INSECT PESTS-AMERICAN LEGISLATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 338, 22 November 1887, Page 2

INSECT PESTS-AMERICAN LEGISLATION.

In accordance with our pr.>miso we will now give brief iibsraots of the laws dealing with insect pests in force in California. No. I.

An Act to create and establish a Board of Horticulture, and appropriate money for the expenses thereof.

There shall be a Board of Horticulture consisting of nine members who shall be appointed by the Governor, two from the State at large, and one from eaoh of the seven horticultural districts constituted as provided. — The district members shall be residents of the district from which they are appointed and shall be specially qualified by practical experience and study in connection with horticultural industries. — The Board to receive, manage, and hold, donations and bequests for promoting the objects of its formation ; to meet semiauuually and to adopt such measures as may best promote the horticultural industries. The Board, without expense to the State, to appoint competent persons to leoture in each of tbe districts for the pupose of illustrating practical horticultural tjpios and imparting instructions in the methods of culture, &0., and of treatiog the diseases of fruit trees, and exterminating insect pests. — For the purpose of preventing the spread of disease und for the treatment and extirpation of fruit pes'e and for the disinfection of trees, grafts, and empty fruit boxes and packages, the Board shall make regulations for the inspection and disinfection thereof, such regulations to be circulated as prescribed. — The Board to appoint an Inspector of Fruit Pests who shall see that all the regulations are enforced, and to report to the Board, and if any locality is shown to be infected such locality shall be placed under quarantineregulation. He is also to report such in^ formation as he may acquire from observation and experience. — Quarantine guardians

to be appointed if necessary to see that the Board's regulations, and Inspector's instructions are carried out. — No provision is made for penalties. No. 11. An Aot to promote and protect the Horti* cultural Interests of the State. Whenever a petition is presented to the Board of Supervisors of any county, signed by five or more persons who are resident freeholders or possessors of an orchard, stating that certain orchards are infected with scale, bug, codlin moth, or other insect, and praying than a commission be appointed, the Board shall select three Commissioners for the county. It is be the duty of such Commissioners whenever informed that an orchard, fruit packing house, or sale room is infected, to cause inspection to be made and to require the owner to disinfect the same. If within a specified time such disinfection has not been accomplished the trees or articles complained of shall be ordered to be destroyed, and if not destroyed as ordered, the owners shall be deemed guilty of main* taining a public nuisance and dealt with accordingly.

No. 111. The Pbuit Pest Law. An Aot to prevent the spreading of fruit tree peatß and diseases, and to provide for their extirpation.

It shall be the duty of every owner or occupier of an orchard to disinfect all fruit trees grown on such land with any insects or infested by any contagious disease before the removal of the fruit for sale or distribution. Fruit boxes once used to bo

diFinfected before being used again, and any person negleotiog to do bo to be deemed guihy of a misdemeanour. All fruib iufecied by insects which has fallen from the trees to be destroyed as often as once a week, Whvre any fruit, packages, treep, or cuttings | brought into the State pro found by the Inspeotor to be infeoted, it shall be a miedfuaedDour to offer them for ealeor dietribution unlesß they be first disinfected. Every pt reon shipping fruit or trees from any orchard shall attach to t.he boxes or packages a l.i bel showing the name of the shipper, aDd the localiiy where produced, nod f<ny per.- n transporting such from any infected locally without thc-ir being previously d sin'ented shall bi guilty of a nmd' meonour. Ah infect' d trees rnuß : be. cleaned before thu lsc April in each 3e r. All fruit or trees not disiuf'Gted witb'n 24 hours after notice is given by the Inspector to be treated as a public nuisance, Any pfreon violating "Dy of the provisions of this Act nball on conviction be punished by a fine of not lees than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars for eaoh offence,