— 117 — 



and four or five years ago nearly every orchard was entirely free from 

 black scale. Now nearly every orchard is infected very seriously. If 

 you turn a colony of beetles into that district it is a very difficult matter 

 to find any of them a few days afterwards. 



Mr. Muscott: I would say that I obtained a colony from Mr. Cooper 

 a year ago last July and placed them on olive trees, and I made a very 

 careful examination, using the test which you have spoken of, but was 

 unable to find Rhizobius. And that is nearly a year and a half ago. 



Mr. Craw: Those colonies have averaged about three dozen beetles, 

 and I don't know the reason, but there were a great many failures. I 

 don't think that any of the native birds have destroyed the beetles or 

 the larva?. 



[Mr. Stephens in the chair.] 



Mr. Buck: There has been some desire expressed by some members 

 of the convention that facts and data be given to the Committee on 

 Transportation in regard to points that are remote from terminal sta- 

 tions. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 



To the Chairman and Members of the Fruit Growers' 1 Convention: 



Your committee, appointed by resolution at the convention held at Los Angeles, 

 November, 1893, make the following report : 



In view of the great destruction caused by the ravages of insect pests and fungoid dis- 

 eases upon fruits and fruit trees, prevalent in nearly every fruit-growing district in the 

 State ; and with the knowledge that neither by spraying nor fumigation can we cope 

 with the spread of these enemies, and that our hope rests in the aid of natural enemies 

 which do exist in the native homes of said insect pests and fungoid diseases, we recom- 

 mend that the convention adopt our report and pray the Legislature at its coming ses- 

 sion to grant an appropriation of not less than $5,000 each year — say $10,000 — to be placed 

 at the disposal of the State Board of Horticulture, for the purpose of sending to foreign 

 countries a competent entomologist to search for such natural enemies as will prey upon 

 the insects and fungoids that now exist or that may be introduced into the State to the 

 detriment of our fruit interests. 



We urgently recommend the above for the following reasons : 



First — No question so deeply concerns the prosperity of fruit growers as the aid of 

 parasites to keep in check these destructive enemies, and being in their interest, should 

 be under their control. 



Second — The State Board of Horticulture having been created by the fruit growers, and 

 being under their control, is the proper party to pursue this investigation. 



Third— As a matter of economy, said Board being organized, having a central office 

 and competent officers, is ready to take up this work without any additional expense, 

 excepting that of the employment of an entomologist and his traveling expenses. 



Fourth — The State Board and its officers having had the experience, and having been 

 so successful in the discovery, colonization, and distribution of valuable parasites, col- 

 lected by Albert Koebele on his second voyage to Australia, thereby saving vast sums of 

 money to the fruit growers, your committee feel that without any other reason they are 

 preeminently qualified to pursue the investigation. 



Bespectfully submitted. 



ELLWOOD COOPEE, 

 ABBOT KINNEY, 

 S. E. LEIB, 

 N. P. CHIPMAN, 

 Committee on Insect Pests and Parasites. 



The report of the committee was, on motion, adopted. 

 Recess until 1:30 o'clock p. m. 



9-FG 



