FEDEK.iL HORTICULTURxiL BOARD. 515 



STATE AND FEDERAL CONTROL WORK. 



Followino- tho determination by the Massachusetts authorities of 

 the establishment of this insect in that State and the efforts on the 

 part of the department of agricurciire of that State to cope with 

 the insect, the Federal Government was called upon to assist the 

 State authorities by establishing a Federal quarantine and by aid- 

 ing in control and^ if possible, extcrminative work. In response to 

 this request, follovcing a formal hearing on the subject, a quarantine 

 Avas promulgated, effective August 1, 1918, covering the then known 

 infested area in Massachusetts' and prohibiting the naovement there- 

 from interstate of corn fodder and cornstalks, whether used for 

 packing or otherwise, and green corn, roasting ears, corn on the cob, 

 or corncobs. 



The discoverv of the nev,- important areas in New York in the fall 

 of 1918 was followed by a second hearing, February 2G, 1919, for the 

 purpose of bringing within the scope of this quarantine this newly 

 discovered infested territory. As a result of this hearing it was de- 

 cided to defer taking additional Federal quarantine action until a 

 more accurate determination had been made of the spread of the 

 insect. This decision was based on the fact that both of the infested 

 areas were entirely within the States involved, and on the definite 

 understanding which was expressly given by the representatives of 

 these two States that effective quarantine control would be exer- 

 cised over the infested districts within their borders so that there 

 would be no possibility of interstate movement of infested prodm ts. 

 Quarantine orders were shortly thereafter issued by the commis- 

 sioners of agriculture of New York and iSIassachusetts covering the 

 invaded areas in each of these States, The Massachusetts order Avas 

 based on a ncAv quarantine laAv enacted by that State April 11, 1919, 

 having particular reference to the European corn borer. The Massa- 

 chusetts order issued under date of May 1, 1919, prohibited the move- 

 ment from any point Avithin the areas infested by the corn borer sur- 

 rounding Boston of the corn and corn products enumerated in the 

 Federal quarantine. The NeAv York order prohibited movement 

 from any point of the area infested with the European corn borer 

 in that State to any point outside of the quarantined area of corn 

 and also of a large series of truck plants and ornamental and flower- 

 ing plants. Both of these States made appropriations Avhich ulti- 

 mately amounted to $100,000 each for the cleaning up of the infested 

 cornfields. The enforcement of these State quarantines Avas co- 

 operated in by the Federal authorities. 



In vieAv of the further spread of this insect in Massachusetts and 

 elseAvhere and the large number of food plants wdiich in New Eng- 

 land had not been brought under control by the State quaran- 

 tine, a third hearing on the subject of this corn borer Avas con- 

 ducted Augu-t 15, 1919. This hearing Avas held at the statehouse, 

 Boston, to give opportunity for local truck growers and commission 

 merchants Avho Avould bo largely affected by the quarantine to par- 

 ticipate in the discussions. It Avas apparent from the information 

 developed at this hearing that the territory invaded by this insect in 

 Massachusetts, and perhaps elseAvherc in NeAV England and in New 

 York, was so inadequately determined as to make a quarantine c over- 

 ing merely the area then knoAvn to be invaded in these tv\ o States thor- 



