72 



REPORT OF THE FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING 



way to eradicate such maladies and pests as we now have and 

 to prevent the importation of those that exist in other places. Con- 

 sider w^hat saving would have been accomplished in the citrus 

 industry, if the various pests, such as the red, black, and purple 

 scales had not been introduced, or had been eradicated when first 

 introduced. I wish to urge that every grower of the avocado 

 keep close watch of his plants, and if any diseases or insect pests 

 are noticed, immediately send specimens of the diseased parts to 

 the Citrus Experiment Station for study and identification. Our 

 pathologists and entomologists wall be glad to co-operate with 

 you to the fullest extent possible in the study and control of any 

 difficulties. vSimilar aid will be freely gi\'en as well b}' the 

 specialists at the University at Berkeley and of the State Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture at Sacramento. Very few pests are now- 

 known to occur on the avocado, but doubtless there are many in 

 various parts of the w^orld, and some of these may have been 

 introduced and occur here now in small numbers. If discovered 

 now they might easily be eradicated ; in a few years their eradica- 

 tion may be impossible. In Hawaii the avocados are badly 

 infested wdth the fruit fly, and the commercial growing of 

 avocados, which otherwise would have become important, has 

 been ruined. Every traveler coming from Hawaii is tempted to 

 bring along some of the rare tropical fruits. Our laws are strin- 

 gent on this point and sufficient, but people are ignorant, and we 

 are constantly threatened with the possibility of the importation 

 of such pests. We should all be alert and watchful to aid so 

 far as we can in preventing any such pests that threaten our 

 industry from becoming established. 



Mr. Webber, in answer to questions, stated that the Riverside 

 Experimental Station has been provided with a tract of land, nearly 

 five hundred acres, and that it is engaged at the present time in 

 constructing buildings, planning and building laboratories, hot 

 houses, barns, and putting in wells and ditches for irrigation. So 

 far it has not been in a position to propagate trees, but beginning 

 next year expects to start experimental planting. 



