STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



The avocado plants that are now bein shipped so freely into Cali- 

 fornia under this agreement were placed in the greenhouse February 20. 

 1910, and held there over one year. The fruit growers of California 

 should appreciate the spirit of cooperation the Federal bureau is mani- 

 festing. Its officials have written that they will assist in every way in 

 preventing the introduction of pests into this State. 



COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



Cotton growing in the Imperial Valley has been developed to great 

 proportions within the last two years, and the industry may become the- 

 leading business in the rich territory of the Colorado delta if successful 

 varieties are cultivated and insect pests are excluded. By far the most 

 destructive insect affecting the production of cotton is the boll weevil. 

 This creature seems to be of Mexican origin. It had spread over several 

 counties of Texas from Mexican territory as early as 1894, and has since 

 rapidly invaded the cotton growing district of the south. In 1908 this, 

 pest had overrun the Mississippi delta, reaching toward the Atlantic 

 coast, and damaging the cotton crop that year to the amount of 

 $30,000,000, according to Secretary Wilson's report. The boll weevil 

 does not yield readily to measures of control, and should it beco*me 

 established in Imperial great loss would result, and, possibly, cause the- 

 abandonment of cotton production in that territory. 



But the cotton districts of California are isolated and at present free 

 from this destructive pest. A rigid quarantine has been maintained 

 since experimental cotton planting began, special deputies have been in 

 charge who have fumigated all cotton seed introduced into the district, 

 and all precautions have been taken to exclude this great peril. Not 

 only have the domestic avenues been guarded, but a plan has been 

 adopted through which to protect the cotton fields in Mexican territory 

 adjacent to Imperial County, and thus safeguard the American fields 

 from contamination from that source. We hope by continued vigilance- 

 and the cooperation of the cotton planters to keep the California cotton 

 industry free from the boll weevil. 



QUARANTINE ORDER NO. 2. 

 Cotton Boll Weevil. 



(Issued April 23, 1908.) 



WHEREAS, Information has been received by this commission to the effect that 

 cotton seed is about to be imported into this State from sections affected with the 

 cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boh.), and that the same is a serious pest 

 in such sections where it prevails ; and 



WHEREAS. The said cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) does not, nor ever has. 

 existed in this State, and that if introduced the same would become a serious and' 

 dangerous pest, probably spreading to other food plants ; and 



WHEREAS, The cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) while not attacking the 

 seed of the cotton plant, may hibernate in the hulls or be carried in the mass and thus 

 become established in new locations ; therefore, acting upon information received from 

 and a request made by the Bureau of Plant Industry, of the Department of Agriculture 

 of the United States, it is hereby 



Ordered, That no cotton seed shall be admitted into this State, and a horticultural 

 quarantine is hereby established against the same, except under the conditions herein 

 set forth: 



First That in addition to the offices of the State Commission of Horticulture, 

 Capitol building, Sacramento, and room 11, Ferry building. San Francisco, El Centro 

 in Imperial County, San Bernardino in San Bernardino County. Riverside in River- 

 side County, Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, and San Diego in San Diego County, 

 are hereby declared horticultural quarantine stations for the inspection of "all cotton 

 seed coming or being imported into this State. 



Second The board of horticultural commissioners of each of said counties, and* 



