18 SUPPRESSION OF INSECT PESTS AND PLANT DISEASES. 



local inspector. The Eastern nurseryman can ship his trees into the State, provided 

 he complies with the existing laws and regulations, which insure to the grower clean 

 and healthy trees, and to the nurseryman a better and larger trade. Or, in other words, 

 nurserymen are compelled by law to provide clean and healthy trees to their custom- 

 ers and to be honest in their dealings. Each State should vie with the others 

 to secure such legislation as shall benefit the entire nation. At present there is no 

 law providing for the inspection of export shipments, or shipments going out of the 

 State, and if all other States would have protective legislation it would compel the 

 growers here to be more careful, and no infected fruit would ever leave the State. 

 And while this would protect every State it would also help us in compelling ship- 

 pers and growers to ship only clean and bright fruit. 



In order to prevent the introduction of foreign pests into the United States, 

 stringent laws should be enacted by Congress and a strict quarantine established at 

 ev'ery port of entry. A law should also be passed providing for the inspection of 

 all cuttings and plants sent by mail. At present what could prevent the introduc- 

 tion of the curculio or the gypsy moth into any State? There are many curious 

 people who while traveling find curious things or things which they think curious 

 and collect and send these curios to their friends through the mail, thus perhaps 

 introducing pests into new localities. We have many instances where this has been 

 done. The cottony cushion scale was carried from one locality to another on bou- 

 quets. The bouquets on wilting were thrown away and from these the pest spread. 

 Flowers taken from one State to another should be carefully examined. 



The flying fox before mentioned and the mongoose were also brought as curiosities. 

 Only a few months ago a lady passenger on a steamer had a collection of chirping 

 crickets from Mexico which are very injurious to vegetation and which she had raised 

 as pets and would no doubt have liberated them, had they not been killed by our 

 officer on arrival. 



Our quarantine officer has called the attention of the Department of Agriculture 

 to the matter of there being no national law or regulation to prevent the introduc- 

 tion into the United States of even such a terrible pest as the Australian rabbit, and 

 as there are other ports of entry outside of this State where they can be landed 

 that it would be wise for Congress to enact a stringent law leaving no loophole for 

 thoughtless or careless people to bring such pests, and when found to provide for 

 their immediate destruction. 



What I have said does not apply to the present existing condition of the fruit pests 

 in the State. The cottony cushion scale, which caused so much damage, and 

 through which the citrus industry had been about abandoned, has been practically 

 exterminated through the agency of the ladybugs ( Vedalia cardinalis and Novius 

 koelelei) introduced from Australia. In many parts of the State the black scale 

 (Lecanium olece) has been exterminated by the black ladybug (RhizoUus ventralis), 

 also of Australian importation. This ladybug is becoming colonized in many poi- 

 tions of the State. The mealy bugs (Dactylop'ms} are being exterminated by a lady- 

 bug (Cryptolamus montrouzieri) . The San Jose scale in many sections has been 

 exterminated by internal parasites, its natural enemies. Two internal parasites are 

 at work on the yellow scale (Aspidiotus citrinus) infecting the orange, which keep it 

 well in check. The Ehizolius nan us is doing good work in lessening the red spider, 

 so destructive to our prune and almond orchards. So it will be seen that while we 

 have suffered from the attacks of injurious pests our orchards now suffer but little in 

 comparison with what they did, and by proper quarantine laws we hope to keep 

 them and still improve their condition by preventing the introduction of new pests. 



With the advent of the cottony cushion scale our citrus-fruit shipments decreased 

 about one-half, while with the advent of the Vedalia cardinalis and Novius koebelei the 

 output increased, and now we ship about ten thousand car loads annually. The cod- 

 ling moth is easily subdued, as are also all other pests of minor importance. The 



