My exchanges and letters from horticultural friends on the Pacific Coast write in warning of "danger ahead." The planting of fruit trees has gone on with an energy never before equaled on the American continent. My own personal knowledge of the situation then, and acquaintance with Eastern horticulture, urge me to say that in my humble opinion the natural home of the temperate zone fruits, particularly the stone fruits, and the vine, is in California, so far as soil and climate go. If a cordon of law and wise quarantining could fifteen years ago have been placed about the State, it would simply be to-day, as it was once, the horticulturists' paradise, and fruit raising would in ten years more be the chief industry of the State. One would be able to drive for twenty miles through a continuous orchard - absolutely unbroken, except by fences or gardens, and there would be half a hundred such centers of fruit culture in the State. Vineyards of 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 acres would not be uncommon. The control of the trade in fresh and dried fruits would be in our hands.

But scale-bugs, woolly aphis, red spider, curcu-lio, and in fact all the parasites known to East and West are naturalized in California, and the discouragements of the business steadily increase. Legislation of the most stringent character is advocated and earnestly hoped for. A diseased orchard, if taken in hand soon enough, can be profitably treated and cleaned of the parasites. But delay is fatal, and careless neighbors aid in spreading the pests.

There never was a time when trained horticulturists were more needed than in California at present. The Agricultural Department of the State University needs more aid in its vigorous efforts, and an entomological department, under the best men to be found, should be endowed and liberally supported. Matthew Cooke, chief horticultural offi-cer, is a man of much capacity and energy. He should find public sentiment in each county of the State strongly in favor of "war to the death" against the insect pests. It would honestly be better to destroy every fruit tree in the State, and begin over again, than to give up the best belt of fruitgrowing land on the continent. But this is not necessary. All that is required is that the horticulturists there be animated with one spirit, and work in harmony.