February, '11] marlatT: national quarantine 121 



heartily in favor of the measure as it stood, with the exception of the 

 nurserymen, who objected to section 8.^ 



Before the adjournment of this session of Congress, however, the 

 bill was reintroduced by Mr. Simmons, with a few verbal corrections 

 suggested by the House Committee on Agriculture (H. R. 26897, 

 June 15, 1910), and is on the calendar, and will come up for action 

 this winter. 



STATUS OF OBJECTIONS TO THE BILL NOW PENDING 



The imperative need of a measure of this kind is universally admitted*- 

 All of the great fruit-growing and forestry interests of this country 

 are unanimously and heartily in favor of this bill and have been very 

 anxious for years for legislation of this kind. A great many produ- 

 cing nurserymen also are in favor of the bill just as it stands. 



The final objection on the part of the importing nurserymen is to 

 section 8 of the bill, which, as already indicated, provides for the 

 quarantining of foreign districts containing some particular insect or 

 disease infestation on particular plant or plants and new to this 

 country. This section is intended to apply particularly to such insects 

 or diseases as can not be kept out of this country by inspection and 

 disinfection, a condition which merely to state demonstrates the nec- 

 essity for this section. Inasmuch as the design of the bill as a whole 

 is to allow importations of stock from districts which are infested, for 

 all of central Europe is infested with brown-tail moth and gypsy moth, 

 it is patent that for these and similar pests there would be no object 

 in quarantining any special district ; but in the case of insect pests or 

 diseases which have not j^et gained a foothold in this country, it is a 

 matter of very great importance, in view^ of our past experience with 

 such pests, to give them no chance of entrance, and this can be gained 

 only by absolutely prohibiting the importation of stock from districts 

 where these new and dangerous insects are known to exist. Inspection 

 is not infallible, and there is no method of fumigation which can be 

 absolutely relied upon to be always efficient to the degree of 100 per 

 cent. Therefore, to keep such neAV enemies out of our country, the 

 only method is to prohibit the introduction of stock which is likely 

 to bring them in. As shown later on, however, the necessity for this 

 action will probably rarelj^ occur, and w41I little affect the general 

 importing business. 



That the action of these importing nurserymen does not represent 

 the general nursery business throughout the United States is evidenced 



iThese hearings are published under date of April 27, 1910, and give a very com- 

 plete presentation of the pros and cons of the proposed bill. 



