California to feed the parasites. Tri exchange for this assistance the President 

 of the State Board of Agriculture promised a colony of parasites. As the 

 Board has been requiring 1,000 from each country desiring parasites, the 

 gift was an extremely generous one, and the thanks of the Colony are due to 

 Mr. Elwood Cooper, the President, and the Horticultural Board for the 

 gift," 



In Mr. Boucher's report, on his return to New Zealand with the colony of 

 parasites, it is stated, " a number of parasites were liberated in an orchard 

 in Sonoma County last season. This orchard had not been sprayed for some 

 time, and the moth was rife in fact, I was informed that the percentage of 

 clean fruit was nil ; yet during the season following the liberation of the 

 parasites there was an appreciable percentage of fruit free from the moth. 

 This season, it was reported to the State Board of Horticulture that the para- 

 sites were present in the orchard in large numbers, and investigation proved 

 that the report was correct." 



Now, I was in California a year later than Mr. Boucher's report, but none 

 of the officers of the State Board of Horticulture could tell me anything about 

 this orchard or show me parasites in the orchards in any part of California. 

 Mr. Boucher's information was evidently second-hand. I can unhesitatingly 

 state that no parasite of the size of this parasite is of any commercial value 

 to the orchardist in checking codling moth. It is so big that every insecti- 

 vorous bird can capture it ; and so slow that it gives the birds all kinds of 

 chances ; and lastly, it has done no good in its native European home. 



The value of introduced parasites in California has had a very fair test, 

 for it commenced about twenty years ago, when our ladybird beetle was 

 introduced into southern California to destroy Icerya purchasi. If every- 

 thing were true that has been published by the Press and in the reports of 

 the State Horticultural Commissioners since that date, of the value of the 

 wholesale importation of useful insects to combat existing or introduced 

 pests, there should now be no need for spraying, fumigation, or even the 

 existence of the Commissioners, except as port inspectors. 



The State Board of Horticulture consists of nine members, who are 

 appointed by the Governor, two from the State at large, and one from each of 

 the seven horticultural districts. The members must be residents of their 

 respective districts and specially qualified by practical experience in horti- 

 culture ; and each holds office for a term of four years. One of its members 

 is treasurer, but the secretary is appointed from outside ; they also appoint 

 one of themselves, or someone outside, as inspector of fruit pests, to hold 

 office at the pleasure of the Board. The money, 5,000 dollars a year, for the 

 carrying out of the provisions of the Act is paid out of the State Treasury. 



The Act that created this Board was called " An Act to create and 

 establish a State Board of Horticulture, and appropriate money for the 

 expenses thereof." Approved March 13th, 1883. 



Two years before this the County Board of Commissioners came into 

 existence by " An Act to protect and promote the Horticultural interests of 

 the State " (March 14, 1881). Both these Acts have undergone considerable 

 changes during the last twenty years. The powers given under these two 

 Acts are very drastic, and the State Commissioners can do almost anything 

 in orchards and gardens. At the request of twenty five orchardists, the 

 Supervisors (County Councillors) can appoint County Horticultural Commis- 

 sioners, who can frame laws dealing with all insect pests ; appoint inspectors, 

 who have power to direct anyone to destroy plants or trees infested with 

 pests, and if they do not comply, can do the work and charge it to the land- 



