TWENTY EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



105 



We should not allow ourselves to be led into a fancied security because 

 we have learned in some measure to control the pests we already have 

 (nearly all of which have been imported), for there are many others, 

 with the importation of which we are daily threatened, either from 

 other States of our Union, or from foreign countries. I will mention 

 only the white fly of Florida, the orange maggot of Mexico, and the 

 melon maggot of Honolulu, any one or all of which may be brought in 

 at any time, by the almost daily communication by rail or steamer. 



To be properly safeguarded we should have a force of competent 

 entomologists, backed by National as well as State laws, continually on 

 the outlook to prevent the introduction of all harmful insects, and to 

 seek the world over, if need be, for their parasites, should harmful 

 insects in any manner escape the guards and enter the State. To do 

 this will require a very small amount of money compared to the loss 

 that must result from the introduction of even one of these pests, for 

 instance, the orange maggot (Trypeta ludens), which is doing fearful 

 mischief to the orange industry of some of the Mexican States : — no fruit 

 from the infested districts should be allowed admission into the United 

 States. 



Should not these facts convince us that our best and most rational 

 method of fighting insect pests is to procure and protect their natural 

 enemies? 



Only a few of the most salient points of this broad and important 

 subject have been touched upon in this paper. 



VICE-PRESIDENT GRIFFITH. We will now have time for dis- 

 cussion of the papers that have been read. 



MR. DORE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Professor Cook if 

 this insect is a half-brother or closer relation to the thrips that does us 

 some harm in the grapevine industry by destroying the foliage? 



MR. COOK. I do not suppose it is. The insect that has done so 

 much damage in the Fresno region is not a thrips at all. I think it is 

 . an entirely different insect. Now, I think Mr. Cooper didn't emphasize 

 too strongly yesterday the importance of this seeking of beneficial 

 insects. It has seemed strange to me all these j^ears that the fruit-growers 

 do not demand that. And I was sorry yesterday that Mr. Cooper seemed 

 discouraged, for I do not think we ought to get discouraged in a good 

 cause, and should continue our efforts until we win. Ten years ago we 

 were working to get a fertilizer law, and we didn't get it until this win- 

 ter. And if you had heard from Sacramento, as I did, you would know 

 that they took a big hold of it this winter. The Governor told me that he 

 had had a great number of letters and telegrams against the signing of the 

 bill. And two bills this winter we would not have gotten if it hadn't been 

 for the talk we had, and we have got all the six laws we asked for. I 

 think that is encouraging, and I believe if the gentlemen here will say, 



