164 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 14 



degree at least, such conditions occur, that might be remedied by 

 definite and determined action on the part of the state officials ? Efforts 

 should be made by every honorable means to secure adequate appropria- 

 tions to be handled wisely, judiciously, and effectively, to better the 

 horticultural inspection service. 



The Federal Inspection Service 



Ever since the establishment of the Federal Horticultural Board, and 

 during its activities, even to the present day, there has been in evidence 

 varying amounts of definite and distinct opposition on the part of 

 growers. In other words, the Federal Board has passed through, and 

 is passing through, those stages and degrees of opposition with which 

 the state officials have had to contend in the past two decades. It can 

 be said, however, that much of this opposition has been engendered by a 

 coterie of individuals in the florist and nursery business, many of them 

 interested in the importing of foreign plants. In some of these attacks 

 on the Federal Board, which have appeared in various floriculture and 

 horticultural magazines, the writers of various articles apparently have 

 been blind to the facts, or have ignored the actual truth, or treated it 

 lightly in their statements. The members of the Federal Horticultural 

 Board have been the victims of not only professional, but personal 

 attack, almost entirely without warrant, because there is yet to be heard 

 a single justifiable argument or reason why the Federal Board, or any 

 member of it should seek in any way to bring disaster upon horticulture 

 in this country. 



Much of this opposition to the Federal Board in the past has been of a 

 desultory nature, arising from, various sources, appearing at inopportune 

 times and places, and with an almost utter disregard of facts. At last 

 there has been organized a committee, which proposed to delve into 

 the facts of Quarantine 37 and its regulations, and this committee after 

 a meeting in New York, prepared a preliminar}^ report, which was sent 

 broadcast over the country, and was printed in several magazines. 



In justice to the Federal Board certain phases of this report should be 

 discussed before this body, including corrections and denials of the com- 

 mittee's statements. First of all, unfortunately, this committee report 

 is so drawn that an impression is conveyed to the public which is not 

 warranted by facts. The statem.ent appears that the quarantine has 

 acted as an embargo, preventing the importation of any plants or seeds, 

 except those permitted by narrow and seemingly arbitrary ruling. As a 

 matter of fact, the great mass of plants imported, such as bulbs and fruit 

 stocks, rose stocks, and similar material, have constituted the bulk 

 of foreign importations, and it should be made clear that the forwarding 



