614 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



led to emphatic warninojs being given to the French exporters and 

 inspection authorities, with the result that so far this year there has 

 been a very marked improvement, only two such nests having so far 

 been taken. There was, however, a decided increase in pests of 

 other kinds and many of them important pests new to this country. 



CERTAIN MAIL ENTRY OF PLANTS NOW PERMITTED. 



The importation by mail has hitherto been prohibited of plants 

 and seeds for propagation, except field, vegetable, and flower seeds 

 and importations made by or for the Department of Agriculture. 

 Inasmuch as importations made by special permit under regulation 

 14, quarantine No. 37, are required to be addressed to the Federal 

 Horticultural Board, United States Department of Agriculture, and 

 are under complete control of the department until they are passed 

 and distributed to ultimate destination, they can properly be con- 

 sidered as complying with the post-office order limiting mail importa- 

 tions of plants other than as indicated to those addressed to and 

 intended for tliis department. By arrangement with the customs 

 service and the Post Office Department, importation through the 

 mails of special permit material is authorized when warranted by the 

 nature and amount of the proposed shipment. 



HORTICULTURIST ADDED TO BOARD'S STAFF. 



In connection with all requests for special permits under regulation 

 14 for the importation of new varieties of plants and necessary prop- 

 agating stock, the board has adopted the policy from the beginning 

 oi issuing such permits only on the recommendation and advice of 

 the experts of the Bureau of Plant Industry as approved by the chief 

 of that bureau. The burden of this work has been rather heavy, and 

 as a means of facilitating the examinations and lessening the bureau's 

 work, the board had added to its staff Prof. David Lumsden, a hor- 

 ticulturist of wide professional and practical experience. 



There have been issued during the year a number of circulars giving 

 explanation of the provisions for plant entry under quarantine No. 

 37. These have been distributed to all parties in interest. 



RECORD OF ENTRY OF RESTRICTED PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS. 



Under various foreign quarantines the entry of certain plants and 

 plant products is restricted and made subject to insjjection, and, if 

 necessary, disinfection as a condition of entry. These include cotton, 

 cotton waste, cotton wrappings, and cottonseed products for the 

 purpose of excluding the pink bollworm and other dangerous cotton 

 pests; nursery stock, plants, and seeds for propagation for the pur- 

 pose of excluding miscellaneous foreign pests — insect and disease; also 

 potatoes from various foreign countries for the p>urpose of excluding 

 potato diseases and insect pests; and various fruits and grains. The 

 records of the importations of the more important of these subjects 

 are indicated in the following discussion and tables: 



COTTON, COTTON WASTE, COTTON BAGGING, AND COTTONSEED PRODUCTS 



IMPORTATIONS. 



Except as noted below, disinfection is a condition of entry of all 

 cotton, and entry is restricted to Boston, New York, San Francisco, 

 and Seattle. Disinfection plants under private ownership and man- 



