THE STORY OF AN ENTOMOLOGIST 



the scientific men. Undoubtedly Mexico has a great future; but 

 when ? 



In those days the United States was fairly well protected 

 against injurious insects from the Orient by the State inspection 

 services on the Pacific coast. But the Adantic coast was more 

 dangerous on account of the greater rapidity of steamship 

 service from Europe. For many years — in fact, from 1898 to 

 1912— concerted efforts were being made to pass a satisfactory 

 plant quarantine act by the federal government that should 

 measurably protect the whole country. Many hearings were 

 held before congressional committees and several bills were 

 prepared. All of them met the strenuous opposition of the 

 National Nurserymen's Association through its committee on 

 legislation. Finally, in early 1912, despairing of success in our 

 own country, I went to Europe to try to get certain European 

 governments to strengthen their own plant inspection laws, 

 and to secure in this way a competent system of inspection of 

 and certification of plants and plant products going to America. 

 I interviewed high officials in England, France, Belgium, Hol- 

 land and Germany with a fair degree of success. I met with 

 fair promises and great courtesy everywhere, and in some cases 

 the inspection services were strengthened. I remember suggest- 

 ing to M. Vassiliere that it might be a good plan to station 

 American inspectors at some important points, like Angers, 

 for example, and he replied that that was entirely out of the 

 question, since it would create a bad diplomatic precedent. Later 

 I remember that at a hearing before the United States House 

 Committee of Agriculture the same suggestion was made by 

 Mr. Lever of South Carolina, at that time Chairman of the 

 committee. I told him M. Vassiliere's comment, and he at once 

 acknowledged its force. 



