To Make a Spotless Orange: Biological Control in California
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Book Review To Make a Spotless Orange: Biological Control in California Richard Sawyer. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1996. Reviewed by Matt Hall, Institute of Anthropology, University of North Texas. In To Make a Spotless Orange, Richard Sawyer provides a lucid and readable account of the development of biological control methods in the fight against agricultural pests. While thefocusis on the citrus industry of California, Sawyer gives a sense of perspective to the work by providing examples of the state of biological control (or lack thereof) in other states, such as Hawaii and Florida. This allows comparisons to be made between California and other states, thus giving an idea of the uniqueness of the California citrus-growing culture. Beginning with the control of cottony-cushion scale (Icerya puchasi) in 1889, Sawyer traces the high and low points in attempts to control pests through the introduction of another predatory insect. While it would be many years before biological control had another resounding success such as it had in 1889, the method was pursued by the California citrus industry with increasing fervor. Throughout the book Sawyer is meticulous in providing background information about the principal actors and institutions involved in biological control, as well as the interplay between them. One telling example is that of Paul DeBach and his relationship with Sunkist Growers, Inc. In 1970, DeBach called for re- laxation of Sunkist's policy of blemish-free fruit. According to Sunkist, this is the only way for California to maintain its hold on the citrus market in the United States. This policy was also responsibleformany setbacks and shortcomings of biological control methods, which were often only partly successful in producing spotless fruit. DeBach, an economic entomologist, held that relaxing these standards would broaden the applicability of biological control methods. Throughout the book, Sawyer details antagonisms such as those between citrus growers, entomologists, and governmental agencies that at times have hindered the implementation of natural methods of pest control. Also discussed are possible reasons why biological control was not pursued in more areas of the United States. Here, Sawyer cites the immediate and somewhat guaranteed results of chemical pesticides, coupled with the often disappointing results of natural control meth- ods, as being one major cause of the discrepancy. Sawyer is also careful to point out that the reasons for biological control methods were not ecologically minded, as they may at first appear. Throughout the book, he reminds the reader that the research performed by economic entomologists was largely paid for by the citrus industry in California. What the grow- ers wanted was spotless fruit for the smallest overall invest- ment. The economic theory behind biological control was based on the assumption that, once established, natural ene- mies of citrus pests would not need to be reapplied. This stands in contrast to the need for repeated application of chemical insecticides. Therefore, long-term economic consid- erations, and not ecological concerns, were the driving moti- vation behind this research. Sawyer does not just discuss the agricultural and scien- tific aspects of biological control. Political, business, and eco- logical aspects are also brought into the discussion. As a historian of science, Sawyer also makes the dynamic inter- play between science and technology a major focus. He dis- cusses when science and basic theory have driven control efforts, the actual engineering aspect of biological control. Sawyer also looks at when engineering leads to major theo- retical breakthroughs, such as the discovery of the trigger for winter diapause in Macrocentrus. By exploring this interplay between fundamental science and practical application of science, Sawyer makes the book relevant to scholars outside of agriculture. The book is especially relevant to anthropol- ogists because, through Sawyer's holistic approach to the subject, comparisons can be made between the California citrus-growing culture and the citrus culture of other regions. In To Make a Spotless Orange, Sawyer presents a meticu- lous and even-handed account of the historical development of biological control. His carefully researched and richly detailed analysis provides insight into the background of the actors, institutions, and events. He does all this without taking a judgmental stance. Sawyer presents the good and bad side of methods of biological control, and discusses the underlying reason why natural methods were pursued with such fervor in the California citrus industry. Culture & Agriculture 121 Vol. 2J0, NOS. 2/3 Summer/Fall 1998
Transcript of To Make a Spotless Orange: Biological Control in California
Book Review
To Make a Spotless Orange:Biological Control in CaliforniaRichard Sawyer. Ames: Iowa State University Press,1996.
Reviewed by Matt Hall, Institute of Anthropology,University of North Texas.
In To Make a Spotless Orange, Richard Sawyer provides alucid and readable account of the development of biologicalcontrol methods in the fight against agricultural pests. Whilethe focus is on the citrus industry of California, Sawyer givesa sense of perspective to the work by providing examples ofthe state of biological control (or lack thereof) in other states,such as Hawaii and Florida. This allows comparisons to bemade between California and other states, thus giving an ideaof the uniqueness of the California citrus-growing culture.
Beginning with the control of cottony-cushion scale(Icerya puchasi) in 1889, Sawyer traces the high and lowpoints in attempts to control pests through the introductionof another predatory insect. While it would be many yearsbefore biological control had another resounding success suchas it had in 1889, the method was pursued by the Californiacitrus industry with increasing fervor. Throughout the bookSawyer is meticulous in providing background informationabout the principal actors and institutions involved inbiological control, as well as the interplay between them. Onetelling example is that of Paul DeBach and his relationshipwith Sunkist Growers, Inc. In 1970, DeBach called for re-laxation of Sunkist's policy of blemish-free fruit. According toSunkist, this is the only way for California to maintain its holdon the citrus market in the United States. This policy was alsoresponsible for many setbacks and shortcomings of biologicalcontrol methods, which were often only partly successful inproducing spotless fruit. DeBach, an economic entomologist,held that relaxing these standards would broaden theapplicability of biological control methods. Throughout thebook, Sawyer details antagonisms such as those betweencitrus growers, entomologists, and governmental agenciesthat at times have hindered the implementation of naturalmethods of pest control. Also discussed are possible reasonswhy biological control was not pursued in more areas of theUnited States. Here, Sawyer cites the immediate and
somewhat guaranteed results of chemical pesticides, coupledwith the often disappointing results of natural control meth-ods, as being one major cause of the discrepancy. Sawyer isalso careful to point out that the reasons for biological controlmethods were not ecologically minded, as they may at firstappear. Throughout the book, he reminds the reader that theresearch performed by economic entomologists was largelypaid for by the citrus industry in California. What the grow-ers wanted was spotless fruit for the smallest overall invest-ment. The economic theory behind biological control wasbased on the assumption that, once established, natural ene-mies of citrus pests would not need to be reapplied. Thisstands in contrast to the need for repeated application ofchemical insecticides. Therefore, long-term economic consid-erations, and not ecological concerns, were the driving moti-vation behind this research.
Sawyer does not just discuss the agricultural and scien-tific aspects of biological control. Political, business, and eco-logical aspects are also brought into the discussion. As ahistorian of science, Sawyer also makes the dynamic inter-play between science and technology a major focus. He dis-cusses when science and basic theory have driven controlefforts, the actual engineering aspect of biological control.Sawyer also looks at when engineering leads to major theo-retical breakthroughs, such as the discovery of the trigger forwinter diapause in Macrocentrus. By exploring this interplaybetween fundamental science and practical application ofscience, Sawyer makes the book relevant to scholars outsideof agriculture. The book is especially relevant to anthropol-ogists because, through Sawyer's holistic approach to thesubject, comparisons can be made between the Californiacitrus-growing culture and the citrus culture of other regions.
In To Make a Spotless Orange, Sawyer presents a meticu-lous and even-handed account of the historical developmentof biological control. His carefully researched and richlydetailed analysis provides insight into the background of theactors, institutions, and events. He does all this without takinga judgmental stance. Sawyer presents the good and bad sideof methods of biological control, and discusses the underlyingreason why natural methods were pursued with such fervorin the California citrus industry.
Culture & Agriculture 121 Vol. 2J0, NOS. 2/3 Summer/Fall 1998
