58 SIXTEENTH BIENNIAL REPORT 



United States Department of Agrieulture, Explanation of Provisions for Entry of 

 Plant Novelties and Propagating Stock ander Quarantine No. 37. 



Regulation 14 of the regulations relative to the importation of nursery stock 

 and other plants and seeds has been revised and reissued. In its new form it 

 is essentially an Interpretation of the old regulation 14, rather than an enlarge- 

 ment of powers under the quarantine, inasmuch as the regulation, as worded in 

 the quarantine as originally issued, was intended to cover exactly what is now 

 more clearly stated in the new regulation. This regulation provides for the impor- 

 tation under a special permit from the Secretary of Agriculture, of limited 

 quantities of otherwise prohibited stock for the purpose of keeping the country 

 supplied wlth new varieties of plants and stock for propagation purposes not 

 available in the United States. This amendment, however, does not apply to a 

 few plants which have been specifieally prohibited entry under other quarantines, 

 as, for example, pines, Ribes, and Grossularia from certain countries, and 

 citrus, banana and bamboo stock. 



The following explanations of regulation 14 are given to indicate the limita- 

 tions under this regulation and the procedure to be followed in making importa- 

 tions of the two classes of plants specified, namely, new varieties and necessary 

 propagating stock. 



The expression "new varieties" is understood to mean plant novelties ; that 

 is, new horticultural or floricultural creations or new discoveries. 



"Necessary propagating stock" is understood to mean stock of old or Standard 

 varieties imported for the multiplication of the plants in question as a nursery 

 or florist enterprise as distinguished from importations for immediate or iiltimate 

 sale of the Stocks actually imported, and such importations will be restricted to 

 Stocks which are not available in this country in adequate quantities. 



The expression "limited quantities" used in regulation 14 is understood to 

 mean with respect both to new varieties and to Standard Stocks, such quantities 

 as will supply reasonable needs for the establishment of reproduction plants 

 which may be thereafter independent of foreign supplies. 



There is no limitation as to the number of permits for different plants or 

 classes of plants under regulation 14, which an individual may request, but the 

 applications will all be passed upon both as to necessity for the particular impor- 

 tation and as to the quantity adequate for the purpose intended, by experts of 

 the department, for the information of the board prior to the issuance of the 

 permits. 



All importations under regulation 14 must be made under special permits 

 through the office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction of the Department of 

 Agriculture, but for the use of the individual importer. The importer will be 

 required to meet all entry, transportation and freight handling charges. The 

 department will make no Charge for inspection and supervision. The necessary 

 procedure for making such importation is as follows : 



1. The Federal Horticultural Board will supply, on request, an application 

 blank upon which request may be made for special permit to Import. This 

 application embodies an agreement on the part of the importer that if the 

 imported material is found on examination by an inspector of the Department of 

 Agriculture to be so infested or infected with insects or disease that it can 

 not be adequately safeguarded. it may be destroyed and such destruction will 

 not be made the basis of a claim against the Department of Agriculture for 

 damages. The application must be accompanied by a Statement certifying that 

 the plants to be imported are novelties or if Standard varieties of forei.gn plants, 

 that Stocks in adequate quantities for their propagation are not available in 

 this country, and that in either case they are to be imported for the establishment 

 of reproduction plantings and not for immediate or ultimate sale of the Stocks 

 actually imported. In exceptional cases the importation of novelties may be 



