142 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS 9 CONVENTION. 



their worth; again, the county of Yuba having no commercial citrus 

 orchards to protect, it must be admitted by all that it was a rather 

 vexing condition which presented itself to the people when an order 

 was issued to defoliate all citrus and other food plants of the pest. 



Time would not allow for a campaign of education, which would have 

 made the work easier, as the people would have then understood the 

 danger that threatened our State, and there would have been no hesi- 

 tancy in obeying the order. As it was, in each and every case where 

 it was possible to personally meet and talk with owners, they were 

 immediately satisfied and commenced the work. 



There is another and unknown side of the question, with which the 

 general public is not acquainted, in connection with the sacrifice made 

 by the good people of Marysville. The main point that has held the 

 attention of growers throughout the State, in regard to the trees in this 

 city, is that they had no commercial value ; yet I know many trees were 

 closely associated with family history — trees planted and cared for by 

 departed members of many families. In these cases, I know from con- 

 versation with the present owners, that no amount, in dollars and cents, 

 could cover the loss of these trees, which were held almost as sacred, and 

 to be compelled to force defoliation in such cases was, indeed, most 

 unpleasant. 



During the active part of the campaign, and quite naturally, con- 

 geniality was not the dominating spirit in the air. Could you have 

 been in this city during the campaign of last summer, when it was as 

 warm— well, as warm as it gets in southern California !— no one willing 

 to work, labor scarce as hen's teeth, only a few hours before the time 

 limit mentioned in the defoliation notice would expire, and the pleasure 

 of having the county authorities coming in and doing the work for you, 

 at your expense, and money tight. About this time, you, who had 

 charge of the work, would happen along and find the owner up a tree, 

 sweating, puffing, and sawing, the. thorns of the seedling gently pricking 

 his arms and body. Now, imagine yourself as this person, you who 

 had planted that tree yourself, and for many years were wont to bask 

 in its beautiful shade, and now to be compelled to defoliate it, and. to 

 do the work yourself; suddenly, you hear a ripping sound, and as you 

 gaze below you find that your second best pair of trousers has encoun- 

 tered a thorn, and as a result a rent about three inches long appears ; 

 well, you straighten up to resume your work, your visage is set with 

 hard, determined lines, and as you resume the upright pose you gently 

 tear the sleeve out of your shirt. In the midst of this operation, while 

 you are hot mentally, internally, and outwardly, into your yard comes 

 the cause of all your trouble in the shape of one of the officers in charge 

 of the work to see how you are progressing. Please, don't imagine, 



