WESTERN FRUIT INSPECTION LAWS. 
How It Is Done In Washington. 
[Many of our Eastern frhit growers have heard of the 
drastic fruit inspection laws of the Tacific Coast States. 
In order to give a clear idea of the way they operate we 
shall give reports from different Western sections. The 
first report—from Washington—follows.] 
Everybody engaged in the production of fruit, either 
East or West, is more or less interested, or should be, 
in the control of the insects and fungus pests that 
attack the trees or the fruit itself. Those who do 
take good care of their trees know that with or with¬ 
out a law they benefit through greater production and 
better returns, but they also know that they are 
fiting by the energy of their neighbors and also mak¬ 
ing that worthy effort of less value? Such persons 
are found all over the country but fortunately there 
are two effective checks upon them, organized com¬ 
munity effort and State inspection. 
The first of these organized efforts in the com¬ 
munity is better known as the cooperative idea,, re¬ 
sulting in associations and unions of fruit growers, 
the primary object of which is to better their hand¬ 
ling and marketing facilities. These are well known 
in the West, and the East is fast learning their value. 
Their secondary effect is often overlooked, although 
this generally is as valuable to the community as the 
better methods of selling. When the organization sets 
to get rid of any other sort of a public nuisance. 
In the State of Washington such a law exists. This 
law is enforced through the State Commissioner of 
Horticulture. Under him are the county or district 
inspectors, whose operations are confined to one 
county or to groups of adjoining counties. Under 
the district inspectors, if need be, there are deputy 
inspectors who act with and assist the district inspec¬ 
tor. The counties pay the salaries and expenses of 
the deputies while the State pays for the higher of¬ 
ficials. 
It is the duty of each inspector not only to search 
carefully through his territory for harmful insects 
and diseases, and to force the fruit grower to adopt 
HOW THE GIANT FARM HAND ROUTS THEM OUT, 
hampered in their efforts to control an insect or a 
disease by the indifference, neglect, or even opposition 
on the part of those who do not care if their fruit is 
wormy or scabby, and who are willing to take any 
old price for their inferior product. Those in the 
latter group are usually much opposed to any legisla¬ 
tion that would compel them to clean up for the good 
of themselves and their neighbors. They assert that 
they can do as they like; that it is nobody’s business 
but their own. They do not work in the doctrine of 
“quality” nor can they see anything in the motto 
“Let us spray.” Still the>* claim that an inspection 
law would force them to adopt new practices and 
would take away from them their “rights” as citizens. 
But it is evident that they are not good citizens. They 
would not like to be called parasites or grafters, yet, 
are they not, without a'ny effort of their own, bene- 
up its standards for high quality, then those who want 
the advantages of better marketing facilities must 
keep their trees healthy and the fruit free from in¬ 
sects and disease. If they do not grow good fruit 
the association will not handle it, and such a grower 
is without a good market. In most of these districts 
of the Northwest where a strong cooperative organi¬ 
zation is in force there is practically no need of a 
law to govern their fruit growing practices, except 
in relation to inspection of nursery stock, for these 
growers are more careful and thorough in their prac¬ 
tices than any law could compel them to be, because 
they find that to be the best business method. This 
is doubtless true in other sections, at least of indi¬ 
viduals, but where the cooperative movement is not 
present, then some legislation is necessary to clean 
up a pest-breeding orchard, just as legislation is used 
Fig. 515. 
methods of control, but he must also “foster 
and promote impartially the horticultural interests 
throughout the district.” In addition he is required 
to furnish to the county press articles of information 
and interest on horticultural subjects. 
As to the powers of the inspectors, the law specifi¬ 
cally states that if the inspector, by his own observa¬ 
tion, or upon complaint, learns, or if he has reason 
to suspect the presence of injurious insects and 
diseases in any orchards, gardens, packing houses, 
packages, etc., no matter what the source of the pest, 
he must inspect the property without delay. If a pest 
is discovered the owner or agent must be notified. 
The inspector must prescribe the manner of disinfec¬ 
tion and direct the owner or agent to disinfect within 
48 hours. If this is not complied with it is a mis¬ 
demeanor, and upon conviction the offender may be 
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