PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 149 



should vie with the semi-public functionary in making as liberal a dis- 

 play of California's choicest products as circumstances will allow. And 

 the fruit-grower should cooperate in the good work, and wherever 

 possible there should be public displays of our fruits. For this purpose 

 fruits in jars are the most convenient, and the beauty and richness of 

 the product leave an indelible impression on the mind of the visitor. 

 And while I am on this subject, I would recommend that those inter- 

 ested should enlist the all-powerful aid of the press, remembering, too, 

 in this instance, that the laborer is worthy of his hire. 



In receiving our visitors ev^ery thing should preach the gospel of Cali- 

 fornia fruits. There is no more beautiful, and withal healthful, or 

 remunerative occupation than that of the fruit-grower. In the scrip- 

 ture of the Old Testament, no more beautiful picture is afibrded of pros- 

 perous, contented, and happy life than that of the reign of King Solomon, 

 " when every man sat under his own vine and fig tree." The highest 

 conception of earthly bliss is that Eden where primeval man enjoyed on 

 this earth a perfect happiness, not onl}^ reposing in its bowers, but taking 

 pleasure in its labors that he might tend it and keep it." And when 

 we speak of the happiness that awaits the spirit of the just beyond the 

 gates of death, we speak of it as Paradise. The fruit-grower should not 

 be greedy to own wide extending orchards; ten or twenty acres, when 

 properly cared for, can be made as remunerative as fifty, and quality, 

 not quantity, should be his motto. And my parting word to the fruit- 

 grower would be: "Do not try to do too much; produce everything of 

 the best, and happiness and competency will await you." 



SCALE INSECTS AND THEIR PAEASITES. 



By EDWARD M. EHRHORJs^, of Mountain View. 



It is ordained by the Supreme Ruler of the Universe that all living 

 things shall not become burdensome upon one another, and we find 

 that this great law is not only appurtenant to the larger animals and 

 plants, but is found to extend down to the most minute organisms, 

 some so small that a good microscope is required to detect their exist- 

 ence. We find that, through artificial means, these conditions have 

 somewhat changed and in some instances have caused great destruction 

 to various industries. Thackeray is quoted as saying that " parasites 

 exist always," and the truth of his saying is probably best illustrated 

 by the various families of insects preying, as they do, upon beast and 

 plant, but largely, also, upon one another. 



Agriculture in all its various branches has no doubt had more than 

 its share of parasites. The cattle-raiser, sheep-raiser, grain-producer, 

 and, last but not least, the fruit-grower, have all had their share of 



