NOTES. 527 



Hon. II. ('. AdaniH, of Wisconsin, ;i nii'inber of tlie Comniittee on Agriculture of 

 the National House of Representatives, introduced a bill in that body January 4 to 

 provide for an increased annual approjiriation for agricultural experiment stations. 

 The initial increase named ij !?5,000, with an additional $2,000 a year until a total of 

 §15,000 is reached. These funds are "to be applied only to paying the necessary 

 expenses of conducting original researches or experiments bearing directly on the 

 agricultural industry of the United States." 



The emergency appropriation made last year to eradicate the foot-and-mouth 

 disease has been amended so as to make $250,000 of the appropriation immediately 

 available " to meet the emergency caused by the ravages of the Mexican cotton-boll 

 weevil and other insects an:l diseases affecting cotton." 



A bill extending the franking privilege to the State and Territorial departments of 

 agriculture in mailing "documents relating to agriculture to the farmers Avithin the 

 borders of their respective States or Territories." 



Meeting of Horticultural Inspectors. — Tlie Association of Official Horticultural 

 Inspectors met in Washington November 17 and 18. No formal papers were pre- 

 sented, the time being occupied with a discussion of the topics which had been 

 suggested by the vice-chairman, J. B. Smith, in the announcement of the meeting. 



The question as to what provisions in inspection laws are likely to prove uncon- 

 stitutional if tested was thoroughly discussed. It developed during this discussion 

 that nurserymen's associations and various horticultural inspectors had submitted 

 the inspection laws of different States to comiietent attorneys for opinions on their 

 constitutionality. The unanimous opinion of attorneys on these points indicated 

 clearly that no inspection law is constitutional which contains requirements discrim- 

 inating against nurserymen living outside the State, for the reason that it is an inter- 

 ference with interstate commerce. It appears, therefore, to be illegal to require the 

 fumigation or other treatment of nursery stock before it is admitted into a State, 

 although it is legal to require its fumigation after it has been introduced and 

 before it is distrilnited. A resolution was adopted to the effect that no State law 

 should discriminate against nurserymen of other States, and that fumigation or other 

 treatment should not be required before the introduction of stock from outside 

 States, but only after its introduction, and then only in case similar treatment is 

 required of local nurserymen. 



Discussing the attitude of nurserymen's associations toward inspection laws, G. G. 

 Atwood suggested that an attempt be made in all States at cooperation between 

 inspectors and nurserymen in the enforcement of inspection laws. As long as 

 nurserymen and inspectors are at odds harm results to both parties. More drastic 

 measures are taken by inspectors, with the result that more stock is eradicated or 

 destroyed, and the nurserymen suffer ]oss; while the active opposition of nursery- 

 men brings about a loss of respect for the ol^inion^i of inspectors. In Georgia and 

 Maryland the sentiment of nurserymen was said to be in favor of inspection, while 

 in New York, according to (t. G. Atwood, decided objections have been raised 

 against inspection before the introduction of nursery stock, but at present the nurs- 

 erymen are inclined to abide by the inspection laws. In Ohio complaint was made 

 that there is too much formality and delay in the operation of the inspection law; 

 otherwise, nurserymen are favorably disposed toward the inspection laws. In New 

 Jersey J. B. Smith found conditions under which he believed that nurserymen should 

 be allowed to sell stock, whether it is infested or not, to men who are willing to buy 

 the stock with the full knowledge of its condition. Similar experience had als(j been 

 had in Georgia. 



As the result of this discussion, the association adopted a resolution to the effect 

 that inspectors should attend to the technical si-ientilic matters concerned in all cases, 

 and should not be required to take any part in civil or criminal proceedings resulting 

 from violation of inspection laws. 



