PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 141 



work and, by so doing, I believe we not only won the respect of the 

 citizens of the city but merited the confidence of the entire army of 

 citrus growers throughout the State. 



Another source of delay, which in the aggregate amounted to a great 

 deal of time, was the obstinacy of the people in relation to the true 

 view of the work— in. some instances positively refusing to discuss the 

 matter at all: in others, declaring the work was simply a graft and 

 expressing themselves in no uncertain terms. Added to the anonymous 

 letters we received, such pleasant little recreation. as crying "Graft!' 7 

 was indulged in ; although I am happy to add this did not emanate from 

 bona, fide owners, but rather from that element, to be found in any city, 

 which, not being financially interested, take great interest in all current 

 issues. 



Again, probably estimating the strength of the law by the size of its 

 representative in this particular case, invitations to indulge in fistic 

 exercise were frequently extended. 



The State and County Horticultural Commissions came in for a great 

 amount of undeserved criticism, because the work was not all finished 

 in a minute. At the time the work was at its height, labor conditions 

 were such that in a majority of eases the owners of infested properties 

 . were compelled to do the work themselves, it being almost impossible to 

 engage help, and the work had to be done before going to their daily 

 employment or business, and after business hours in the evening. Almost 

 every available team was engaged in hauling fruit, which season was at 

 its height, consequently the brush was not removed as fast as those in 

 charge of the work would liked to have seen it done. The city authori- 

 ties placed all their available teams on the work, employing additional 

 teams when possible, for the amount of brush from the defoliated trees 

 was^ beyond measure. The disposition of this brush was in itself an 

 enormous task. Considering the fact that every possible effort was 

 exerted by a majority of the citizens to comply with the law, great 

 credit is due each and every individual, as well as the officers of the 

 city and county, for the excellent spirit displayed and the great sacrifice 

 they made in order to save the citrus industry of California. 



ulien we take into consideration the fact that the people of this sec- 

 tion have never' been troubled with insect pests and have previously 

 had no acquaintance with' horticultural authorities or been compelled to 

 eradicate any pests ; that the subject was practically new to them ; that 

 they were unacquainted with the workings of or dangers from destruc- 

 tive insects, and could not understand why it was necessary to take such 

 drastic measures to stay the spread of this pest ; and a point that made 

 it still more difficult was the fact that the pest had invaded the trees on 

 the streets, and homes where no value was placed on the product — 

 only the beauty and shade which they afforded Avere considered in 



