344 JOURNAL OP ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 2 



situation. The laws specifically provided for the control of certain 

 injurious forms, and in some instances at least prescribed the methods 

 of control. The experience of recent years has demonstrated the wis- 

 dom of more general acts, placing large discretionary powers in the 

 hands of an executive officer. Furthermore, legislation originally 

 designed solely for the control of either insect pests or fungous diseases 

 has been broadened and amplified so as to include both. A few states 

 have placed the control of insect pests and fungous diseases in the 

 hands of separate officials. 



The exact method of administration is not so important, provided 

 there be a substantial harmony between the requirements of the in- 

 dividual states. No argument is necessary to demonstrate the wisdom 

 of this, since it means a great saving of time and expense to ship- 

 pers and dealers in all stock subject to examination and eventually 

 a corresponding economy to the purchaser. Earlier legislation has 

 been marked by greater or less divergence, while subsequent amend- 

 ments have gone far toward producing a reasonable degree of har- 

 mony. The advantage of general provisions with large discretionary 

 powers for the executive officer lies in the fact that the latter can read- 

 ily modify requirements to meet the necessities of ever-changing con- 

 ditions. An insect which may be rightfully regarded as a serious 

 menace today maj', a; few months or years later, be ranked as of com- 

 paratively little importance so far as its shipment into a certain state 

 or section of a state on nursery stock is concerned, owing to the fact 

 that the territory under consideration may be generally infested and 

 the introduction of a few more individuals be of comparatively slight 

 moment. The earlier tendency of the western states was to establish 

 the county system of inspection, doubtless due to the fact that certain 

 counties possessed much more important horticultural interests than 

 others. The tendency of some of these states at least has of late years 

 been to strengthen the hands of the state authorities and make the 

 country officials complementary'- thereto. The county system has not 

 prevailed in the East, the universal tendency being to put the work 

 in the hands of a state official. 



The special conditions caused by the presence of the gipsy and 

 brown-tail moths in New England has resulted in diverse legislation. 

 The earlier efforts aimed at extermination. The later work has for 

 its object control, and is based upon a somewhat elaborate plan of co- 

 operation between state, municipal, village and town authorities. The 

 state supervises the work and, if its requirements are met, partially 

 reimburses the community, the refund being to a certain extent in- 

 versely proportional to the amount of taxable propert}^ The federal 



