Commissioner of Agriculture 193 



thermore, it is known that Christmas trees and Christmas greens 

 are collected on farms where the owners pay no attentiun whatever 

 to the suppression of the pest. There is a great difference between 

 receiving inspected nursery stock from nurseries where the pro- 

 prietors and all of their men are alert in keeping the pests out of 

 the trees, as compared with the known negligence of the farmers in 

 the districts where infestation is present. In the latter case the 

 trees are grown on wild land, and when sold bring very little 

 money. We felt it our duty, therefore, to forbid the shipment of 

 Christmas trees and Christmas greens into the State of New York 

 from the Federal quarantined area of New England. This was 

 done by order of Commissioner Wilson, dated September 27, 

 1915. 



Another supporting cause for taking this stand was that pro- 

 vided by our law, which requires the inspection of all plant ma- 

 terial at point of destination. Christmas trees come into the State 

 in open cars, and are often covered with cinders, ice. and snow ; 

 no human being can inspect Christmas trees in such condition 

 with any assurance as to whether or not egg masses are present. 

 Hundreds of carloads of Christmas trees, traced from their origin 

 to point of destination were examined, and we are satisfied that 

 the quarantine order issued by the Commissioner was very gen- 

 erally observed by shippers. 



We hesitated for some time before placing this quarantine, as 

 we felt that we ought not to do anything that would bring criticism 

 upon the most excellent work that is being done by the officers of 

 the Federal Quarantine Board, which has charge of the moth 

 work in New England. No criticism was intended and no reflec- 

 .tion on the thorough work of the Federal men can justly follow 

 the action of this State. One other State followed the quarantine 

 methods of this Department relative to the gipsy moth problem. 



Report Bearing on Christmas Tree Inspection at the Port of New 



York for the Year 1915 



In view of the fact that the State of New York issued a notice 

 -of Quarantine against the gipsy-moth infested area of New Eng- 

 land, it became necessary to inspect, or at least determine the point 

 of origin of all consignments consisting of Christmas greens 

 7 



