QUARANTINE LAWS AND ORDERS. 1< 



that territory has passed measures for the special purpose of intercept- 

 ing insect pests, and .only the inability to inspect personal effects will 

 handicap that territory in its quarantine work. However, the problem 

 of protecting the citrus industries from the Mexican orange maggot is 

 being solved without waiting for new laws, and upon a basis similar to- 

 the plan proving so thorough in the inspection of maritime vessels at 

 San Francisco. 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



An incident occurred last January which shows how California must 

 combat single-handed the introduction of noxious insects, and is another 

 example of the lameness of our protection in the absence of Federal 

 quarantine laws. On January 6th a shipment of nursery stock arriving 

 in Alameda County was found infested with egg-masses of gypsy moth, 

 imported by way of Seattle and by train to point of delivery. Imme- 

 diate steps were taken to intercept this pest. Much of the stock was. 

 burned, deputies were placed in charge of the entire nursery, and a 

 quarantine order issued locking everything and covering the entire- 

 activities of one of the largest concerns in the United States. Every 

 plant contained in the shipment was listed, and for one week not even a 

 cut flower was sold by the concern. The whole lot imported was exam- 

 ined piece by piece, fumigated heavily and placed in quarantine pen 

 and held indefinitely and until all danger was over, the quarantine last- 

 ing for months. These plants should not have been admitted at Seattle 

 without inspection and the power to quarantine. The moral of the 

 incident is that California fruit interests can not be thoroughly pro- 

 tected from foreign insect pests through her local quarantine laws. A. 

 national law is imperative. 



THE ALFALFA WEEVIL. 



The problem of the alfalfa weevil is of such serious import that it is 

 thought worthy of special notice in this bulletin. This threatened visita- 

 tion presents a case in which quarantine regulations probably can not be 

 made protective, however stringent the measures adopted to keep this 

 pest from entering the State. But the chances of the weevil securing a, 

 hold in our alfalfa fields may be reduced to the minimum and coloniza- 

 tion of the insect possibly prevented by the use of every means at hand 

 to restrain it. Consequently, every avenue should be guarded and every 

 impediment placed against the migration of this destructive creature. 

 Especially should the first stages of an outbreak in California be 

 reported and attacked vigorously and the insect exterminated, if pos- 

 sible. One incident is reported in which this weevil had overrun a field 

 of alfalfa in a clean district, but it was exterminated by heroic means 

 and the district saved. California laws give direct authority to meet an 

 emergency of this kind, and if a colony of the weevil is reported 

 promptly no doubt the attack could be repelled. 



Fortunately, Utah does not produce enough alfalfa hay for the home 

 demand, and if the ravages of the weevil are not checked there is no 

 likelihood of a surplusage of hay for exportation. The greatest danger 

 comes through the transportation of household goods, railroad cars and 

 miscellaneous freight. The insect is found sheltering in all kinds of 

 merchandise, in barns, houses, upon fences and wherever it can take 



