SOME SCALE IXSECTS. 93 



majority of cases this distrilmtion has been made unwittingly. 

 In the case of the San Jose scale there can be no question of the 

 fact that none of the nurserymen engaged in its spread had the 

 slightest idea that they were sending out such an orchard scourge. 

 Further, it must be said that as soon as the matter was brought 

 to their attention, almost without exception they made every 

 effort to stamp the insect out in their nurseries, and to stop its 

 future distribution. The Parry Brothers, for example, destroyed 

 thousands of young plants, and applied the best available reme- 

 dies to all their remaining trees. It is certain that as a result 

 of this occurrence, nurserymen in future will examine their stock 

 more closely, and will be far more careful than the}' have been 

 in the past, so that, after all, the introduction of this insect into 

 the East has not been an unmixed evil. Just as there are care- 

 less, in fact criminally careless, persons in all walks of life, so 

 there must be careless nurserymen, and under present conditions 

 fruit growers will not be able to rely upon the absolutely clean 

 condition of any stock which they buy. It has been suggested that 

 every person purchasing nursery stock should demand a guar- 

 antee from the seller, — a guarantee which states definitely that 

 the stock has at no time been infested with injurious insects, and 

 that it is in vigorous healthy condition ; and which further agrees, 

 that in case the stock should be found to be infested with scale 

 insects within a certain time from the date of purchase, it shall 

 be replaced with sound stock without cost to the purchaser. 

 Most nurserymen would be ready to furnish sucli a certificate, 

 but nevertheless this will hardly cover the case. The mere re- 

 placing of the stock is a comparatively small matter, but the 

 purchaser will have no redress for the damage done by the in- 

 troduction of such insects as the San Jose scale and its spread 

 to his older trees. It is here, as in other aspects of the question, 

 that we must look for legislative aid. The responsibility of tlie 

 nurseryman should be fixed by law. His respcmsibility should 

 extend not only to his own stock, but to all stock which he 

 handles in fulfilling his contracts or those of his agents. 



That the vast njajority of the nurserj-men of this country are 

 alive to their own interests in this matter, and that they have 

 either, directly or indirectly, the interests of the fruit-growing 

 population at heart, is thoroughly shown by a resolution passed 

 at the Indianapolis meeting of the American Association of 



