TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



203 



of the industry which he is to supervise and the pests to that industry 

 upon which he is to wage war, and not because he has done political 

 work in the election of some county officer. It may not be possible in 

 every instance to obtain thoroughly qualified men to fill this position, 

 and in order to prepare for the education of young men capable of fill- 

 ing this responsible office, the law should provide that experience should 

 be a stepping-stone — that is, that a young man might be taken and 

 educated in this line of work, receiving for his first year a nominal 

 compensation, and increasing the same as he becomes more efficient. 

 In this way we could educate or bring about a thoroughly competent 

 class of men who would be prepared to cope with the difficulties that 

 confront us. To these specially prepared men I would apply the civil 

 service rules to protect them against the political changes in the appoint- 

 ing power. 



2d. Nursery stock should be placed under strict quarantine regula- 

 tions. Every person growing trees and plants for sale should be 

 required, before placing his product upon the market, to procure a cer- 

 tificate of health from a properly qualified horticultural commissioner, 

 showing that the stock he is offering, or is about to offer, for sale, is free 

 and clear of disease and insect pests. If this was required and strictly 

 enforced the State would not be flooded with such insect pests as the 

 San Jose scale, as it was a few years ago. 



3d. I would also provide for county horticultural boards of five or 

 more, who should serve without compensation and who should be 

 selected by the fruit-growers of the county from their own membership. 

 Each board should meet at least once a year, and prior to the State 

 Fruit-Growers' Convention Avith the fruit-growers of the county; the 

 object being to bring about concerted action in each community with 

 the State Board; also to afford a direct means for the dissemination of 

 information. 



Eternal vigilance is the price we must pay for the protection of this 

 industry, and without this eternal vigilance we can not succeed. This 

 may only be brought about by strict rules and regulations controlling 

 its management. 



If I might be permitted to suggest, I think it would be well for this 

 State Fruit-Growers' Convention to appoint a legislative committee, 

 consisting of prominent fruit-growers throughout the State, who shall 

 prepare and submit to the next Legislature proposed legislation which 

 shall be deemed for the best interests of the fruit industry. Laws so 

 prepared and proposed will come nearer meeting the requirements of 

 the industry than will the heterogeneous mass of proposed legislation 

 that is biennially dumped upon the Legislature. 



MR, DREW. Allow me to add just a few words. I regret that I 

 could not have been here during the sessions of your Convention, but 



