February, '13] marlatt: federal plant quarantine 135 



control of the importation of nursery stock from foreign countries, the 

 provisions of the Act and the regulations drawn thereunder are coming 

 to be better understood. After a little over two months' experience 

 and with the corrections which will be made as a result of that experi- 

 ence, there is every promise that this service will work out successfully, 

 and give in large measure the protection needed. The heartiest of 

 cooperation has been received from the Customs Division of the 

 Treasury Department and this division has worked with the depart- 

 ment to develop and perfect methods which will give all the informa- 

 tion and protection possible under the Act. 



The general effect of the enforcement of the Federal Act has been 

 very helpful in stimulating better state inspection work, and encour- 

 aging steps are being taken in several states to secure suitable legisla- 

 tion and appropriation for such work. This interest has been very 

 considerably augmented by the discovery, as a result of information 

 obtained as an outcome of the act, of the entry of infested nursery 

 stock into several states. 



The Federal Act has also very greatly stimulated foreign countries 

 to do better work of inspection and to provide suitable legislation to 

 meet the requirements of the Act. The result of this is already shown 

 in the better quality of imported nursery stock and its general freedom 

 from infestation. 



Gener5^l Post Office Cooperation 



The Postmaster General has cooperated very heartily with the 

 Department of Agriculture in adjusting the postal -service and issuing 

 special orders to facilitate the enforcement of the Plant Quarantine 

 Act in relation to nursery stock or other plant products shipped through 

 the mails. He has ordered that all packages containing nursery stock 

 or other plant products covered by the Federal Plant Quarantine Act 

 or quarantines promulgated thereunder, shall be plainly marked, 

 indicating contents, the names of the sender and consignee, as well 

 as the destination, and that each shall bear a certificate of inspection. 

 This applies both to domestic and foreign shipments. 



The postal services of foreign countries have been notified of the 

 requirements of the Federal Plant Quarantine Act, and postmasters 

 of this country who may receive imported nursery stock have been 

 notified of the requirements under the Act, which are a condition of 

 entry and delivery of such stock. 



Special notification has been given to all postmasters of Hawaii, 

 advising them of the Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine, to prevent 

 any fruit being shipped through the mails in violation of this quaran- 

 tine. Similar notification has" been sent to postmasters in New Eng- 



