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THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. 



The following copy of the hist report of the board of horticultural 

 commissioners of Los Angeles County, Cal,, is taken from the Los An- 

 geles Evening Express of March 5, and will not be devoid of interest 

 to our readers. The account of the correspondence between the Secre- 

 tary and this office is very fair, with the important exception that we in- 

 sisted upon the necessity of first thoroughly knowing our ground before 

 taking extensive steps for the importation of enemies of the scale insects 

 mentioned. By this we mean ascertaining carefully the range of each 

 species and the probabilities as to its original home. 



We respectfully tender herewith the mouthly report for February of the county 

 horticultural commission. 



The policy adopted by this commission of continued and earnest research for a par- 

 asite that will destroy the red and San Jos6 scales, or any other pests that are inju- 

 rious to fruit trees, has been pursued during the past month. 



Our secretary was instructed to communicate with United States Entomologist, C. 

 V. Riley, at Washington, requesting him to ask Congress for an appropriation that 

 would enable the Department of Agriculture to seek the world over for parasites that 

 prey on the insect pests that are now threatening the wefare of our great fruit in- 

 dustry. In reply. Professor Riley advises us "that he will not be able to do much 

 with Congress in the way we suggest, but that he hopes and expects that the United 

 States Department of Agriculture will have power to act without such a petition 

 after June next." Professor Riley still further advises us " that the red scale of Cal- 

 ifornia {Aspidioius aurantii) has been believed to be of Australian origin, but that it 

 is about as abundant there as it is in California. He says that it does occur in other 

 parts of the world, and much inquiry will have to be made before we can feel sure of its- 

 native home; that it has some parasitic enemies in California, and though it doubtless 

 has others in Australia, we kuow so far only of a fungus and a small beetle that at- 

 tack it there." Professor Riley also says "that the San Jo86 scale ( Aspidiotm per- 

 niciosm) is not as yet known to be an imported species, but that all these scales are 

 amenable to careful treatment by the sprays which we have lately recommended, or 

 by the improved gas treatment." 



Notwithstanding the valuable opinion of Professor Riley ,this commission feels that 

 in making inquiry for a parasite for the red scale in other countries search should also 

 be made for an enemy for the San Jos6 scale insect. This pest, if not speedily de- 

 stroyed, will utterly ruin the deciduous fruit interests of this coast. It not only 

 checks the growth of the tree, but it covers the tree literally entirely, and the fruit 

 nearly as much so, and if left unchecked, the tree is killed in three years' time. 



There is absolutely no parasite at work on the San Jos6 scale insect. We find this 

 dangerous pest invading every deciduous fruit district in the county, and have noti- 

 fied owners of such infested orchards to disinfect, giving them the necessary mode of 

 procedure. Unless the San Jos6 insect is thoroughly stamped out the deciduous fruit 

 interests of the county will in a few years have dwindled to naught. 



In our January report to you we mentioned having been compelled, after exhaust- 

 ing the necessary preliminaries, to place in the hands of the District Attorney for 

 prosecution the case of F. O. Cass of Vernondale. We were led to take this step, not 

 only from our sense of duty to the State law prescribing it, but as a determination of 

 our duty and obligation to the fruit growers of Los Angeles County, wherein we 

 sought to stamp out a dangerous insect pest, the Santa Ana red scale, just obtaining 

 a foot-hold in this county. 



The case came up before Justice Rankin and a jury of six, February 14, in San An- 



