INTRODUCTORY. 25 



progress _niade in preventing the spread of the codlin moth 

 and peach moth. Unfortunately for those directly interested 

 (the fruit growers), an issue was made hy the non-producers 

 (i. e. buyers and dealers of fruit), under the cloak of friendship 

 for the fruit-growers, l)Ut in reality for personal gain, and for 

 forcing the fruit-grt)wers to use the so-called free package. 

 The time may be stated about the first of June, 1882. Lest 

 any doubt should exist that such was the intention of the 

 opposition to the disinfection of packages, the following letter 

 now in my possession, from a very extensive buyer of fruit in 

 San Francisco to a member of the State Board of Viticultural 

 Commission, will perhaps be sufficient proof: 



San Francisco, January 3, 1882. 

 Dear Sir : The box factories tell me they are making a 

 larger quantity of peach baskets than ever before. Now, this 

 is very bad, because the Fruit Growers' Convention, through 

 the proper committee, particularly recommended the abolition 

 of baskets and the substitution of boxes ; and furthermore, the 

 basket is as bad a package as can possibly be found for dis- 

 seminating pests. Why cannot the fruit grower help himself 

 in this matter? Nothing will do him good if he does not. You 

 can show this to Mr. Cooke, if you think best. Will you get 

 the sample of free packages into shape and put them on show 

 here, somewhere, and oblige, 



Yours, Etc., 



[The above reveals the secret of the opposition to disinfec- 

 tion of packages.] 



The State Board of Viticultural Commissioners had framed 

 the quarantine rules, so as to give an opportunity to those who 

 preferred the use of the return packages, to do so. The fol- 

 lowing circular was issued explaining the reason : 



To the fruit growers of California, and all ivhom it may con- 

 cern: — 



I take the liberty of calling your attention to the necessity 

 of disinfecting empty fruit packages before being returned from 

 market to the orchards, as required by the Quarantine Rules 

 and Regulations for the protection of Horticulture. 



Rule 6. Fruit boxes, packages, or baskets, used for ship- 

 ping fruit to any destination, are hereby required to be disin- 

 3 



