98 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



When it comes to the question of legislation, I do not intend 

 to speak for Connecticut or any other state, but only for the 

 state in which I have been working for the last few years. 

 We have, as some of you know, tackled this problem there 

 from every standpoint, and we have been quite successful up 

 to the present time in the method of operation. We have 

 used gas, kerosene, whale-oil soap, crude petroleum and every- 

 thing else that has been recommended, including fire and 

 parasites, and we have had very good results. And it has all 

 been brought about by a simple method of legislation. With- 

 out a well-regulated law, and public sentiment back of us, 

 we have found it impossible to do anything. Do it effectively 

 and right where you have a problem of this kind to deal with. 

 The Maryland Legislature, two years ago, enacted a law which 

 I had a hand in drafting, which creates a distinct horticultural 

 department in the state government. That bill created the 

 office of state entomologist and state pathologist, gives these 

 men complete power and control of all the nurseries of the 

 state, and gives them the legal right to enter any public prop- 

 erty, and condemn, destroy or experiment upon anything from 

 an agricultural or horticultural point of view that in their 

 judgment should be taken in hand. That is the principle 

 upon which Maryland has been operating for two years, and 

 back of that law is public sentiment. Perfect harmony exists 

 between the fruit-raisers, nurserymen and floriculturists, and all 

 interests concerned. Where you have that harmony you have 

 no difficulty at all in enforcing the law. It is left in the 

 hands of the state officers to say whether, in their judgment, 

 a tree has a commercial value. If I should go into Mr. Hale's 

 plantation and find that he had some fungous disease or insect 

 on his trees, or some difficulty which was liable to prove of 

 great damage and detriment to Mr. Miles, just over the fence, 

 I would have the right to dictate to him what he should do, 

 and thereby obtain the protection of his neighbor. In other 

 words, if Mr. Hale refused to cut down and destroy the trees 

 or shrubs on his plantation in accordance with our directions 

 we would have that done upon his place, and he would have 

 to pay the costs. It would be done upon the ground that it 

 was for the protection of other interests, and he would have 



