TJHI7BKSIT7 



BICHOWSKY, 



Commissioner for the Los Angeles District. 



SAN GABRIEL, October 27, 1892. 



To the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, San Francisco: 



GENTLEMEN: On the morning of the 13th instant appeared an article 

 in the Los Angeles " Times," announcing that the dreaded vine malady, 

 known as the "Anaheim disease," had again appeared in the section 

 from which it derives its name, after having apparently left it for a 

 number of years, attributing its appearance at this time to planting of 

 vines in soil heretofore set out in vines destroyed by the malady, and 

 claiming that the contagious germs remained dormant in the soil until 

 material was furnished them to prey on. It will be remembered that 

 this peculiar disease, which has played such sad havoc with one of the 

 most prominent industries of Southern California, is said to have orig- 

 inated some five years ago in that part of Los Angeles County which 

 now constitutes Orange County, and has destroyed since then, almost 

 completely, thousands of acres of vineyards in that and adjacent terri- 

 tory, leaving them bleak and desolate. After the vineyards had been 

 cleared, it was determined as an experiment by a few former owners of 

 vineyards to replant this land again with grapevines, obtaining their 

 cuttings from districts where the disease had not heretofore been 

 observed. Those who had the courage to make the attempt, at the end 

 of the first year found apparent success crowning their efforts, for the 

 young vines had passed through the trying time general to all plants, 

 making a good growth, vigorous in appearance, and evidently free from 

 all disease. Others, emboldened by the success of their neighbors, set 

 out other small vineyards, and the prospects were again favorable for 

 the establishment of vineyards in this and other districts. 



It was but recently I was informed, upon inquiry, that the young 

 vineyards planted in Orange County were thriving. I was therefore 

 greatly surprised to read the article announcing the reappearance of the 

 disease in that section. Knowing that a number of parties in Orange 

 and Los Angeles Counties, owing to the apparent departure of the 

 disease, intended to plant vines largely this coming year, I determined 

 to investigate the reports, and if I found the disease again appearing in 

 a locality where it was reasonable to believe it had become extinct, it 

 would be my duty to inform all those interested of this fact. 



On the morning of the 25th instant I left for Santa Ana, accompanied 

 by Prof. Ethelbert Dowlen, viticultural expert, whom I had requested 

 to go with me on my tour of inspection. At Santa Ana we were met 

 by Mr. E. S. Wallace, a resident of that city, and author of the above- 

 mentioned newspaper article, together with Prof. Newton B. Pierce, 

 Government Pathologist. This latter gentleman is at present located 



