144 



THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



exists a new and dangerous insect pest or disease, the extent of that 

 territory should be ascertained and the district at once quarantined 

 until cleaned up. 



There should be no such thing as one county quarantining against 

 another county. If there does exist in any county a dangerous insect 

 pest or disease that is liable to be transported to an adjoining county, 

 it is just as liable to be transported to some other county, and should 

 be at once quarantined by the State. There is even more danger to 

 the distant county than to the adjoining county, because the distant 

 county may not know the condition existing. There should be a 

 uniform sj^stem of inspection and quarantine, and then every com- 

 missioner, grower, and nurser^anan should work to make it effective, 

 by allowiiig only absolutely clean stock to be planted. 



And, last, but not least, I consider the greatest danger of tiie new 

 infestation is the distribution of nursery stock through the United 

 States mail. A great deal of nursery stock is sent through the mail, 

 and vety little of it is ever inspected. Insects and disease can 1)e 

 carried through United States mail as safely as through the express 

 office, but the inspector has not the same chance to get at them. 



Five years ago the writer wrote to the Postmaster General in regard 

 to the inspection of plants coming through the mail. An ansAver was 

 received in due time. He said the question of inspection of plants 

 coming through the mail was a new one. and that no ruling had ever 

 been made in the matter, but that he would take it up with the depart- 

 ment, and as soon as a ruling was made, would let me know. If there 

 has ever been a ruling, I have not been informed. I have made some 

 investiuatioBS about tli(^ ni;itter, and have consulted the postmaster at 

 San Fran ei SCO. and he informed me that there never had been a ruling 

 that he has any record of. This is a matter of great importance, and 

 should be taken up by this Convention. The Post Office Department 

 should be earnestly requested to take immediate action.' and make some 

 provision by which all plant life coming through the mail couJd be 

 inspected by the commissioners. 



California has an absolute quarantine against Florida and Louisiana 

 on all kinds of plant life : and yet, plants are coming direct from those 

 states into California through the United States mail. Let us take some 

 action in the matter. « 



MR. JEFFREY. ^Ir. Fowler has touched upon a very important 

 point, and I think the Committee on Resolutions should get this matter 

 before the Convention to be acted on to-night, if possible. I will say 

 that this matter has been brought to the attention of the Post Office 

 Department. The matter was referred to the Bureau of Entomology, 

 and from the Bureau of Entomology to the Agricultural Department, 

 and to ]\Ir. AVilson himself ; and I had a letter from him which con- 

 cludes in this way, that he would dislike very much to see any restric- 

 tions put upon the free interchange of seeds or plants through the 

 United States mails. The Post Office Department refuses to take any 

 action. We were finally informed, after we had been notified that 

 plants were expected through the post office, that our postmaster at 

 Los Angeles was acting without authority in allowing us to reach 

 those plants before they were delivered to the customers; and he noti- 



