No. 6. DEPARTMENT oF AGRICULTURE. 191 



process aiL- wuitlik'ss, as sliowu iu tlie above article ou "Nursery 

 luspectioii." 1 would therefore recommend that fumigation be 

 made under the direct supervision of an expert or State ollicer, and 

 Avould also recommend re-inspection after the fumigation to make 

 sure of the death of the pests. Such precautions are absolutely 

 necessary in order to protect the growing interests of the orchard- 

 ists of our great State, which annually produces one-seventh of the 

 entire apple crop of America. 



II. The nurserymen are justified in their present demands for 

 protection from the serious sources of infestation by the San Jose 

 Scale upon the premises adjoining those in which their nursery 

 stock is growing. For the protection of the orchardists stringent 

 requirements are made of nurserymen, but unless we take the 

 most radical means to prevent the infestment of their stock, strin- 

 gent laws, regarding the subsequent treatment of this stock, and 

 even the most careful efforts of our conscientious nurserymen, can 

 not be entirely effective in avoiding the dissemination of the w^rst 

 of all fruit pests, the San Jos6 Scale, which has been called the 

 small-pox of horticulture. 



The same kind of condition prevails concerning the infestment of 

 private premises. A man who takes care of his trees is likely to 

 have pests brought to them from the trees that are neglected. This 

 discourages a thrifty and enterprising person, and it means that 

 we are justitied in making provisions for the inspection of private 

 premises for the presence of the San Jose Scale, and arranging to 

 have them properly treated, especially when infested plants are 

 growing near nurseries or other orchards. 



III. Another source of great evil in our State is the seedling trees, 

 and the old and neglected trees that are often seen along fences and 

 in the remnants of old orchards. These are the greatest means of 

 breeding, continuing and disseminating serious pests, and we ear- 

 nestly recommend that the Legislature provide laws for their de- 

 struction, or the treatment of such trees that are likely to maintain 

 pests injurious to nurseries or orchards. 



In conclusion, 1 desire to commend the efficiency and industry of 

 our State Nursery Inspector, Mr. Enos B. Engle, and also, of the 

 two assistants. Prof. Buckhout and Prof. Butz, who aided him during 

 the summer. 



Respectfully submitted, 



H. A. SURFACE, 

 Economic Zoologist. 



