17G BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



work in New England, who loaned 35 of his best men for the 

 purpose, and who in many other ways has aided in the inspection, 

 besides showing great interest and symi)athy with the work. 



During the inspection the past season, 149 places, the prop- 

 erty of 140 different owners, were visited. Some of these were 

 known to be agents, but in such cases it was certain that they 

 had stock on hand for sale which might be infested, and which 

 it was therefore necessary to examine, to make sure it should 

 not be sold unless in proper condition. A number of new 

 nurseries have been established, and most of the older ones 

 have increased their acreage. It is a pleasure to state that as 

 a whole the nurseries of the State are in better condition than 

 ever before, both as regards general condition and freedom 

 from insect pests, except for the gypsy and brown-tail moths. 

 With reference to these pests, the nurseries were not in as good 

 condition as heretofore, in some cases, but this is due to the 

 fact that they have reached and entered the nurseries from 

 surrounding territory, for the first time since the inspection last 

 year. The power placed in the hands of the inspector by law, 

 to require owners of land adjoining nurseries to clear those 

 lands of the gypsy and brown-tail moths, has frequently been 

 made use of the past season, and the establishment and main- 

 tenance of such free zones around the nurseries should mean 

 greater freedom from infestation from outside hereafter. 



The cost of the inspection work during 1911 is now available 

 as a basis upon which to estimate what will be needed here- 

 after. Unfortunately, the resolve enacted by the last Legis- 

 lature did not pass until after all the spring imports had been 

 received, and the cost of the spring work is therefore still un- 

 known. Estimating this on the basis of the number of imports, 

 however, and on the time required per average shipment, it 

 would seem that an appropriation of $15,000 would just about 

 meet the annual cost of the various lines of work required by law. 



The resolve carrying the appropriation under which the 

 work has been conducted is not a continuing one, and it there- 

 fore seems desirable to incorporate its provisions and the needed 

 appropriation in a bill to be presented to the incoming Legis- 

 lature, and I accordingly recommend this. A careful examina- 

 tion of the present condition of the nursery inspection laws 

 leads me to the opinion that this can best be done, not in the 



