THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CON\^ENTION. 143 



the red scale would uot live in this warm, dry climate of Southern 

 California. Now, it has been demonstrated that it does live. AYe 

 were told by him, and some others along about that time, that the 

 white fly would not live in the dry, hot climate of the great northern 

 valleys of this country. It was demonstrated last summer that it can 

 live and does live. There was a time, years ago, when many people 

 believed that even the white fly could not live and flourish in the valley 

 of the great San Joaquin, but it does live. Not only that, but it has 

 attacked the orange and the lemon. The lemon grows like the palm 

 tree and flourishes like the cedars of Lebanon. So there have been 

 some mistakes made by men who have preceded me, and should the 

 commissioners of this State make mistakes they may yet get right. 



CAUSES OF NEW INFESTATIONS. 



By p. D. fowler, of Tulare. 



This subject was assigned to me by the State Commissioner of 

 Horticulture, and with the consent of this Convention, I will oflier a 

 few thoughts along this line. New infestations can be, and are, carried 

 in many ways. A bouquet of flowers gathered in a beautiful flower 

 garden, in which there existed some disease or insect, and carried in 

 the hand or grip from one part of the State to another, could carry the 

 same trouble to the place of destination. This has been done many 

 times by both men and women without ever having given the matter 

 a thought as to the danger. ]\Ien who live in this beautiful Golden 

 State of ours have, while traveling through other states or foreign 

 countries, seen some rare plant or shrub that excited their admiration, 

 Avhich they bought and carried carefully home and planted in their 

 own garden. Later, they wondered why some peculiar insect or disease 

 had developed in their garden. There are many things brought into 

 this State that your commissioners never see, no matter how earnest, 

 honest, and efficient they may be. 



Insects and diseases peculiar to plant life are a great study. It 

 requires a great deal of time, investigation, study, and experience to 

 prepare a commissioner for his work. Trees, plants, and vines are 

 shipped in all kinds of bales and boxes, and are often covered with 

 mud, so that it is impossible to properly inspect them without washing 

 every tree and plant ; and when there is a carload of them there must 

 be some work. There are constantly appearing new diseases and insects, 

 and a commissioner must be a student full of energy, well applied, if he 

 keeps up with the times. ]\Iany of the fruit growers of this State do 

 not realize the benefits derived from careful inspection of nursery stock. 

 The "writer has been told many times by fruit growers that he had no 

 right to go into an express office, or freight office, and open and inspect 

 a bale of trees ; but after full explanation of the necessity, and the law 

 for it. the objectors were always satisfied. 



New infestations may be carried by the shipment of boxes, ladders 

 and picking sacks from one orchard to another, or from one county to 

 another. There should be quarantine regulations. As I understand 

 the laws of this State, the quarantine regulations are absolutely in 

 the hands of the State horticultural authorities : and wherever there 



