BOARD OF HORTICULTURE 67 



it has been sieved. dried and stored so as to prevent contamination by insects 

 and diseases, and that no danijerous insects or diseases are known to occur in 

 tlie locality wliere the soil is secured. 



(2) Diine Sand from Holland. — On representations made by Mr. N. Yan 

 Foeteren, cliief of the phytopatholosical service of Holland, the board has author- 

 ized the use, when properly certified, of dune sand taken from a deptli of five 

 feet or more from the snrface. 



(3) Coi'al Sand from Bermuda. — Similar arrangements have been made for 

 the use of unsterilized coral sand uncontaminated with surfaee soil for use in 

 paeking bulbs shi]iped from the Bermuda Islands when properly certified by the 

 director of agriculture of those Islands. 



(4) Ground Peat. — The use of ground peat for plant packing has been author- 

 ized by the board. Peat as commercially mined can be considered as substantially 

 sterile with respect to infestation with plant diseases or other plant pests. For 

 packing and greenhouse use it is dried, ground up and powdered. and in this 

 condition can undoubtedly safely be used as paeking for bulbs and its use in 

 such condition for this purpose has been, therefore, authorized. 



BAD CONDITION OF FRENCH FRUIT STOCKS 



April 19, 1920. 



This Office has recently been advised of the bad condition of French fruit 

 Stocks botli from the point of insect infestation and from the nature of the 

 paeking employed. This Information comes particularly from Mr. C. P. Louns- 

 bury with respect to such Stocks imported into South Africa and from Mr. H. F. 

 Dietz, the assistant entomologist of the State of Indiana and formerly connected 

 with this department. 



Mr. Lounsbury reports that the majority of an importation of 80.000 pear 

 Stocks landed at Capetown were infested with scale insects, Including Aspidiotus 

 pyri Lieht., Epidiaspis betuloe Sign, and Pulvinaria betuloe (L.) Sign., and also 

 wooly apis and lepidopterous larvae, and that some of the trees were affected 

 by crown gall. 



Mr. Dietz reports a very "dirty" condition of paeking employed, which included 

 leaves of various deciduous trees and of two-leaved pines more or less of which 

 showed insect work and might easily carry insect pests, so much so that he has 

 insisted on the burning of all such paeking. Furthermore, a large percentage of 

 the stock was worthless, i. e.. dead, when received. 



In view of these conditions it may be desirable to issue an order requiring 

 the subjection of all such stock to vacuum fumigation in the future as well as 

 to take Steps to secure the use of cleaner paeking material. It is now near the 

 end of the importing season for this spring, but there will probably still be 

 opportunity for you to examine such imported French stock Coming into your 

 State. The board would like to have a report from you on the condition of this 

 material, the amount and nature of infestation which you may find, and the 

 nature and condition of paeking. It heartlly recommends the burning of all 

 paeking material. 



C. L. MARLATT, 



Chairman of Board. 



