24 
introduction of an insect pest or to stamp it out when first introduced 
and before it has acquired a strong foothold. Several European nations 
have, in this way, averted, so far, the Grape Phylloxera, and the Ger- 
man Government, on one occasion at least, effectually stamped out our 
Col orado Potato-beetle, which became established in a restricted locality. 
The danger which threatens orange-growing districts in this State 
not yet affected, as well as the orange belt on the Atlantic seaboard, is 
great, and we cannot too earnestly appeal to the authorities that be for 
means to employ still greater vigilance to avert it. 
RIVERSIDE. 
What a relief it is to get from a scale-infected region, with the at- 
tending evils of blighted and withering growth, smuttiness, and unmar- 
ketable fruit, into a neighborhood yet exempt from these pests, like this 
enterprising locality in which you meet! What a joy in contemplating 
by contrast the bright and cleanly aspect of the trees ! And what is 
there more beautiful in nature than a perfect orange grove at this sea- 
son, and yet untainted by Coccid or Aphid, or other insect enemy? In 
all my travels I have nowhere felt nearer the ideal Garden of Eden than 
in some of your lovely valleys, yet unvisited by these destroying atoms. 
The profusion and perfection of fruit and flower, the elysian character 
of the landscape, the genial sun — all appeal to the higher esthetic feel- 
ing in man, and one is moved to enthusiastic contemplation and admira- 
tion of the glories of nature and the bounties of Hea ven under such 
favoring conditions ! 
STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
You know better than I do how your laws have acted in the past and 
are acting now, and how far your State inspector and your different 
county inspectors have succeeded. 
But, before passing this matter of legislation, I should be derelict in 
my duty if I did not urge upon you the value of one form of legislation 
which has not yet been tried. Without abating one iota the work al- 
ready being done, whether by individuals or boards, it does seem to me 
that if you had a State Entomologist, i. e ., an officer appointed to devote 
his entire time to this subject of economic entomology in the State, 
much additional good might be acco mplished, provided he were properly 
supported and given the means to carry on his work effectually. You 
should not commit the same error that has been committed by some of 
the Eastern States, in which the cultivators of the soil have desired to 
have such a State entomologist appointed. In three cases which I now 
have in my mind there has been quite a disposition on the part of the 
legislature to pass a proper bill, but it has failed in each case because 
of the conflicting interests which aimed to control the office. Either 
the State Board of Agriculture, or a State Horticultural Society, or a 
State Agricultural College, or some State university, or some other 
