47(1 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



PROGRAM FOR WORK IN SOLANO COUNTY. 



By G. M. Gates, County Horticultural Commissioner, Vacaville, Cal. 



Having only recently been appointed to the position of horticultural commissioner 

 of Solano County, this article can not deal with past achievements and must 

 necessarily be confined to a discussion of the present and future possibilities for the 



work in the county. 



For a number of years this county has been 

 without the services of a commissioner of horticul- 

 lure. During this time the doors have been wide 

 open for the importation of diseased, insect-infested, 

 and otherwise undesirable nursery stock and plants. 

 The chances which have been taken by the fruit 

 growers were such as can not be safely afforded by 

 an important fruit growing community such as we 

 have represented by the Suisun and Vaca valleys. 

 Now lhal we have again taken our place by the side 

 of those progressive counties which have recognized 

 the important horticultural interests by supporting a 

 county horticultural commissioner, we propose to 

 serve and protect this county in just as effective a 

 manner. 



In the inspection of incoming nursery stock and 

 plants the greatest care will be exercised. Nursery- 

 men as a rule are reliable business men, but none 

 can prevent the occasional shipment ot stock that is 

 diseased or insect-infested, for with the greatest of 

 care on the part of the nurserymen employees will sometimes get careless, and 

 undesirable or dangerous shipments will be made. 



It is not expected that the work of controlling insect pests and diseases of the 

 orchard will be heavy. The growers of Solano County as a whole are up-to-date 

 and give their orchards the best possible care, realizing that only healthy and thrifty 

 trees will give maximum crops and financial returns. 



The last legislature, in placing the eradication or control of ground squirrels in 

 the hands of the county horticultural commissioners, added another very important 

 duty to the list of those already assigned. In the valleys where intensive cultivation 

 is practiced there is usually little trouble from these pests; not so on the hillsides 

 where they play havoc with grain and forage crops. Community effort in poisoning 

 has resulted in' much benefit, and such work needs general encouragement. 



The duties of the commissioner in the enforcement of standardization laws are 

 very important. Solano County is a heavy producer of plums, apricots, cherries, 

 pears and other fresh fruits, and the protection of the fresh fruit shipping industry 

 through the regulation of the pack should result in great good to the county. 



The work is begun with a realization of its magnitude and possibilities: the 

 cooperation of the fruit growing interests of the county is expected, aud it will be 

 my earnest endeavor to serve Solano County to the very best of my knowledge and 

 ability. 



