A Treatise on the Insects Injurious to Fruit and Fruit Trees of the State of California, and Remedies Recommended for their Extermination

Sacramento: State Office, 1881. 72 pp, illustrated with small wood engravings, in original lavender printed wrappers. Some chipping to spine, old tears and tape repairs to back wrapper, else very good. Matthew Cooke was in the business of manufacturing fruit boxes in the 1870s when California's apple crop was devastated by Codlin moths. He began studying entomology to find defense against the moths (and ensure the security of his business) and quickly became an expert on a range of pests affecting California's fruit crops. He was appointed Chief Executive Horticultural Officer of California in 1881. This report, prepared at the request of the State Board of Horticultural Commissioners, describes the life cycles of the major insects damaging fruit crops (moths, scale insects, mites, caterpillars, borers, aphids, etc.) and recommends remedies for dealing with each. It also includes the text of new legislation intended to protect and promote the horticultural interests of the State of California.