Commissioner of Agriculture 177 



stocks from France. We knew that extensive importations from 

 France and other countries were due to arrive during the months 

 of January, February and March, arid furthermore that the mil- 

 lions of stocks and seedlings were for planting in nearly every 

 nursery in the state. A circular of information calling attention 

 to the conditions confronting us was distributed to all our nursery- 

 men and planters who were directed to notify the department of 

 the arrival of any importations of stock from abroad and requested 

 to hold all boxes unopened until an inspector of the horticultural 

 bureau could be present. Fortunately, we have had for years a 

 requirement of law by which transportation companies bringing 

 nursery stock into the state must notify the department of their 

 having in their possession any such shipments, and giving names 

 and addresses of consignors and consignees, together with such 

 other information as may be required. Special requests were at 

 once made of the 60 odd transportation companies to heed the 

 letter of the law. 



We further asked and received the cooperation of custom house 

 brokers, securing from them much information, particularly in 

 reference to boxes imported, names of consignee's, number of boxes, 

 names of transportation companies receiving the boxes and dates. 



By direction of the United States Secretary of the Treasury, 

 collectors of customs in the eight ports of entry within the state 

 were authorized to give our Department of Agriculture the in- 

 formation required to enable us to locate importations and their 

 destination. By courtesy of the naval officer in New York City, 

 where the bulk of importations were cleared, we were permitted 

 to [dace an agent who copied such portion of every manifest for 

 our use as needed. 



The department had a dozen trained inspectors available to 

 whom additional help was given as required. All were placed in 

 sharp communication to facilitate inspections and avoid delay and 

 exposure to seedlings. 



Our inspectors were directed to locate and burn at once all 

 nests of brown-tail moths found. ]STo one was permitted to save, 

 handle or give away any specimen nests. Boxes in which nests 

 were actually found were at once burned, together with all moss, 

 packing material and linings. Subsequent examinations of all 



