INTRODUCTORY. 23 



1. It has been fully demonstrated that the insect pests can 

 be exterminated in orchards at a profit to the owner of from 

 one hundred to five hundred per cent on the amount expended 

 for remedies thoroughly applied. 



2. Remedies of undoubted utility have been discovered, that 

 can be readily and thoroughly applied with the improved 

 facilities that the necessity of the times brought forth. 



3. We have become better acquainted with the natural his- 

 tory of the injurious and beneficial insects of California, and 

 standard works on economic entomology can be readily pro- 

 cured by those wishing to get them. 



4. In some of the districts that were seriously infested con- 

 fidence has been restored, and land has increased in value from 

 one hundred to two hundred per cent. 



5. That the work became popular may be shown by the cor- 

 respondence, etc., of the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer, 

 of which the following is a sample : 



From April 5, 1881, to April 5, 1883 :— 



Number of letters, postal cards, and packages received, 5,581 

 Number of packages and letters containing specimens 



of insects, etc., ------- 491 



Number of visitors at the office on business connected 



with insect pests, - - - - - - 611 



The information derived from the experience of the two 

 years' work will not only benefit the fruit-growers of Cali- 

 fornia, but those of our sister States, and also of foreign • 

 countries. For instance, at a recent meeting of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society of South Australia, Frazer S. Crawford, 

 Esq., of Adelaide, read a paper entitled, " California Legisla- 

 tion Against Insect Pests," etc., which concluded as follows : 



" In conclusion, let me again point out the importance of 

 carefully watching this California experiment. If we find, in 

 spite of this expense and trouble the Californians are willing 

 to put themselves to, that these pests do not decrease, or that 

 the results bear no comparison to the cost of the means 

 employed, it would be folly to follow their example. If, on 

 the other hand, their vineyards and orchards yearly become 

 more prolific and free from insect and other plagues, while our 

 orchards are being destroyed with fungoid pests, our vine- 



