April, '22] RUGGLES: ADDRESS OF CHAIRMAN 147 



The burdens of inspection fall to the inspectors to the east, south and 

 west, particularly at coast points. These inspectors guard us and all 

 we have to do is to watch for the stray insect wanderers. When we see 

 what a task it is for the Califomians and Floridans and the inspectors 

 of the Federal Horticultural Board at the ports of entry, our work seem- 

 ingly amounts to very little. And yet, I believe it is of such importance 

 that it cannot for a minute be neglected. 



In my opinion the policy in a state like Minnesota should be three- 

 fold. 



First — The educating of the nurserymen and dealers who grow 

 plant stock to the necessity of being on the lookout for and to detect 

 if possible important injurious insects and disease forms. 



Second— Eliminating or absolutely controlling the injurious forms 

 already present in the state. 



Third— Maintaining quarantines to keep out or retard pests as 

 long as possible, in the meantim.e putting on an educational campaign 

 until the people get acquainted with the methods of control. For a 

 state's clientele the logical sequence in maintaining strict quarantine 

 regulations is as follows:— Education, gaining the good will and coopera- 

 tion particularly of the nurserymen, and then the maintenance of any 

 regulatory order. If the good will of the nurserymen is obtained co- 

 operation in the enforcing of any quarantine is more easily acquired. 



In furthering this program we have made it a practice in season and 

 out of season to talk to nurserymen individually and collectively when- 

 ever possible on the desirability of being on the watch for pests and on 

 the wisdom of trying to keep the areas into which they ship free from any 

 new plant disease or insect. As we all know it is hard to prove to the 

 nurserymen the necessity of submitting to certain detailed quarantines. 

 As the nurseryman, as a rule, is one of the most intelligent men in the 

 community, if we have a sensible program and he believes in us, the prob- 

 lem is half solved at the start. It will take time and patience on our 

 part but we firmly believe in this method. We do not believe that it is 

 necessary for a nursery inspector to be looked upon simply as a police 

 officer. We try to rid the nurserymen of the idea that the inspector 

 is trying to find something on the premises sufficient to avoid giving 

 a clean "bill of health." We have always insisted that our inspectors 

 hunt scrupulously for the bad pests but also when these were foimd 

 that he help the owner on every occasion to eliminate the forms and 

 at once if possible; that he talk the matter over with the owner and con- 

 vince him that such and such a course is the one to pursue. Fortunately, 

 we have had only a few instances when drastic measures were required. 



