FEDERAL HORTICULTURAL BOARD URGED TO EXERCISE 



DECISIVE POWERS 



SHALL there be a quarantine against the importation 

 into the United States of plants with earth about 

 their roots ? This question was brought officially 

 before the Federal Horticultural Board at a recent 

 hearing and the reply will mean much to the agriculture, 

 horticulture and forestry of the country. The public 

 hearing was held before the Board on May 28, 1918, to 

 determine whether all plants with earth about the roots, 

 together with certain groups of plants from the Orient 

 and other little explored countries, be excluded from 

 entry into the United States. The proposals sent out 

 in advance by the Federal Horticultural Board as a 

 basis for discussion at the hearing follow. 



Provisional Recommendations of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. 



A. That all foreign grown balled, tubbed, or potted 

 plants, except as noted under B, be excluded in 

 accordance with the following groups and dates : 

 Group I. Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Palms, Arauca- 

 rias, Bay Trees, Hollies, Ericas, and Acacias, January 



I. 1023- 



Group 2. Conifers, dwarf and other kinds, Buxus, 

 etc., usually shipped as specimen plants, July I, 1919. 

 Group 3. Small potted plants, including Roses, 

 chrysanthemums, Violets, tender bedding plants, 

 Ferns, tropical and sub-tropical, plants, etc., Janu- 

 ary 1, 1919. 



Group 4. Clumps of hardy perennials used in forcing, 

 Japanese Maples, Magnolias, etc., July 1, 1919. 



B. That provision be made for the admission of limited 

 numbers of new varieties or novelties out of pots not 

 exceeding two inches in diameter, this work to be 

 conducted through the Department under rules and 

 regulations prescribed by the Federal Horticultural 

 Board. 



C. That no action be taken at this time toward the ex- 

 clusion of all stock from the Orient, and other little 

 explored parts of the world, but that steps be taken 

 looking toward action in the near future of excluding 

 certain groups of plants, especially from the Orient. 



The hearing was well attended by representatives of 

 the nurserymen and importers, and also by state 

 foresters and national and state inspectors of nursery 

 stock, and other state and national officials. Officers 

 of many States who could not appear in person had 

 written their views on the matter to the Board and 

 in other cases Congressmen appeared for their States. 

 The opposition of the importers to these proposals 

 was not very strenuous. They dwelt upon the de- 

 sirability of being permitted to continue the importa- 

 tion of certain fruit stocks, especially apple and two or 

 three other plants, like palms and manetti rose stocks. 

 Whether this failure on the part of the nurserymen and 

 importers to vigorously oppose these proposals of the 

 Board was due to a conviction of the need for drastic 

 quarantines or to the general sentiment throughout the 



country in favor of such action was not determined. 

 On the other hand, the entomologists, pathologists, 

 foresters, horticulturists and other scientists represent- 

 ing their respective States, presented a great amount of 

 evidence in support of the measure. 



The quarantines as proposed by the Board were unani- 

 mously approved by the representatives of the peoples' 

 interests. Many of the delegates had been appointed 

 by the Governors of their respective States to attend 

 the hearing and conference. 



Practically all of the delegates to the hearing repre- 

 senting States signed the following recommendations: 



It is agreed to approve "The Provisional Recommenda- 

 tions of the Bureau of Plant Industry" as reported by 

 circular letter May 8, 1918, except in the case of 

 Group I, including Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Palms, 

 Araucarias, Bay Trees, Hollies, Ericas and Acacias, that 

 the exclusion date of this group be not later than the 

 exclusion date of Groups II and IV, which is July I, 1919. 



At this meeting the opinion prevailed unanimously 



that immediate exclusion of plants from the Orient 



and other little explored parts of the world except the 



Japanese lily bulbs, and sacred lily bulbs from Amoy, 



China be urged at this time. 



It was further agreed to urge the exclusion of all 

 ornamental and forest nursery stock, not heretofore 

 mentioned on and after July 1, 1919, and that fruit 

 stocks also be excluded as soon as economically practica- 

 ble. 



It is understood that for the purpose of securing new 

 varieties the Department of Agriculture should bring in 

 for propagation purposes such plants under such rules 

 and regulations as it may devise. 



It was shown conclusively, and no attempt was made 

 to rebut the arguments that the Federal and State in- 

 spectors of nursery stock, were powerless to properly 

 inspect stock with earth about the roots because the in- 

 sects and fungi could not be detected in the earth, and 

 no means of fumigation had been found. The danger 

 of bringing in plants from the Orient and other coun- 

 tries which had been little explored for dangerous in- 

 sects and fungi, came from the fact that new and dan- 

 gerous pests unknown here could easily escape the detec- 

 tion of inspectors because they did not know what to 

 expect or how to guard against such pests. 



The point was made with little opposition that the only 

 way the interests of the farmers, fruit growers, and 

 woodland owners of the country could be safeguarded 

 against these imported pests was to prohibit the impor- 

 tation of all nursery stock. While some pests can be 

 expected to reach here in unusual ways the great danger 

 comes from the importation of their natural carriers. 



The decision of the Federal Horticultural Board will 

 be awaited with general interest. 



TWO large mining and concentrating companies have 

 * made small-scale tests on hardwood tar as a flota- 

 tion oil and both of these have reported very satisfac- 

 tory results 



rPHE American Forestry Association is preparing a 

 -* service flag for those of its members who are in the 

 Army or Navy. Names of such members, with military 

 designation, should be sent to this office promptly. Ed. 



