1> STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



refuge. < 'ns'<iuently. the danger bf its reaching our fields may be 

 greater iu winter time than in the season of its field activities. By the 

 most vigilant attention to all details and the use of all precautionary 

 measures auainst the weevil, our state may be kept free from this 

 destructive insect. The following circular has been sent broadcast 

 throughout the State : 



QUARANTINE CIRCULAR NO. 2. 

 The Alfalfa Weevil. 



There are about 3,000,000 acres of alfalfa in the United States, producing an 

 average of three tons to the acre annually and valued at approximately $100,000,000. 

 This vast industry is threatened seriously by a small weevil (Phytonomus murinns 

 Fab.), a native of Europe and an insect that has already become firmly established 

 in Utah. It first appeared in that state in 1904, on the east side of Salt Lake City, 

 and it is merely by chance that the first attack did not fall upon the magnificent 

 alfalfa fields of California. The infestation now covers more than 100 square miles 

 in Utah and last year 7,000 tons (estimated) were lost in the first cutting. The loss 

 has been especially severe in the older fields where the vitality of the plants was 

 lowest. There seems to be no hope of exterminating this pest, and as yet no fungoid 

 enemy has attacked the insect as far as known here, and should the insect secure a 

 hold in California there is no reason to believe it would be controlled by natural 

 enemies or fungous disease. 



A circular was issued from this office one month ago and sent to all the quarantine 

 guardians of the State. It is now thought advisable to renew this warning, with more 

 definite suggestions, as there is no reason to believe that an arbitrary quarantine 

 order would be protective or possible of enforcement against so many avenues of 

 introduction as prevail in this case. We are liable to have an outbreak of this weevil 

 at any time and should guard every point, be vigilant in the inspection of seed, in 

 reporting every importation of alfalfa hay and in advising alfalfa growers to takt- 

 <>very precaution against the introduction of the weevil, and to report every infestation 

 that is unusual or threatening. The following suggestions are offered : 



1. That all horticultural commissioners, inspectors, quarantine guardians and alfalfa 

 growers examine the growing alfalfa crops at every opportunity to see if this pest 

 can be found. 



1. Discover from what territory your seedman gets his alfalfa seed, order no seed 

 from suspected territory and have every lot of seed on sale thoroughly inspected and 

 fumigated. 



3. Warn each seedman of the danger of ordering Utah seed and secure a promise 

 that he purchase no supplies from suspected territory. 



4. Urge that all alfalfa seed coming into the State be fumigated with carbon 

 bisulphid. 



5. Examine the wild growth of alfalfa or similar plants along the railway tracks 

 and about the stations, and especially stock cars about the sidings. 



6. Horticultural and quarantine officials should confer with alfalfa growers and 

 request them to report all insect attacks. 



7. Ask the local press, especially in alfalfa districts, to give publicity to the danger 

 of introducing this pest. 



8. Send unknown insects found in the alfalfa fields to the State Insectary, Sacra- 

 mento, or to the University, Berkeley, for identification. 



J. W. JEFFREY, 

 State Quarantine Officer. 



QUARANTINE NOTES. 



Appointment of Chief Deputy. 



0. E. Brcmner was appointed Chief Deputy Quarantine Officer of 

 the State on the 26th day of June, assuming charge of the office at San 

 Francisco and taking charge on that day. All correspondence upon 

 quarantine work relating to the State at large should be addressed to 

 Mr. Bremner, and that relating to the territory south of the Tehaehapi 

 and pertaining to local matters there should be addressed to Stephen 

 Strong, Equitable Building, Los Angeles. 



Appointment of Deputy. 



St<i>Jini Strong was commissioned Deputy Quarantine Officer on 

 July 1, 1911. his appointment covering the territory of Los Angdcs 

 San' Bernardino. Riverside, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Ventura, and 

 Santa Barbara counties. Mr. Strong will have charge directly of the 

 maritime ports of these counties, and in cooperation and coordination 

 witli the state quarantine guardians of these counties will administer 



