132 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



of bulletins and the answering of a host of questioning letters like the 

 classic one received by Director Roberts at Cornell several years ago, 

 "My ducks are dying. What shall I do?" Finally what time and 

 strength are left may go to long, thorough scientific investigation. Well, 

 what time and strength are left, do you think 5 . 



What Ave need in this State is an adequately supported staff,' or 

 bureau, or .office, wholly out of politics, not necessarily connected with 

 either the Horticultural Commissioner's office or the State Experiment 

 Station— but not necessarily not connected with them— for the intelli- 

 gent, persistent, thorough, original investigation of California pests 

 and the conditions under which they work. Such a bureau or staff 

 could be supported for $5,000 a year. If one dollar out of every 

 $15,000 gross received by California fruit-growers were put aside; 

 or expressed in another way, if one prune, one peach, one orange, one 

 cherry, one grape, were put aside for every 14,999 prunes, cherries, 

 peaches, oranges, etc., sold, such a bureau could be supported. 



And would it pay? I tell you it would. I have been in California 

 long enough to be first surprised, then shocked, then saddened by the 

 short-sightedness displayed in regard to this matter of really knowing 

 the ways and facts of our enemies of orchard and vineyard. And other 

 states show by their actions that they know that knowledge pays. Per- 

 haps we ought to be satisfied to raise, despite our leniency to our 

 enemies, more fruits than other states. But we are not satisfied when 

 we remember that it makes our twenty per cent of loss just so much 

 bigger. Let us cut down this loss. We can't cut it wholly out. But 

 we can save a few millions by spending a few thousands. This sounds like 

 .Tonopah or Alta Vista heights. But it isn't. It is because the knowl- 

 edge of science is practically free. Nobody speculates in pure science. 



Now, I must interject a personal word. I can write what I have 

 because I have no ax to grind. I have my own life job. It's better than 

 any you can give me. I am disinterested except for the interest I have 

 in California and my fellow horticulturists. For I, to'o, as what Santa 

 Clara Valley resident has not, have a few prune trees. I can clamor 

 for money and for the establishment of a position with an easy con- 

 science and no face of shame— for I am clamoring for somebody 

 else. Who he is I do not care— except that he be honest, competent, 

 thoroughly trained, eager to work and in love with just the kind of work 

 he is to do. Such men there are. And they can do much for us. 



We have even produced a few young men in our laboratories giving 

 much promise. And what happens to them ? Does California get the 

 benefit of their work? Not at all. My best graduates are govern- 

 ment entomological workers in Japan, in Hawaii, in our own country 

 outside of California. When we get a young man like Dudley Moulton 



