426 



of these experiments, the author thinks that the bite is often accom- 

 panied by very serious results. The author mentions several cases 

 reported by doctors in which a man was bitten by " a black and red 

 spider," all of which were followed by some ill consequences of varying 

 degrees. Dr. Hearn gives by far the best evidence. He had treated 

 six cases, in four of which the spider was seen. He himself was bitten 

 and saw the spider; the leading symptoms were excessive jjerspiration 

 and acute lumbar pains. One case was fatal; a child 3 months old 

 died 6 hours after the bite. 



MATTERS IN CALIFORNIA. 



The popularity of organizations for the enforcement of regulations 

 against injurious insects in California may be gauged, perhaps, by the 

 fact that at the regular meeting of the Campbell (Santa Clara County) 

 Horticultural Society, held on the 14th of March, the question " Shall 

 we have a county board of horticultural commissioners?" was dis- 

 cussed and unanimously decided in the negative. Some few indi- 

 viduals favored the plan on the supposition that the commissioners 

 would act only as quarantine officers, but upon learning that it was not 

 proposed to so restrict their duties, they took the opposite stand. In 

 opposing the measure, it was argued that the State board had been 

 more or less of a failure, and certain speakers referred to the recent dis- 

 infection of peach trees shipped from the east into Para County as an 

 instance. One gentleman stated that he found live borers in eight out 

 of ten of the disinfected trees. 



We regret that inefficient work on the part of the State board has 

 led to this feeling, for organization is unquestionably necessary in 

 fighting insect pests in this State above all others. The unpopularity 

 of laws in this direction does not, however, always depend upon the 

 inefficiency of the executive body, and opposition has always arisen 

 from negligent fruit growers, who apparently insist upon their right to 

 raise bugs if they wish to do so. The system of fines which is usually 

 proposed is always strongly antagonized, and the right of an inspector 

 to visit and examine a man's premises and the condition of his crops is 

 frequently considered an infringement of the personal rights of the 

 owner. The fruit dealers under the local laws in parts of California are 

 also at the bottom of a great deal of opposition, and they undoubtedly 

 have the power to influence many fruit raisers. We notice, by the 

 way, from the California Fruit Grower of January 10, that a Riverside 

 fruit dealer was recently fined $10 for selling fruit infested with the 

 San Jos6 Scale. 



We also learn that the State board had a close tight for existence 

 before the legislature this winter. A bill for its abolishment was in- 

 troduced and received strong support, but was finally defeated. An- 

 other bill, however, appropriating $5,000 to send a man to Australia 



