26 SUPPRESSION OF INSECT PESTS AND PLANT DISEASES. 



winter. They are put upon the platform in the customhouse when the 

 the mercury is sometimes down to 10 below zero. If the case is opened 

 anil the goods exposed in twenty four hours the contents will be utterly 

 ruined. I think it is a very difficult matter. Shipments usually arrive 

 in the month of January sometimes in December, but generally in 

 January. It would be very difficult to expose stock at this time without 

 injury. 



Mr. BTSSELL. The stock could be inspected and properly certified 

 before being sent to this country. 



Mr. BARRY. Can the Government arrange to have it certified on the 

 other side? I ask Mr. Howard whether such arrangements can be 

 made. 



Mr. HOWARD. The great majority of foreign countries employ effi- 

 cient entomologists. No doubt their services could be readily arranged 

 for this purpose. It would be comparatively easy for the the Secretary 

 of Agriculture to overcome this winter difficulty also. No inspector 

 would like the job of examining stock with the mercury 10 below 

 zero. A barn or house could be erected for this purpose. 



Mr. VAN DEMAN. It seems to me that the examination could be quite 

 as easily made as in the case of meat inspection. France, Germany, 

 and other countries will not accept from us a pound of meat that has 

 not been inspected before leaving here, and if we can do that satisfac- 

 torily here it can be done there in the matter of nursery stock. 



Mr. ALWOOD. The Government would not employ any but honest 

 and responsible men to do this work. They would not be unreason- 

 able. The committee believe that this inspection would be eifective. 

 We believe also that it would be difficult. We do not yet know all the 

 details necessary. We believe the men who represent the Department 

 of Agriculture are fully capable of meeting and mastering the case. 

 These difficulties are not insurmountable. I wish to make the point of 

 order that this matter has already been passed upon. Section 3 does 

 not provide for inspection. 



Section 3 was then adopted without amendment. 



Section 4 was read and adopted without discussion or amendment. 



Section 5 was then read and was discussed as follows: 



Mr. BISSELL. Would it not be feasible to interpolate the word *< fruit" ? 

 It seems to me a great deal of danger lies in the spread of the San 

 Jose scale in that way, and if feasible we might require persons to have 

 orchards inspected so that stock could be shipped without any trouble 

 at all. Compel them to clean up the premises. I think it would be 

 perfectly proper. It would not be a hard thing to do and would c er- 

 tainly prevent spread to a large extent. 



Mr. POWELL. In regard to the shipment of scions or buds, how can 

 the Secretary of Agriculture get at the farmers scattered all over the 

 country who simply send away a few cuttings or buds? How can these 

 little sendings be regulated? 



