April, '12] GLENN: EXEMPT NURSERY STOCK 217 



shipped from state to state that it becomes a matter of great impor- 

 tance in each state how the problem is handled in others from which 

 they receive shipments. 



Some states endeavor to protect themselves by undertaking to 

 inspect at the point of delivery all stock shipped into them; and, 

 though this is an expensive program to carry out successfully, there 

 is no doubt that it is worth many times more to the state in the way 

 of protection against the introduction of insect pests than it costs. 

 But, in the large majority of the states, the appropriations available 

 for inspection purposes are too small to enable them to make such 

 inspections in addition to the inspection of the stock grown within 

 them. They must, consequently, depend to a very large extent for 

 protection on inspections made in other states, and are of necessity 

 almost compehed to accept at their face value the certificates which 

 accompany shipments. Thirty-seven states thus accept the certifi- 

 cates from other states when signed by an authorized official of the 

 state in which the shipments originate. Nine of these require, in 

 addition to the certificate of inspection, a certificate of fumigation. 

 Three will accept a certificate of fumigation in lieu of a certificate of 

 inspection. Nine states accept no certificates, but subject all ship- 

 ments to inspection. Two states have no regulations. 



Since so many states have interests in common, and are, of necessity, 

 dependent each upon the other for protection, it seems that some 

 uniform regulations ought to be adopted that will be just to the growers 

 of nursery stock on the one hand and adequately protect the buyers 

 on the other, and will make it possible for one state to honor the certifi- 

 cates of other states with safety. We may not be able to secure 

 uniform laws, but in nearly all the states the laws as they now stand 

 require the inspection of growing stock yearly, and they also in nearly 

 every case give to the entomologist in charge the authority to pre- 

 scribe the treatment necessary when San Jose scale is present, so 

 that the lack of uniformity of regulations in respect to San Jose scale 

 is not so much a matter of law as it is of regulations by authorized 

 officials, made by them in the exercise of their discretionary powers. 

 A much greater degree of uniformity may, therefore, be had if it is 

 desired. 



In making regulations two extremes are to be avoided, — that of 

 being too exacting on the one hand, and too lenient on the other. 

 Nothing is gained by the former course except, perhaps, the ill will 

 and opposition of the nurserymen, whose cooperation is absolutely 

 essential to our success. On the other hand, if there is too great 

 leniency, and the interests of the public are not adequately safe- 

 guarded, we betray an exceedingly important trust. 



