94 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ISTnrserymen last summer. Professor Webster, of Ohio, had 

 handled the whole question without gloves ; he had shown up 

 the part taken by nurserymen in the distribution of the San Jose 

 scale in the clearest light ; he had commended the frank, whole- 

 hearted and straightforward course of the Parry Brothers, and 

 had condemned in the most caustic manner the shiftless, evasive, 

 not to say dishonest, actions of certain other firms. On the 

 conclusion of this paper, Colonel Watrous, of Des Moines, Iowa, 

 rose instantly and said, " I think that a paper that comes out 

 and deals Avith onr interests as fairly and as wisely and intelli- 

 gently as this one, deserves a vote of thanks ; and I move that a 

 vote of thanks of this association be tendered Professor Webster 

 for his paper, and that we approve his course." The motion 

 was seconded and carried unanimously, and the further discus- 

 sion showed that the members of the American Association of 

 Nurserymen are heartily desirous of working for the best interests 

 of the fruit growers, and are willing to work hand in hand with 

 the official economic entomologists. 



Legislation. — The subject of insect legislation has been 

 brought more strongly than ever to the attention of the agricul- 

 turist and horticulturist in the East by this outbreak of the San 

 Jose scale, and in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia steps 

 have been taken in the direction of legislation against this 

 specific insect. More than a year ago, in anticipation of an ex- 

 pected demand for information on the subject of legislation 

 against injurious insects in general, I compiled a bulletin 

 which brought together all the recent laAvs in the several States 

 of the Union against injurious insects. The demand for this 

 bulletin has been so great from agricultural and horticultural 

 societies interesting themselves in this matter, that the small 

 edition has already become exhausted. 



The most progressive State in this direction is California. Her 

 fruit-growing interests are so great and her climate naturally so 

 favorable to the multiplication of injurious insects of many 

 kinds that she naturally takes the lead in this direction. An 

 experience of fifteen years in this Avork has enabled her horti- 

 cultural societies to bring about a gradual improvement of the 

 laws and regulations, until the State is at present in excellent 

 condition to control, so far as may be, any outbreak of injurious 

 insects, and in fact to prevent such outbreaks. Briefiy summar- 



