122 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should be some legislation in our slate, in regard to this black knot. I 

 was suffering severely, with others, from the influence of some black knot 

 in our neighborhood. The owners wouldn't do anything and would not 

 allow me to. I offered to burn it up, but to no effect; finally I made up 

 my mind that they would come to time; and, even with the man we had 

 for governor, we did get a law passed, and in our county the commis- 

 sioners were lashed up to their work, and we had a house-cleaning such 

 as Ontario county had not had for years; and the result is that there has 

 been a great reduction in the amount of black knot found in our plum 

 orchards. I don't know about the idea of our government taking hold of 

 this thing. There are a great many complications in connection with all 

 this, and it seems to me that right here in our own state — in every state — 

 we ought to be able to have laws enacted which would cover the case, so 

 far as we are concerned. Our environment is different in the different 

 states. New York and Michigan are on the same level. We have clim- 

 ate and soil very much alike, and above all, we have a homogeneous peo- 

 ple; but in my opinion we ought to be able in our own states to take hold 

 of these matters, and have such rigid legislation as would control this 

 thing. Perhaps it would be better for the general government, but it 

 seems to me that there are obstacles that would be dispensed with if we 

 could create a public sentiment that would keep in force whatever 

 measures might be required for the extermination of these pests. They 

 are multiplying faster than we are aware, and it is perfectly marvelous. 

 1 do not think that you or I have any comprehension of the rapidity with 

 which all these insect pests multiply, and how difficult it is to restrain 

 them in their efforts to set aside our work. This thing certainly needs to 

 be taken hold of; public sentiment must be worked up, or we will have 

 to go under. We are in a good deal better position as horticulturists 

 than the ngriculturists. Public sentiment is growing in the right direc- 

 tion, people are becoming educated, and they are going to consume a good 

 deal more of these choice fruits than in the past. We are going forward; 

 let us go in the right direction. 



Mr. Peter Collar: These laws that we have now are too local. Men in 

 townships are appointed, but they are afraid of offending neighbors, and 

 I am in favor of having laws that are not quite so local in their character. 

 I would like to ask what chances there are for a man who sprays his 

 orchard and is surrounded by neighbors who don't spray? Are his 

 chances any better than if he didn't spray? 



Prof. Webster: Of course his chances would be better with some 

 things than others. As I said in my paper, he can destroy the first brood 

 of codlin moth, which does the greater amount of damage; but men have 

 sprayed large orchards — thousands and thousands of dollars at stake — 

 have sprayed thoroughly, and then sent to me to know how it was that 

 their fruit was wormy. Their neighbors had not sprayed and they had 

 furnished more or less of the moths that had gone over and produced a 

 second brood. There is a case where you can do a great deal for youself, 

 but can never get rid of the injury until your neighbors join with you. 

 The same is true as to curculio. Of course you can watch your trees, and 

 it does not take any longer to jar for your neighbors' curculios and your 

 own, than for your own separately; Ijut, understand, if your neiglibors 

 didn't raise any, and you didn't you wouldn't have to jar at all. I should 



