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THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GfROWERS ' COXVEXTIOX. 



he naturally goes into the market to purchase his trees where they are 

 offered the cheapest. Usually the cheapest places are in sections where 

 the pests are the most in evidcMiee. If, perchance, he notices the scale 

 or other insects upon the trees,. he is blandly informed that they are 

 of no consequence Mud can not live in the neijzhl)orhood where he 

 expects to take them, besides they have been thoroufihly fumitrated. 

 and there is absolutely no dandier of any spread of the pests from the 

 trees, etc. 



We have freciuently had very unpleasant experiences in condemning 

 stock under conditions as above represented. Another class of pur- 

 chasers that must be closely watched is the speculator, "the get-rich-quick 

 fellow," who expects to phnit (mt a new tract and unload it on to some 

 tenderfoot at the first favorable opportunity. He is generally on the 

 lookout for cheap trees, and is often loaded up with scale infested stock 

 from some quarantined section, unless the horticultural official is fortu- 

 nate enough to get an intin^view with him Ijefore such a mistake is made. 



As to the value of quarantine regulations, we trust we may be par- 

 doned in referring- to this county to substantiate our claim as to the 

 wisdom of this method for the control of insect pests. We absolutely 

 refuse to admit stock fi-om districts known to be infested with any 

 serious pests that have not been introduced into our county. We also 

 refuse to admit nursery stock infested with red scale, though we are 

 expending (juite a sum of money annually to control this pest in. our 

 county. We are bending e\ (M y energy to prevent it gaining headway 

 in new orchards and clean districts of our county. The pests we have in 

 this county Avere firmly (-^t;i])lished before a horticultural commission 

 was ever appointed, and before such remedies as fumigation were 

 known. By our systcnu of rpuirfintine and inspection we have been 

 able to keep out such pests as puri)le scale, silver mite, phylloxera, and 

 white fiy, as well as others of less importance. In referring to the above, 

 our present board of horticultural commissioners does not wish it to be 

 understood that it was the originator of this valuable precautionary 

 work. The credit belongs to our predecessors in office, as it has been 

 the policy since the formation of the first board of commissioners of 

 our county. The present board has simply extended and improved the 

 quarantine from time to time, as appeared to be for the best interests of 

 our fruit industry. 



What other method but an absolute quarantine could prevent the 

 introduction into any locality of such pests as the white fly. phylloxera 

 of the vine, purple scale, silver mite, and ]Morellos orange^ maggot, as 

 well as many other serious pests that could be named ? It matters not 

 hoAv carefully we may inspect or what remedies we may apply to nursery 

 stock coming from infested localities, if continued for any length of 

 time, it is sure to result in the pests being admitted into otherwise 

 clean districts. 



As horticultural officials, it is our duty to use every precaution to 

 prevent the further spread of injurious orchard pests. An industry that 

 represents an income to the State of nearly sixty million dollars annu- 

 ally should be entitled to and receive the -greatest possible protection. 

 'J'o this end the horticultural official should have the active cooperation 

 and earnest support of every fruit grower and taxpayer of the State. 



