8 



raisins, and berries, all of which fruits are commonly dried without being peeled, as 

 well as evaporated apple "chops" and "skins," which are largely exported to Euro- 

 pean countries. It also affects the trade in both sun-dried and evaporated peaches 

 and pears, of which only a part of the product consists of peeled fruit. 



The avowed intention of the prohibition, according to the press reports, is to 

 prevent the introduction of San Jose scale on such fruits. 



In the absence of any recorded instance where this scale has been introduced to 

 any fruit region through the agency of infested fresh fruit, the prohibition of the 

 importation of the dried product seems unnecessarily severe. All American sun- 

 dried fruits are subjected to a high temjierature in the open air for several days dur- 

 ing the drying process, and it is very doubtful whether the scale could long survive 

 such treatment. If there is any doubt concerning such fruit it could easily be 

 removed by requiring that all sun-dried fruits should be sterilized before packing, 

 by being heated in a fruit evaporator, to a temperature to be agreed upon by test, for 

 such length of time as would be sufficient to destroy all living scale, if such were 

 present. 



In so far as it relates to evaporated fruits the prohibition is entirely unnecessary. 

 In the evaporating process the fruit is subjected to a temperature of 150° to 200° F. 

 for several hours, usually twelve or more. In the case of apricots, peaches, and 

 pears, the fruit is subjected to the fumes of burning sulphur for from thirty to sixty 

 minutes before being placed in the evaporator. In California the same treatment is 

 applied to fruits that are afterwards dried in the sun, while in all prune-growing 

 districts of the United States the fruit is dipped in hot lye to check the skin and 

 hasten the drying process. This treatment undoubtedly destroys the life of any 

 scale that may be upon the fruit. 



In view of these facts, which are capable of the most complete substantiation by 

 observation in the portions of the United States which produce the dried and evap- 

 orated fruits mentioned, it is my opinion that a strong protest should be made by 

 the Department of State against the continuance of the above-mentioned prohibitive 

 legislation. 



As it now stands, it unnecessarily and unjustly restricts legitimate trade in an 

 important pomological product. 



Very respectfully, Wm. A. Taylor, 



Acting Pomologist. 



FROM THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



From an intimate acquaintance with the habits and life history of the San Jose 

 scale, extending now over a period of nineteen years, or ever since it was first dis- 

 covered in the United States, I can, with confidence, state that, in my opinion, the 

 Swiss legislation works an entirely unnecessary hardship upon American exporters 

 of dried fruits. With regard to evaporated fruits, the prohibition is ludicrously 

 unnecessary. With regard to sun-dried fruits, it is my strong belief that it is 

 equally unnecessary. 



I have seen the newspaper statement to the effect that the San Jose scale in living 

 condition has been found upon the skin of American dried fruit imported into Ger- 

 many, but firmly believe that this is a misstatement, and am of the opinion that the 

 State Department would be perfectly justified in any endeavor to secure a modifica- 

 tion of the Swiss ruling, and would indorse the suggestion of the Acting Pomologist 

 that, in case it should be found that it is impossible to secure the entire abolition of 

 the ruling, in all fairness efforts should be made to remove evaporated fruits from 

 the prohibited category and to secure the admission of sun-dried fruits which have 

 been sterilized before packing. 



Respectfully yours, L. O. Howard, 



Entomologist. 



