August, '14] MORRILL: STANDARDIZATION INSPECTION CERTIFICATES 343 



slight changes; one would "compromise for the sake of uniformity" although 

 satisfied with his state certificate as at present used. Of the forty-three answer- 

 ing, twenty-four may be considered to have indicated a willingness to change the 

 wording of their certificates to conform to any improvement which may be decided 

 upon by this association, while nineteen may be considered not to have indicated 

 such a willingness. 



Twenty-five, or nearly 60 per cent of those answering the question, consider that 

 their respective state certificates are literally accurate, twelve, or nearly 30 per 

 cent, consider that their state certificates have a literal meaning but with miscel- 

 laneous mental reservations and qualifications, six do not consider their certificates 

 to be accurately worded. 



Thirty-six believe it practicable to secure uniformity to a reasonable degree at 

 least ; of the wording of certificates^ three regard the accomplishment of this as 

 doubtful, two regard it as impracticable and one expresses the conviction that 

 uniformity of wording is unnecessary, that uniformity of meaning is all that should 

 be desired. Of the thirty-six who replied in the affirmative, six expressed the 

 following qualifications : ( 1 ) "If insects or diseases found were named in the 

 certificate;" (2) "If every tree is inspected root and branch at the nursery;" 

 (3) "By fumigating all stock not absolutely clean; " (4) "In simplified form; " 

 (5) "Tery liberal in form not too explicit;" (6) "One for the North and one 

 for the South. ' ' 



As far as can be determined, the inspection certificates of all states cover both 

 insect pests and plant diseases except that in three cases ' ' fungus ' ' diseases only 

 are specified in the certificates, omitting from consideration bacterial diseases, 

 root knot and plant diseases due to unknown causes. 



Thirty-five species of insect pests and twelve jilaut diseases necessitated the 

 temporary withholding of inspection certificates in various states during the past 

 year. Of these pests and diseases the San Jose scale is reported as the cause of 

 the action named in 27 states, crown gall in 15 states, the oyster shell scale in 10, 

 the woolly apple aphis in 9, pear blight in 7 states, the scm-fy scale in 5 states, the 

 peach borer in 5 states, and all of the other pests and diseases in less than 5 states 

 each. In the foregoing enumeration several states have been included more than 

 once. 



Of 41 states answering the question concerning the matter, 34, or nearly 8.5 per 

 cent, have only one form of certificate which is used on stock which is grown in 

 nurseries wiere no pests whatever are found and also in nurseries where pests 

 were found, but subsequently apparently exterminated. Of these 34, six provide 

 for the inspection of the stock at the nursery at the lime it is dug and under such 

 a provision the certificate has an entirely different meaning and value. One 

 state reports one form of certificate with a few special exceptions, and six report 

 different kinds of certificates adapted to the circumstances. Florida has five types 

 of certificates. In addition to the ordinary lilanket certificate and special package 

 certificates, a local sales certificate is used. This is issued to nurseries having 

 stock diseased or infested by pests in any degree and located in sections where those 

 particular diseases or pests are prevalent. They are plainly indicated as void for 

 rail or water shipments. Kansas and New Hampshire issue two kinds of certifi- 

 cates, one the ordinary blanket form and one a certificate of fumigation. Ohio 

 also issues these two forms but, in addition, has strict requirements concerning the 

 disposition of the stock fumigated for the San Jose scale, not permitting it to be 

 sold in the state except in infested sections and with the knowledge of the pur- 

 chaser. In Louisiana certificates are issued which are limited to use for certain 



