PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING 157 



come into the state, and if they had been inspected by a state or govcrn- 

 uieut inspector and given a certilicate, a dealer in lliis state niigiit sell 

 them. 



Mr. Morrill: Even though they are infested? 



I'rof. Hedrick: I have no })0\ver under the law to nuike him destroy the 

 infested or infected trees. 



Mr. Graham: Have you not, under a subsequent section, power to 

 follow up such trees in the hands of the purchaser? 



l*rof. Hedrick: I have; yes, sir. 



Mr. Graham: Wherever 3'ou And them? 



Prof. IJedrick: Yes, wherever I find them, but I should have the 

 power, I think, to make the original ])urchaser, the dealer, destroy the 

 trees or care for them. I think it is a mistake not to make the agents 

 take out a license. The knv would have been nearlv self-sustaining had 

 that been done. I believe that many of the agents would have gladly 

 done this, because a great man}- have asked for certificates. Of course, 

 the principals aie resposible for the agents, but the agents bob about so 

 that it is very difficult to keep track of them. Other weak points in the 

 law have come to my mind, but I do not think of them now. One pro- 

 vision is practically a dead-letter, and that is the one requiring that all 

 outside dealers take out licenses. The secretary found, in looking the 

 matter up, that a person might order trees through the mail from this 

 state, the trees to be shipped in here, and you could not get after them at 

 all. The trees would have to be accompanied by certificate, of course, 

 but you could not comjjel the man wdio shipped the trees into the state 

 to take out a license or bond. 



Mr. Morrill: This proposed national legislation will hit that; it seems 

 to be the only way. 



Prof. Hedrick: Another feature I think might be introduced into the 

 law would be to put the state inspector somewhat at the head of the 

 peach yellow^s commissioners, give him charge of the work, so he could 

 see that in townships where people were inactive in regard to having 

 commissioners, they could be made to have commissioners. 



Mr. Morrill : I think that is all right. 



Prof. Hedrick: And compel the inspection of peach orchards; and he 

 might oversee the work of the commissioners and see that it is done much 

 better than it is under the present system. 



Mr. Graham: What is your opinion, professor, regarding the section 

 exempting fruitgrowers who are not nurserymen from the inspection? 



Prof. Hedrick: Well, a "nurseryman'' ought to be better defined in 

 that provision. So far I have had no trouble, but I can readily see that 

 there might be trouble, and if a case were taken to the courts a good 

 many nurserymen might creep out. The nurserymen have been anxious 

 for inspection, and I have had no difficulty in making them see that they 

 ought to have their stock inspected, but at the same time they might 

 creep out if the matter came before the courts. I think the provision 

 all right to a certain extent. A great many growlers of strawberry plants, 

 respberry plants, and other small-fi'uit ])lnnts naturally have a suriilus 

 of stock, they do not go on the road, and they do not advertise their 

 stock, but the neighbors come to them and want plants. Perhaps they 

 ought to be allowed to sell, and the provision for them is all right. It 

 seems to me so at least. 



