No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 126 



actiou will be lalceii by tliis Society to have our Legislature pass 

 a more stringent law. 



The Chair. — Two years ago an act was passed to provide for the 

 inspection and destruction of infested trees. 



Mr. Wertz. — By that bill, as I understand it, is vested in the super- 

 visors and auditors of townships, and that is the weakest part of 

 the bill. I would prefer a law similar to that in operation in the 

 State of Maryland. We might then expect something to be done 

 toward eradicating the scale. 



Mr. Longsdorf. — This is a matt<^'r of suflHcient importance to de- 

 mand our attention. Some of our supervisors do not know San 

 Jos6 Scale from a potato bug, and the authority to act should be 

 placed elsewhere. 



Mr. Martin, l^eputy Secretary of Agriculture. — There have been 

 thousands of trees destroyed in the Juniata Valley. We find the 

 difficulty not so mucli with orchardists as to find means to execute 

 the law. I have no doubt the bill could be made more effective. 



Ex-Secretary Edge. — The difficulty is, there is no money appro- 

 priated to execute ihe law. 



Mr. Martin. — I know our Zoologist has visited some of these orch- 

 ards, although the law does not designate his duty in the matter. 

 This organization should endeavor to have the law amended by the 

 present Legislature, so as to require orchards to be inspected and 

 remedies applied. 



Mr. Wertz. — I still contend that the present law does not reach the 

 case and is practically inopei'ative. I may have a earless neighbor, 

 or his infested hedge may join my property, and all I may do on 

 my own grounds will be of no avail. Auditors and supervisors, are 

 not the men to do this work. It should be the duty of some repre- 

 sentative of the State or Department of Agriculture. At present I 

 would not buy trees from any Pennsylvania nurseryman, because 

 our law is not sufficiently stringent. 



On motion, adjourned. 



Monday, January 21, 7.30 P. M. 



The evening was devoted to addresses by Dr. Geo. G. Groff, 

 Lewisburg, Pa., and Secretary Hamilton, of the Department of Agri- 

 culture. The former spoke of "The Fruits and Vegetables of Porto 

 Rico," a topic which he made specially interesting and instructive 

 by reason of a two-years' residence on that island, as Superintend- 

 ent of Public Instruction. His remarks were not reported steno- 

 graphically and a brief synopsis thereof only can be given. 



