248 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 2 



NURSERY AND ORCHARD INSPECTION IN MARYLAND 



By T. B. Symoxs, State Entomologist. Md. 



The introduction into Maryland in 1894 of the San Jose scale and 

 its gradual spread during the last decade, threatening the fruit inter- 

 ests of the state, caused the passage of a law by the Maryland legis- 

 lature in 1896 and additional amendments to said law in 1898, estab- 

 lishing the State Horticultural Department and creating the offices 

 of State Entomologist, State Pathologist and State Horticulturist, 

 and making these officers Professors of Entomology, Pathology and 

 Horticulture respectively at the Agricultural College and Experiment 

 Station. The purpose of the law as set forth was to suppress and 

 eradicate the San Jose scale, peach yellows, pear blight, and other 

 dangerously injurious insect pests and plant diseases throughout the 

 State of Maryland. The enforcement of the law was placed under 

 the control of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural 

 College and Experiment Station, to whom the officers created under 

 tne act are responsible. 



The law specifically sets forth the duties of the State Entomologist 

 and State Pathologist in conducting their work for injurious insects 

 and plant diseases. It orders the inspection of all nurseries in the 

 state at least twice a year by said officers, and directs that the officers 

 visit each county in the state at least once a year for the purpose 

 of determining by inspection the healthfulness and general condition 

 of the horticultural and agricultural interests. Full power is given 

 these officers to enter upon any public premises and to cause effective 

 treatment of any plants and trees that may be found infested by an 

 injurious pest, prescribing the method of procedure in conducting 

 such inspections. The law prescribes that no trees, plants, vines, 

 shrubs of any character can be sold within or without the state unless 

 accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection. It further pre- 

 cludes the introduction of any nursery stock from any other state or 

 territory without the acceptance bj' the above officers of the certificate 

 on such shipments. Eight thousand dollars has been the annual ap- 

 propriation to the State Entomologist and State Pathologist for the 

 conduct of this inspection work. It is only necessary for the purposes 

 of this article to state the conditions under which this work is carried 

 on in the State of Maryland at this time. 



