90 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



Retrospect. 



The first nursery inspection bill in Massachusetts became a 

 law June 19, 1902. At that time such a law was desired for the 

 better protection of purchasers of nursery stock, and by the 

 nurserymen in order that they might ship stock to other States, 

 most of which had laws requiring that stock shipped there 

 should bear official certificates of inspection, which up to this 

 time Massachusetts nurserymen were unable to obtain, no one 

 having the authority to make inspections and issue the cer- 

 tificates. 



At the time this law was passed only 32 nurseries, mostly 

 small, were known to exist in the State, and an appropriation 

 of $1,000 was considered ample for the work. The inspection 

 of one nursery, however, frequently brought out the fact that 

 there were several others in the neighborhood, and before the 

 first inspection season had ended, 80 nurseries had been ex- 

 amined. 



At first the work was limited to an early fall inspection of 

 the growing stock at the nurseries and the destruction or 

 fumigation of all infested or infected plants. As the number 

 of nurseries increased, and the old ones grew larger, the work 

 involved rapidly became greater. 



In 1915 only eleven months were covered by the report, due 

 to the changing of the date of the annual business meeting of 

 the Board of Agriculture. During this period the effect of the 

 European war on the importation of nursery stock was felt to 

 some extent, though Massachusetts still ranked fourth in the 

 list of States receiving nursery stock from abroad. During the 

 eleven months of 1915 covered by the report 3,854 cases were 

 received. 



Special inspection during the spring for the European pine 

 shoot moth first became necessary at this time, but as few of 

 these insects were found it was hoped that this pest could be 

 checked before becoming established. The Legislature during 

 this year added the duty of inspecting imported fruit of kinds 

 which also grow out of doors in this State to the inspection 

 service, but because of the war practically none was brought 

 in. 



