FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 75 



THE MICHIGAN FEU IT LAWS. 



LOREN WILLIAMS, OWOSSO. MICH. 



The Michigan fruit laws is a subject of which we know very little, yet 

 they are of great importance to every grower or prospective grower of 

 fruit. These laws which we have were designed and carefully planned 

 when placed on our statute books to protect and aid every grower of 

 fruit in Michigan. 



Our legislators were not fooling their time away but gave careful con- 

 sideration to each phase of the industry when they conceived laws as a 

 method of protection. They have considered the popular call of the 

 producer; they have carefully considered the standpoint of the buyer; 

 they have interpreted the conditions as well as good legislators can and 

 as a result, we have the Michigan Fruit Laws which are to prevent the 

 importation from other states and the spread within the state, of dan- 

 gerous insects, dangerously contagious diseases which affect our trees, 

 shrubs, vines, plants and fruit. 



Let us not consider these Laws as mere pastime of our former 

 thoughtful law makers to remain as unknown monuments to the cause. 

 On the contrary, a law is a law and yet it is really not a law unless the 

 people as a whole consider it as such. 



Act Number 91, Section 1, reads that it is unlawful for persons to 

 sell or knowingly keep upon their premises, any trees or fruit infected 

 with the disease knoAvn as peach yellows, peach littles, rosette, or any 

 part of a tree infected with diseases known as hlack knot, pear hliglit, 

 San Jose scale or any dangerously noxious insect pest. 



Friends, I take it for granted that most of my hearers are horticul- 

 turists who are producers or shippers of fruit. If so, here is a law 

 which our duly elected legislators have brought about for your protec- 

 tion. How much value has such a law until we as individuals clamor 

 for its enforcement? We have a State Inspector of Orchards and are 

 supposed to have local inspectors as well, in the separate districts. 

 They are doing the best that they can to enforce the laws, but remember 

 that co-operation is the element leading to success in such an enterprise. 

 We must not shield our neighbors or friends but make known to the 

 inspector the presence of all dangerous insects and dangerous diseases. 



It is our duty to develoj) better standards of horticulture and since 

 monoply is impossible in fruit production, why not put the producers 

 oil an equal basis? If your neighbor refuses to spray, report him at 

 once to the local or State inspector so that you may achieve your ideal, 

 that of perfect fruit production. 



It is your duty to yourself, to your neighbor, and to your State, to 

 see that the laws regarding the importation of diseased stock from 

 foreign or local nurseries is carefully carried out. Every shipment of 

 nursery stock should bear a certificate of inspection when you receive 

 it from a State nursery and both a certificate of inspection and fumi- 



