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THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



as well as the little city of shops aud warehouses erected by the corporation, cause 

 the visitor to wonder how it could be possible to transform the wilderness of a great 

 cattle ranch into a thriving community in the short span of four years, and to aid 

 so greatly in the development of the natural resources of San Luis Obispo County. 



During the year 1017. 3,700 acres of fruit and nut trees were planted in the 

 county largely in the Upper Salinas Valley. Some plantings were made in the 

 vicinity of Arroyo Grande, 20 miles south of San Luis Obispo ; a place once famous 

 at fairs and exhibits for its wonderful products in the fruit and vegetable line. This 

 almost doubles the previous year's plantings, and increases the orchard acreage by 35 

 per cent. San Luis Obispo CoiiDty today has 12,882 acres in bearing and non- 

 bearing orchards. 



PLANT INSPECTION IN SAN MATEO COUNTY. 



By Newton Peck, County Horticultural Commissioner, San Mateo, Gal. 



San Mateo County, situated on the peninsula just south of San Francisco, with 

 a climate of abundant moisture and coolness, and with the great metropolis as a 

 market, is practically devoted to the growing and cultivating of flowers, shrubs and 



ornamental plants. One going into the floral mart of 

 San Francisco, upon inquiry will be told that 7~> 

 per cent of all the display is grown in this county. 

 When, this is understood and one looks at the many 

 acres of landscaped grounds with their winding ways 

 of intricate design and living walls of cypress between 

 which grow trailing vines, roses, heliotropes, carna- 

 tions, hydrangeas and myriad kinds of flowers besides, 

 all bathed in the splendor of the California sun, and 

 again when one considers that every valued estate 

 has its own private greenhouse filled with exotics, 

 most rare, imported from all parts of the world, he 

 can imagine, if not the magnitude, at least the general 

 scope and character of inspection in this county. 

 Outside of our iuterstate shipments we have importa- 

 tions from many foreign countries, principally Hol- 

 land, England, France and Japan. 



Sometime ago the writer received a communication 

 from the State Commissioner of Horticulture for an 

 opinion regarding the establishment of a central point 

 or points in San Mateo County for the inspection of 

 all consignments. The reply was in the negative. The inspection of large boxes 

 or cases of exotic plants packed in sawdust — plants which are carefully balled or 

 potted — is a delicate problem, and they should be moved as little as possible after 

 inspection. For example, I have in mind — and this is no exception to the rule — 

 forty cases (each case weighing 700 pounds or more) that came into this county 

 last winter from Holland. The shipment was principally azaleas and rhododendrons 

 (balled plants). The packing was close and uniform. Between each two layers of 

 plants was nailed a strip of wood confining each plant in its place and immovable 

 unless the case was partially destroyed. I would invite any inspector to the pleasure 

 of unpacking and repacking such a shipment if he considers me in error. 



These conditions may not apply to every county, but any other ruling than that 

 which I have stated would seem to me impracticable and oppressive in San Mateo 

 County. There is a pleasing congeniality between the nurserymen and importers, 

 and this office. There is no display of autocratic position — no loftiness of asserted 

 superiority, but rather a disposition that all should keep within strict requirements 

 of the law. In all my condemnations there have been no complaints, but rather an 

 acknowledgement of the justice of plant inspection and apparent surprise that the 

 consignor was not better posted as regards our horticultural statutes. 



Due to our close proximity to the San Francisco quarantine office I can get in 

 touch with them at any time. I can not say too much for the assistance rendered 

 by Mr. Maskew, Mr. Compere and other members of the staff. Any commissioner 

 or inspector who visits San Francisco and misses the opportunity of calling at this 

 department does not do justice to his position. There is no surprise that our 

 federal government speaks of it as the most perfect quarantine system in the world. 

 Indefatigable workers, each and every one. They can conscientiously and justly 

 subscribe themselves to the motto which they have appropriately adopted, "Finis 

 rationem excusat." 



