February, '17] SCHOENE: INSPECTION WEAKNESSES 217 



living plants. The danger is recognized, but entomologists are not 

 entirely of one accord and, doubtless, the officials of the Federal Horti- 

 cultural Board could tell us that the inspection of importations of stock 

 is considered a much more serious matter in some states than in others. 



Another unquestioned obstacle to the successful prosecution of in- 

 spection work in America, as well as greater restriction of foreign ship- 

 ments, is the interference by persons having legislative authority. 

 There is probably no state in which inspection officials have not at one 

 time or another felt such influence. The writer had occasion to attend 

 a meeting called by the Federal Horticultural Board to discuss a 

 domestic quarantine. At this meeting there were several congressmen 

 present representing the districts in question, and the writer under- 

 stands that this is not unusual. Whether or not the members of the 

 Federal Board have ever been embarrassed by representative congress- 

 men, of course, can be answered only by members of the board. How- 

 ever, it may be asserted positively that the powerful nursery interests 

 of this country are thoroughly organized and always ready to maintain 

 a lobby to protect their interests. 



Then, to conclude, we have on the North American continent, Can- 

 ada, Mexico, and the states and territories comprising the United 

 States, fifty or more sovereign powers; each making its own laws, each 

 law different and each inspection official with a different idea. And 

 yet, there are no natural barriers to limit the spread of an injurious 

 species, transportation lines of one sort or another touch every part of 

 the continent; and once established, it is only a question of time until 

 every disease or insect will reach the remote parts of the continent 

 in spite of all quarantines and restrictions imposed. 



Because of the peculiar organization of our government, and the 

 powerful commercial interests that are able to influence legislation, 

 inspection officials should band themselves together and act as an 

 organization for the purpose of securing more stringent regulations 

 regarding the importation of plants from foreign countries and greater 

 uniformity in the treatment of our domestic problems. 



THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERAL HORTICULTURAL BOARD 

 AT THE PORT OF NEW YORK 



By Harry B. Shaw, New York, N. Y. 



(Abstract) 

 The activities of the Federal Horticultural Board at the Port of 

 New York are for the most part connected with the practical applica- 

 tion of the provisions of the Plant Quarantine Act to the quarantines 

 in force. With few exceptions contact is made at this port with all 

 current plant quarantines. 



