472 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



sion, and we are working together in most perfect harmony. The county 

 horticultural commissioners are doing splendid work, and we are all 

 pulling hard and strong together. The results are so beneficent that 

 you may rest assured that the most perfect harmony will continue. 



The cordial relations between' the State University and State Horti- 

 cultural Commission have been helpful and gratifying. At all our 

 State Fruit Growers' Conventions the university has given ready, 

 willing and very valuable assistance. This was especially exemplified 

 at Davis and is apparent here today. Only good can come from fullest 

 cooperation of all our state institutions. I am very grateful for the 

 generous assistance which has been so freely granted. 



You all know how the State Commission has pulled steadily with our 

 great United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C, 

 and why shouldn 't it ? Whenever we in California have had a problem 

 too difficult to solve the Department at Washington has given us telling 

 assistance. We have only to remember their gift of our present effi- 

 cient mode of fumigation, our means of preventing decay in fruit 

 through careful handling and the method of controlling pear thrips and 

 pear blight to make us most appreciative of their great and valuable ser- 

 ^'ice. No wonder that our United States Department of Agriculture 

 has given our country great prestige and well-earned praise throughout 

 the whole world for its happy combination of scientific research and 

 practical accomplishment. 



Weed, Insect and Fungus Control. 



Today we are in the lead in the work of insect and disease control the 

 world over. Our stir and enterprise as a people have brought to our 

 shores fruits, grains and vegetables from every section of the world. 

 With these importations came the special enemies of each, thus, before 

 we were aware we had the great list of injurious insects which are only 

 comparable in numbers with our great variety of crops grown. Un- 

 fortunately, we did not bring with the pests their natural enemies, 

 hence the great struggle to control these numerous pests. I believe, 

 however, that the same enterprise which brought the menace has been 

 or will be adequate to meet it. Indeed, we are today acknowledged 

 everywhere to be in the very lead in all this mighty work of pest control. 

 With tlie agencies now at work we shall soon be even better equipped 

 to safeguard the interests of our farmers. 



Our Mails. 



One of the imminent dangers, especially since the establishment of 

 the parcel post, is the great liability of receiving serious insect and 

 fungoid pests through the mails. We are receiving proofs of this 

 menace daily. It is thought that the white fly came into our state 

 through the mail. How easily a cotton boll weevil, the various scale 

 pests not yet introduced, the Trypetid flies and the alfalfa M^eevil may 

 be brought into California through the parcel post ! In response to an 

 urgent appeal from our office we received from the Government Postal 

 Department the order requiring certificate of examination before fruit, 

 plants, etc., can be mailed, yet absence of competent examiners lessens 

 the value of this order. A further order that post office officials may, 

 upon request, report to local inspectors the names of parties to whom 



