84 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 5 



appointment, of the different grades of inspectors provided for in the 

 nursery inspection law just referred to. 



The law of 1910 consists of Article 9, of the general budget and pro- 

 vides that the cost of inspection by authorized agents of the minister 

 of agriculture shall be collected from the establishments which have 

 asked for such inspection. This cost is apportioned, as follows: A 

 fixed annual tax of 25 francs is assessed on each nursery establishment 

 which has requested examination and certification of its stock; and 

 the additional expense is apportioned to such nursery firms accord- 

 ing to the value of the stock which is to be certified. Provision is also 

 made for the assessment and collection of the latter item of the tax 

 in case voluntary reports from these firms are not submitted. 



Regulations are published indicating the conditions and methods 

 under which any nurseryman may have his stock inspected. The 

 government, however, does not assume any responsibility for itself or 

 its agents in the matter of inspection and certificates, in so far as to 

 guarantee the acceptance of the latter by foreign countries. 



This inspection service is divided into two sections: one, relating 

 to plant diseases; and the other to insect pests. Provision is made for 

 three classes of inspectors. The chief inspectors are the two officers 

 of the department of agriculture in charge respectively of the depart- 

 ments of plant diseases and insect pests. These officers have the gen- 

 eral direction and control of the service in their respective depart- 

 ments. The actual work of inspection is carried out by subordinate 

 officials under two titles: first, temporary agents, or inspectors, who 

 are to visit the various nursery establishments and conduct the inspec- 

 tions; and, second, minor temporary agents, if such be needed, who 

 are to act as local aids to the inspectors proper. Inspectors of each 

 of these two classes are provided for both plant diseases and insect 

 pests. The provisions as to qualification of these inspectors, namely 

 the educational requirements and practical experience, indicate a 

 fairly high standard. 



The working details for carrying out the inspection, as indicated 

 by these recent decrees, call attention again to the weakness of the 

 law of 1910, namely, that there is nothing obligatory in the inspection 

 service, making it necessary for all nursery companies in France to 

 be examined and certified. Such inspection and certification is only 

 made on demand where the exigencies of the business of the firm seem 

 to require it. It is therefore apparently very possible for much nur- 

 sery stock to be accumulated from non-inspected nurseries for export. 



