142 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. s\ 



$100,000, which made the total amount available during this fiscal 

 year $130,000. So that this estimate, which is an apparent increase 

 of $30,000, actually involves a decrease of $70,000 below the total 

 available for this purpose this year. 



Mr. Anderson. We will now he r Doctor Kellerman. 



Doctor Kellerman. The only point to bring out in connection 

 with this item, I believe, is that the decreases that we had recom- 

 mended in early years were probably made a little too rapidly, and 

 if we had not cut the work to $30,000 during last year, if we had kept 

 about $50,000 or $60,000 in that work, I believe it is certain that no 

 emergency appropriation would have been necessary. 



OUTBREAK OF CITRUS CANKER EPIDEMIC SERIOUS. 



The epidemic of citrus canker which developed in southern Florifla 

 at a town called Davie, Fla., was a direct result of inability to inspect 

 that region for a considerable period of months. That outbreaK is 

 the only serious outbreak that we have had in the canker work 

 during the fiscal year, although two other small outbreaks, also the 

 result of not being able to carry on adequate inspection work through- 

 out the territory, have occurred — one in Alabama and one in Missis- 

 sippi. There is still known to be a scattering infection of canker in 

 Louisiana, and there are some areas in Texas that are under suspicion. 

 In general, however, the work is now in good enough condition so 

 that we believe that we can handle it adequately with $60,000 and 

 also have a very small reserve that can be drawn on in case of small 

 outbreaks. 



Mr. Anderson. Is there any possibility or probability that the 

 disease can be entirely stamped out in time? 



Doctor Kellerman. In time I think that can be done. It can 

 not be done in the coming fiscal year. The difficulty in eradicating 

 the disease from areas where citrus is not commercial, like some 

 parishes in Louisiana and the northern Gulf region of Texas, are the 

 really serious difficulties in the work. I believe that within the next 

 two or three years we can complete the eradication work of all of the 

 areas where citrus is at all commercial; that is, in southern Texas 

 and the southern part of Louisiana, below New Orleans. 



Mr. Anderson. I suppose even if you felt it was completely eradi- 

 cated that there would oe necessity of continuing the inspection for 

 some time. 



Doctor Kellerman. For a few years it would be a verv wise 

 investment; it would be in the nature of insurance, and I believe a 

 very cheap insurance. 



CITRUS INDU.STRY PUOFITABLE TO COUNTRY. 



This citrus industry has undoubtedly in income taxes, in land 

 taxes, and in other ways already more than returned to the country 

 the amount of money that has been expended on it, as well as having 

 the industry saved to the people who are growing orchaixis in the 

 wSouth. 



Mr. An'Dkkson. Do you find the ownei"s willing to cooperate and 

 piompt in reporting what they sup])ose to be the canker^ 



