus familiarizing himself with this dangerous disease, his duty will be to patrol the 

 citrus districts of the state in order that any incipient outbreaks may be early 

 detected and means of eradication employed at once. We must keep out this disease 

 at all costs. O. H. H. 



