204 THE MONTHLY BUI-LETIN. 



We wish them to supply seed for the entire State. Insurance that this 

 is true will give potatoes a double value. We urge all contestants to 

 use only clean soil, to spare no pains to secure sound seed and then by 

 the best culture, ample irrigation and fertilization they may hope to 

 win a prize and, what will be of far more worth, win reputation and a 

 big price for the potatoes, for all will be required for seed at an extra 

 price. 



It is so late in the season that it will be impossible to visit localities 

 to inspect the seed before planting, but we desire to have sent to this 

 Commission, either by express of parcel post, ten or twelve potatoes, all 

 typical of the ones planted, for examination. All who enter the contest 

 are requested to keep a detailed account of every particular — a full 

 history of the land planted, of seed used, date of planting and every 

 detail of cultivation, irrigation and fertilization. Four contestants 

 have already entered the lists. We hope for many more and must 

 have at least ten. — A. J. C. 



An Act Permitting Terminal Inspection of Horticultural Products 

 by Parcel Post. — Readers of The IMonthly Bulletin are already 

 informed of the menace to the agricultural interests of the fruit growers 

 of California through the medium of nursery stock, including orna- 

 mentals, sent through the mails. The exigency of a reform in this 

 matter appears in the fact that the quarantine inspectors have taken 

 white flies, larvfe and eggs of the gypsy moth, the latter repeatedly, in 

 shipments which are as likely to come by mail as by express. Owing 

 to extraordinary effort on the part of Congressman William Kent, 

 aided by the entire California delegation in Congress, the following 

 law was passed as an amendment to the agricultural appropriation 

 bill on the third of March, the last day but one of the >Sixty-third 

 Congress : 



"That hereafter when any state shall provide for terminal 

 inspection of plants and plant products, and shall establish and 

 maintain, at the sole expense of the state, such inspection at one 

 or more places therein, the proper officials of said state may submit 

 to the Secretary of Agriculture a list of plants and plant products 

 and the plant pests transmitted thereby, that in the opinion of said 

 officials should be subject to terminal inspection in order to prevent 

 the introduction or dissemination in said state of pests injurious 

 to agriculture. Upon his approval of said list, in whole or in part, 

 the Secretary of Agriculture shall transmit the same to the Post- 

 master General, and thereafter all packages containing any plants 

 or plant products named in said approved lists shall, upon payment 

 of postage therefor, be forwarded by the postmaster at the destina- 

 tion of said package to the proper state official at the nearest place 

 where inspection is maintained. If the plant or plant products 

 are found upon inspection to be free from injurious pests, or if 

 infected shall be disinfected by said official, they shall upon pay- 

 ment of postage therefor be returned to the postmaster at the place 

 of inspection to be forwarded to the person to whom they are 

 addressed; but if found to be infected with injurious pests and 

 incapable of satisfactory disinfection the state inspector shall so 



