46S THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



B.\- Dr. a. J. Cook, before Fruit Growers' Convention at Los Angeles, November 11th. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Forty-fifth California State Fruit 

 Growers' Convention: It is a rare pleasure to respond to the hearty 

 greeting which we have just received from the president of your wide- 

 awake Chamber of Commerce. We were prepared for just such a 

 welcome. It has been demonstrated over and over again that Los 

 Angeles' other name is "hospitality." This city is famed the world 

 over for the warm generous welcome which all visitors receive. No 

 wonder you have the world's record for rapidity of growth in wealth 

 and population. Courtesy and kindly thoughtfulness are always 

 attractive, and they will always Avin to their possessors companionship 

 with the world's worthies. It is said that the best gauge to prosperity 

 today is the number of automobiles owned and paid for. Here, again, 

 you have the world's record. The United States Department of Agri- 

 culture is responsible for the statement that Los Angeles County is 

 agriculturally the richest county in the world. 



Is there any better index to stirring enterprise than is afforded by 

 ample means of transportation ? It is reported that Los Angeles is the 

 hub of the greatest local transportation sj^stem of the world. No wonder 

 that social betterment, wealth and population push to the very fore- 

 front with unparalleled activity in your great city. 



But I take it that your greatest reason for pride is your great and 

 unparalleled school attendance. I am told by our State Superintendent 

 of Education that in this you lead the world. It is said that the only 

 way that a child can escape schooling in Los Angeles is to grow whiskers, 

 which certainly insures educated mothers in the good days to come. 

 Educational greatness is most to be coveted of all civic possessions. 

 Los Angeles' growth in wealth and population can know no abatement 

 so long as her schools are in the lead. 



We are heartily glad to be with you. AVe feel sure that this will be 

 the banner convention, and we pray all of you to make yourselves 

 entirely at home in our meetings and to take active part in all discus- 

 sions. Our very full program constrains me to take no formal part in 

 this convention except in this address, so I crave your attention on two 

 points: The work of our commission and suggestions as to desirable 

 legislation. 



My desire when taking office three years ago was to greatly increase 

 the quarantine service, which I regard as of paramount importance; 

 to discover, introduce and establish new parasites that would greatly 

 reduce the vast sum of more than $1,000,000 which is now expended 

 annually in the control of our insect pests that filch so mercilessly from 

 our fruit growers ; to provide an entirely new service that would down 

 the fungous pests that often eclipse the insect in the work of destruc- 

 tion ; to provide accurate, up to date treatises on destructive insects and 

 fungi and on all the several fruits which are produced in our state ; to 

 furnish information on topics of current interest regarding fruit pro- 

 duction and the betterment of our fruit markets; to secure reliable 

 statistics regarding our orchards and their productions; to work in 

 closest harmony with the county horticultural commissioners, our 



