April, '10] SHERMAN: CERTIFICATES 225 



out of business, — for the very entomologist who would be so strict 

 and so conscientious as to take this step is the very one whose state 

 nurseries would likely be in as good condition as any. Hence no one 

 of us has felt that he could afford to take the step, and we have all 

 preferred to compromise ourselves to this extent rather than expose 

 our nurseries to unfair competition and to subject the fruit-growers 

 and farmers of our states to exploitation in the way described. 



It seems to me that we have now reached the point where a change 

 should be adopted, or at least tried experimentally. The San Jose 

 Scale is now so wide-spread through all the eastern states that it is 

 idle to talk of keeping our fruit-growing sections clear of it, — it is 

 already present in almost everj- locality where there are extensive 

 orchards, and in many such localities it is to be found in practically 

 every orchard. Also it is no longer a pest which must be fought by 

 preventive measures chiefl}-, for the remedies are so well known 

 that there is no excuse for trees being killed by it after the owner 

 once knows of its presence. 



Then again let us remember that under the head of ''serious insects 

 and diseases ' ' which our certificates are intended to cover, are included 

 such pests as woolly aphis, crown gall, oyster shell scale, brown-tail 

 moth, etc. I cannot believe that all the nurseries which we certify 

 can by any stretch of the imagination be considered as even "appar- 

 ently free" of all these. 



I have therefore prepared for the consideration of this meeting a 

 proposed form of certificate which I should like to have discussed. 

 Here it is: — 



THIS IS TO CERTIFY: — 



That a duly authorized and 

 competent inspector has made inspection of the salable nursery stock of 



at N. C, to ascertain condition as to insect pests 



and plant diseases, and said nursery is licensed until the expiration of this 

 certificate. 



This certificate may be suspended or revoked for cause. 

 This Certificate Expires September 30, 1910. 

 Dated,— Raleigh, N. C, 1910. 



Entomologist. 



I do not see as such certificate would give an unscrupulous nursery- 

 man any advantage which he does not already have, nor do I see that 

 it would take from the entomologist any advantage that he now has. 

 I do not believe that "the ultimate consumer" would care a snap 

 about the changed wording just so his protection is not weakened. 

 We could retain the same privilege which some of us now use, of 



