Part L] STATE NURSERY INSPECTOR. 71 



a permit certifying that the plants in that package are appar- 

 ently free from pests and diseases. Later, when it becomes 

 possible to do the work, the nurseries are inspected for the 

 moths, and if free from them a certificate is issued. Thereafter 

 the inspection of individual packages becomes unnecessary, so 

 far as the State is concerned, during the life of the certificate, 

 which expires June 30 the following spring. As the spring 

 shipping season ends before either the gypsy or brown-tail 

 moths spread from outside into the nurseries, this plan both 

 meets the requirements of the law and enables the nurserymen 

 to do business, though it greatly increases the work of the in- 

 spectors and consequently the cost of the inspection service. 



During the present year this method has been followed and 

 the first inspection has been completed. The second is nov/ 

 under way, and should be completed before the end of Decem- 

 ber, and shipping after inspection of the individual shipments, 

 under special permits, has enabled the nurserymen to fill their 

 orders for fall delivery as usual. 



The number of certificates thus far issued is, of course, rather 

 small, but after the second insptection has been completed there 

 is no reason why the usual number should not have been issued. 



The first inspection showed the nurseries generally to be in 

 excellent condition, with perhaps less second-grade stock than 

 usual, and for the most part well kept up and cared for. The 

 second inspection thus far indicates fewer gypsy and brown-tail 

 moths present than had been anticipated, and is good evidence 

 that the practice of our best nurserymen of spraying their stock 

 and all surrounding brush or woodland thoroughly each spring 

 is a decidedly profitable one. 



One hundred and eighteen agents' licenses have been issued 

 during the past year. Many of the agents are in this business 

 for only a brief period, and no doubt do not know of the exist- 

 ence of any law requiring them to take out a license. Where 

 an agent does business only in a limited territory no knowledge 

 of his activities in this line is liable to reach the authorities in 

 charge, and there are certainly many unlicensed agents in the 

 State in consequence. The section of the law requiring agents 

 to obtain licenses is not entirely satisfactory in its wording, and 

 sooner or later should be changed. 



